What should I feed my new puppy?
If your pediatrician suggested that you feed your toddler only cereal, because it has EVERYTHING she needs for life how fast would you find a different doctor? All of us have a natural desire to feed our four legged friends the best food possible from the beginning of their life . We vets have been suggesting that a PROCESSED CEREAL is the best way to feed our dogs (and cats). So often when I hear this question it is really which "dog food" is the best one? I liken the question to which TV dinner would you recommend. My answer must be NONE! If you must feed some dry food there are many out there that are reasonable. Innova, Wysong, Urban Wolf, Evolve, Canidae, Flint River, to name a few (in no particular order). There was a recent article in Whole Food Journal from the editor who visited multiple dog food manufacturing facilities. It was interesting that she found, in general, the smaller companies had very high quality ingredients and not so great sanitation practices. The large companies used the least expensive ingredients and impeccable sanitation.
All that being said I recommend a whole food diet. This can be raw or cooked foods. The reasons for feeding one or the other (or a combination) is based on many factors including individual constitution. There will never be one diet that is always right for every puppy! Supplements esp calcium are needed on this type of diet if RAW bones are not included. Chinese Medicine helps dictate the specifics of the diet. This is based on the individual dog and the dog’s environment. This is not the easy cookbook answer that we all tend to like. There is NOT a PERFECT answer. Even if there was a perfect answer, it will not remain the perfect answer! The nutritional demands of all living things shift and fluctuate every day.
I encourage you to explore and research all the information you can on diet and feeding. Listen to your own intuition. The more information you have (I assure you much of it will contradict itself)the more you will be able to weigh the pros and cons of what you are feeding. I strongly recommend using Chinese Food therapy priciples. They acknowledge the inherent diferences in individuals and vary feeding recommendations accordingly.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS TO FEED YOUR DOG EVERYDAY KNOWING YOU ARE GIVING IT THE BEST DIET YOU POSSIBILY CAN AT THAT MOMENT! (YES EVEN IF IT IS DRY FOOD!) OFFER THE FOOD WITH A SENSE OF LOVE AND REVERENCE FOR BOTH THE FOOD AND YOUR PET.
Finally one last thing, if anyone tells you to do something with regards to your feeding that you CANNOT do with a good feeling in your gut and in your heart then DO NOT DO IT!!! Your intention cannot be pure in this instance and the negative feeling you bring to this WILL be swallowed by your dog!!
To learn more about using Chinese Food Therapy for your dog contact me @liz@acupuncture4pets.net
HAPPY FEEDING
All that being said I recommend a whole food diet. This can be raw or cooked foods. The reasons for feeding one or the other (or a combination) is based on many factors including individual constitution. There will never be one diet that is always right for every puppy! Supplements esp calcium are needed on this type of diet if RAW bones are not included. Chinese Medicine helps dictate the specifics of the diet. This is based on the individual dog and the dog’s environment. This is not the easy cookbook answer that we all tend to like. There is NOT a PERFECT answer. Even if there was a perfect answer, it will not remain the perfect answer! The nutritional demands of all living things shift and fluctuate every day.
I encourage you to explore and research all the information you can on diet and feeding. Listen to your own intuition. The more information you have (I assure you much of it will contradict itself)the more you will be able to weigh the pros and cons of what you are feeding. I strongly recommend using Chinese Food therapy priciples. They acknowledge the inherent diferences in individuals and vary feeding recommendations accordingly.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS TO FEED YOUR DOG EVERYDAY KNOWING YOU ARE GIVING IT THE BEST DIET YOU POSSIBILY CAN AT THAT MOMENT! (YES EVEN IF IT IS DRY FOOD!) OFFER THE FOOD WITH A SENSE OF LOVE AND REVERENCE FOR BOTH THE FOOD AND YOUR PET.
Finally one last thing, if anyone tells you to do something with regards to your feeding that you CANNOT do with a good feeling in your gut and in your heart then DO NOT DO IT!!! Your intention cannot be pure in this instance and the negative feeling you bring to this WILL be swallowed by your dog!!
To learn more about using Chinese Food Therapy for your dog contact me @liz@acupuncture4pets.net
HAPPY FEEDING
