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Healthy Dog Snacks

Submitted by Michael Adams on April 22, 2010

A proper diet is essential for your pet so that hey can grow well, have a skin and coat that is healthy, have very strong bones, toned muscles, bright eyes, gums and teeth that are healthy and a low rate of illnesses because of which there are no or less trips to the veterinarian. A healthy dog diet comprises of around 40 percent of meat, vegetables 50 percent and around 10 percent of grains and other carbohydrates. There is a lot of variety that is available in the market when it comes to food for your dog like commercial food and raw dog food to name a few.

Always make sure that you read the ingredients listed on dog food and check for meat and vegetable instead of their by products. High quality food is however, best for your dog but they might not be an economical option for many. Raw or natural dog food is the next best option you can go for that is pre-packed food.

This might take some of your time but the best way to ensure healthy dog food is by cooking their meals at home.

There are a number of dog snacks that you can offer your dog like dog biscuits, peanut butter and so on but are good if given occasionally and not on a regular basis. It is important that pet owners realize that any snack given to your dog is in addition to the normal food that they eat and not a substitute to it. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind while giving your dog snacks. If your dog is gaining a few extra pounds, avoid feeding him cookies that contain a lot of fat. Instead, treat them with a bite or two of fruits or raw vegetables. Also, you can make cookies for your dog at home that contain low fat and while giving them human food, make sure they are not harmful to them. Sweet potatoes that are dehydrated are another great option. When you give them snacks, check if they are soft or contain high amounts of sugar as such snacks can cause gum problems and diseases. If you have a much older dog, you might want to treat him with softer snacks or buy cookies that are especially baked for older dogs that contain a variety of ingredients that are healthy for them.

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Dog Diet