Food intolerance’s and allergies are being diagnosed more and more frequently. This is partly since pets are often supplied with a too large portions and usually a poor quality composition of feed.
As dogs are naturally wild, they used to be on the move in search of food anywhere they could in order to survive. However, today they receive their food at fixed times and relative portion sizes. However, as a result of large quantities of commercial food, the amount of substances the dog’s organism can’t utilise increases.
Many dog feeds are overcrowded with herbal ingredients and by-products. Although, at least 60 percent of the dog’s diet should be animal. There are usually added grains and fillers, which are of little benefit to the dog, but are cheap for the manufacturer. That’s why the dog food manufacturers tend to use them to enable the bulking effect.
Preservatives ensure that the dog food lasts long and has a good shelf life. Artificial flavours and flavour enhancers make the food interesting for the dog. Why else should a dog consume peanut shells, beet pulp, wood chips and molasses? All these substances can cause food intolerances and allergies. These are known to cause vomiting, diarrhoea and/or emaciation as well as skin problems, a dull coat and a disturbed immune system.
Diabetes; Due to the Added Sugars?
Even the commercially produced food is not spared by hidden sugars. No wonder many four-legged friends will eventually suffer from obesity or develop Type II Diabetes. This illness, in turn, leads to circulatory disorders, nerve damage or to a heart attack. Additionally, sugars change a dog’s natural intestinal flora and increasingly colonises bacteria that are responsible for inflammation.
As a rule, sugar is added to the colour of the dog food for it to look fresh and appetizing for humans. The sugar health consequence for the dog is very rarely taken into consideration. After all, the human pays for food, not the dog.
Thyroid Disorders and other Health Problems due to Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are additives that various studies have shown create a hormonal effect for dogs. These are also known to cause a change in the liver, kidneys and thyroid. Although suspected of causing cancer, they are still regularly added to animal fats in dog food.
Pancreatic Disease down to an Improper Diet?
The pancreas is one of the digestive organs in our four-legged friends. It produces insulin and pancreatic juice, which contains enzymes to aid digestion. The latter can break down the proteins, fats and carbohydrates from the diet. If the pancreas is infected, elements of the food cannot be used by the animal. As a result, weight loss, diarrhoea, bloating, gastrointestinal complaints and immune deficiencies can occur. Undigested dietary constituents burden the intestine and serve as a breeding ground for bacteria.
This in turn leads to inflammation in the intestine, which can spread to the entire organism and weaken the immune system. From an initially acute, manageable health problem, a chronic illness with far-reaching consequences for the dog can occur. Dog owners spend a lot of money on treatments, which are often only successful for a short period of time.
The so-called pancreatic insufficiency is one of the most common diseases in dogs. The reason for this is usually due to incorrect feeding. By nature, the dog consumes most of the enzymes required for digestion. This has the advantage of sparing the pancreas. It needs less enzymes to produce itself. However, the food must not be treated and should contain fresh food ingredients.
For example, under the influence of heat, the enzymes die off. However, the starting materials of commercially produced dog food are cooked or industrially modified. Even the note “gently cooked” means nothing as according to the legal regulations, the components of the industrial dog food must always be heated to at least 125 degrees Celsius. Relief of the pancreas is thus eliminated. In addition, additives mentioned elsewhere overwhelm digestion. In the long term it leads to overloading and inflammation of the pancreas. Dry food, for example, is completely unsuitable due to the high manufacturing process.
Summary
• Most Common Disease: Pancreatic Insufficiency
• Cause: Wrong feeding
• Result: Serious damage to health
• Cost: Expensive medication and special feed
• Prevention: High quality and natural wet food or BARF
Principles of a Species-Appropriate Diet
Many of the illnesses mentioned above can be avoided or cured if the dog is properly nourished. What does that mean? A high-quality food is able to supply the animal with sufficient nutrients, meaning the immune system is strong enough to fight off diseases.
• The amount and composition of the food which is dog-friendly. (Tip: Pay attention to an easy-to-understand declaration, our tests break this down)
• There are high quality raw materials used. (Tip: pay attention to food quality, for example Anifit)
• Chemical additives should be avoided. (Hint: look at the additive lists, the less there is the better!)
• A well-balanced diet prevents deficiency symptoms.
• Dog food needs sufficient moisture. (Tip: BARF and wet food are significantly better than dry food)
• During preparation, heat and industrial changes of the ingredients should be avoided.
Conclusion
It appears more and more dog owners care less about the composition of the food for their four-legged friends and more about the price associated with it. A good quality dog food provides the dog with energy. To save the dog similarly time-consuming treatments by the veterinarian and even less unnecessary pain, the dog owner must provide by a balanced and appropriate diet. This is due to the key aspect of to a healthy dog is the intestine.
Please take the time and use the search function above, maybe we have already created a test report about your current feed. If the result is below the rating 7, we recommend that you look for another feed. There are many manufacturers who strive for a transparent declaration and high quality and appropriate dog food.
