Food Information

We love our dogs. We feed them, we care for them, and we think of them as a family member. The shear number of varieties available is striking. Once upon a time, there were only two or three kinds of food available. It wasn't too complicated. Today, m

aking a choice is more complicated than it used to be. Believe it or not, there is a big difference in all those varieties you see on the shelves.

What should you look for in your beloved family member's food?

High protein animal protein: Ingredients in dog food are listed by weight on the product label. A high quality food will contain one, two, or maybe even three, animal proteins in the first few ingredients. If chicken appears as the first ingredient on the list and you find no other animal protein for the next 8 ingredients, there isn't a lot of animal protein in this product because meat consists of a large amount of water weight. 'Meal' is made through the rendering process in which moisture and fat are removed. Not all meals are bad. If the animal source is identified, that meal is made from whole, lean, muscle tissue from a specified source. So, if chicken meal or some other animal meal is next or third on the list, you probably have a high amount of animal protein in there. Animal proteins are more palatable (appetizing, better tasting) and bioavailable than plant proteins and have a greater amount of essential and nonessential amino acids.
Whole grains and vegetables: These foods have important ingredients that are necessary in a dog's food. Keep the amount of grain and vegetable by-products low. The more that are present, the lower quality the food.
Organic ingredients: These are safer for us all. This certification guarantees that all of the ingredients were produced without the use of growth stimulants or antibiotics, chemical fertilizers or pesticides, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation techniques to kill bacteria
Carbohydrates: Nutrients in carbohydrate ingredients are dependent upon the digestibility of the grain. Carbs provide an energy source and aid in proper gastrointestinal tract functioning. Digestible carbohydrate also has a protein-sparing effect; that is, if adequate carbohydrate is supplied in the diet, protein will be spared from being used for energy and can then be used for tissue repair and growth. Some high quality carbs include: whole ground barley, brown rice, white rice, oatmeal, and potatoes.
Reject meat and poultry by - products: It is very difficult to determine the quality of by-products used by the manufacturer. There is a wide range of quality in the by-products available for dog food manufacturers than there is for whole meat. When the word 'meat' is used without the source, it can include horse, pig, and goat.
Reject food containing fats or proteins not identified by species: The description 'animal fat' usually means low quality, low priced mixtures of fats of uncertain origins. Because it doesn't specify what species of animal it comes from, it could be a different source in every bag sold which isn't good for a dog who has food allergies or a sensitive stomach.
Reject foods with artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives: A good, healthy food doesn't need non-nutritive additives to make it look better (to you) or to taste better. There are many natural preservatives, such as rosemary, vitamins A and C, which can be used instead. Don't be misled by the word 'natural' used in the name of the food. Check the ingredients list to know what is actually in it. Some preservatives can cause kidney and liver problems and some are cancer-causing agents. The chemical preservatives include: ethoxyquin, propyl gallate, BHA and BHT propylene and ethylene glycol (see the Toxin section for more on the glycols) used in antifreeze. BHA enhances stomach and urinary bladder cancers and can cause stomach cancer, and BHT promotes bladder cancer and may promote thyroid cancer. Both can cause liver and kidney dysfunction and are banned in many European countries. Ethoxyquin is a pesticide listed as hazardous by OSHA with a rating of 3 on a 1 to 6 scale (6 being most toxic). It promotes kidney and bladder cancer as well as stomach tumors. It causes the destruction of red blood cells. Propyl gallate, an antioxidant used to stabilize foods containing fats, is suspected of causing liver diseases and cancer.
Reject added sweeteners: We all like our sweets and, like people, dogs can develop a taste for these empty calories.
Gluten: Known to be an allergen to many dogs, it is not the best source of quality protein. It is a cheap protein filler in dog foods. The exception is rice gluten meal, which is an option for dogs allergic to wheat or corn.
By-Product: These are low quality ingredients and can vary batch-to-batch. It includes parts of the animal not suitable for human consumption: any part of the animal other than meat, including bones, head, and feet.
Important things to look for listed on the bag or the company's website: 1. That their food has passed the AAFCO feeding trial so you know it is completely nutritionally balanced.
2. The more items listed under the guaranteed analysis the better.
3. Caloric content listed as well as the percentage of protein, fat, etc.
4. The companies contact information
5. Do they have a veterinarian and/or nutritionist on staff?

Premium foods do tend to cost more per bag than the other stuff, right? Keep this in mind when you give your dog a high quality brand of food, you do not give as much since this is more digestible and higher in nutrition and energy. In other words, you give your dog more nutrition using less food. It is important to find a food that your dog likes and does well with, no matter what anyone else you know is feeding. And if you check the bag of food, there is company contact information, often including a web site to refer to. Most websites now include 'store locators' to assist you in finding the closest store in your area that carries their products. Lastly the more food that is digestible, the less poop in your yard to clean up (or step in), and that's always a good thing!

How much and how often? Feed your greyhound twice a day. They do not have body fat for reserves. A typical grey eats 1 ½ to 2 cups per meal for females and 2 to 2 ½ cups per meal for males. The amount of food your dog will eat depends on his health, activity level, weather, and they type of food you are feeding (lower quality, less digestible food means you need to give more food). You should be able to see or feel the last 2 ribs of your dog.

Useful links to healthy food web sites and food ingredients: www.naturapet.com This site lets you to compare brand name dog foods side-by-side. Test the quality of your greyhound's food. Is it good? Is it as good as you think it is? Could it be better?

www.gooddogmagazine.com/dogfoodcosts.htm

www.thepetcenter.com www.feedmypet.com/dog-food-comparison.html

www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients

www.dogaware.com

Still confused or do you have a question? Email Sandy at ssdk1106@comcast.net or Elaine at elaine.ghg@verizon.net and we will try to help.

We are working on finding you more good deals and offers on quality dog foods.

Petco: Petco has a buy 10 bags get one free program. All you have to do is become a PETCO P.A.L.S member and swipe your card and they keep track for you. The following are some eligible brands, you just have to buy the same type of 10 bags of food to get your free bag; Natural Balance, Natureâ€™s Recipe, Nutro, Royal Canin, Sensible Choice, Solid Gold, Wysong.
Canidae: Save your receipts and weight circles. We are applying for a buy 5 get 1 free program.
Organix by Castor & Pollux: At Petco, get a Petco Pals card, that's all you need to do. Buy 12 bags and get 1 free.
Show Bound Naturalsby Healthy Pet Foods, Inc.: You can become a preferred customer by letting us know of your interest. We will enroll you and you will receive 30% off the retail price and GHG will receive a 10% credit for each bag you order. Your order is delivered to your door on what ever monthly basis you specify. You can adjust your monthly order or quit at any time.