More and more people are beginning to make their dog’s food at home rather than buying commercial formulas. Homemade dog food doesn’t contain any substances that could possibly be harmful to your dog’s health such as artificial coloring and artificial flavors.

Another reason to make homemade dog food is the preservatives added to the commercial dog food. Homemade dog food has the benefit of optimum freshness without preservatives.

There are dogs that would greatly benefit from a homemade diet. Some dogs who suffer from allergies that cause severe itching may find relief once switched from commercial dog food to a homemade diet.

Processed dog food is a relatively new product and scientists don’t fully understand the differences between commercial food and a diet of fresh food. There may be problems occurring in a dog’s health because he is being given food that has had the nutrients cooked out of it and then sprayed back on.

It’s also possible that the extremely high heat used to produce commercial dog food may alter the protein structure in the meats used. It’s not proven whether such protein alteration negatively affects a dog’s health, and since dogs seem to maintain their regular health during regulated feeding trials most people feel that commercial food is good enough to maintain their dog’s health.

What if you want more than to give your dog a food that is “good enough”. There are many recipes you can use. There are ebooks available with a variety of recipes that will provide your dog a well-rounded diet full of nutrition and every vitamin and mineral he needs.

There are certain foods you want to avoid, such as fatty meats, cured meat, (sausage, bacon, hot dogs), any fried foods and raw pork. You also want to avoid any milk, cream, ice cream, pastries, white bread, sugary foods, grapes, raisins and onions. Keep in mind that anything you consider to be junk food would not be good for your dog.

Healthy foods to give your dog would include raw or cooked lean cuts of meat: beef, poultry, lamb, whitefish and fatty fish (like salmon). Also included in a healthy diet are cooked grains, eggs (raw or cooked), finely chopped or ground raw vegetables (remember, no onions), and bits of fruit (again, remember to give your dog no raisons or grapes).

These are just the basics. There are books on the subject that provide great recipes and a full list of good foods and foods to stay away from.

A basic formula for a home made diet would be 50 percent protein, 25 percent vegetables (ground so they are easy to digest), and 25 percent grain (such as rice and oatmeal). Add to that some supplements of certain vitamins, minerals, and oils rich in omega-3 for healthy skin and coat.

There are some pets that do not do well on a homemade diet so be sure to check with your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet. After making the change, pay attention to how your dog responds. Not all dogs thrive on a homemade diet.

Some dogs may have trouble adjusting and others might not like the food or suffer from temporary digestive upset. Slowly changing the dog’s diet, gradually giving more of the homemade food and less of the commercial, can help alleviate stomach upset.

Good health starts with good nutrition. It helps dogs fight disease, grow correctly, and age gracefully. Giving your puppy or adult dog the correct diet in the correct amounts makes for a happier, healthier pet.

Dogs need different diets as they age. Most puppies require greater amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates than an adult dog. Their bodies are going through tremendous growth in a short amount of time and so foods rich in these items are very important.

However, different dog breeds require different amounts of protein, calcium and fat. It has actually been discovered that larger-breed puppies do better on adult dog food because puppy food promotes fast growth.

Breeds such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds and Saint Bernards can grow at phenomenal rates, some gaining 100 pounds in a matter of months. When bones grow too fast they become less dense and more porous, leaving the dog more vulnerable to degenerative conditions.

In some areas puppy food is available specifically for different breed sizes. It’s recommended that owners talk to their vet about what food is best for their puppy.

Feeding schedules are different for the age and the size of the animal. Small-breed puppies such as Yorkies and Chihuahuas may not get the energy they need unless they are fed 3-4 times a day for the first few months.

There are special formulas for small breeds. They typically come in smaller kibble so it is easier for the dog to eat, as well as being higher in nutrition so the dog gets the necessary energy they need for their higher metabolism.

Canine athletes or working dogs need extra calories to provide enough energy for each day. There are formulas that are custom-made that contain a high percentage of calories from protein and fat.

Elder dogs have completely different needs than puppies, younger dogs and working dogs. They need less protein while at the same time the protein needs to be easily assimilated into the body and easily digestible. Too much protein can lead to burdening the renal structures and may damage the kidneys.

Arthritis, heart disease and other age-related conditions could mean less exercise and so less food. However, senior dogs that remain active, have a healthy weight, and are free from serious health problems don’t necessarily need a senior diet.

Some senior diets have reduced protein levels. But healthy seniors need sufficient protein to help maintain muscle mass. Owners need to check with their dog’s vet to determine the best formula and the correct amount for their elderly dog.

A stage that some female dogs go through is the pregnancy stage. This requires a different diet and schedule. Females in the pregnancy stage require a balanced nutrition with proper supplementation of vitamins and minerals.

Later, when they are nursing the puppies, they need enough calcium so the bones of the puppies will be strong.

As your dog goes through each stage it is important to evaluate how your dog is doing. Any change in weight, coat quality, mobility, or other health aspect in your dog needs to be discussed with your vet for a possible change in diet.

This mother retriever and her puppies look very cute. What puppy isn't cute? But this mother probably went through a lot of pain delivering them. Then her body had to come up with enough milk to keep her puppies well-fed.

It's a kindness to have your females spayed. There are plenty of dogs in the world, and too many of them don't have homes. Thousands and thousands are euthenized each year in the United States alone.

So do your pet a favor and get her spayed. You will be saving her from a lot of pain, several possible health problems, and you will be helping to decrease the overpopulation of dogs in the world.

Here's an article by someone especially about your female dog's health.

by:Aki Majima

As there are certain health issues that affect only the female dog, care should be taken to ensure that these are fully understood before deciding whether or not to buy a bitch.

The most important dog health care concern is that of spaying. Only those who are fully educated in all aspects of a specific breed and who have the time and energy to put into making sure that bloodlines are kept strong and healthy should ever consider breeding. With that in mind, most owners of female dogs will not be thinking of breeding and should therefore seriously consider having their pet spayed.

If the necessary surgery is carried out before your dog has her first heat cycle, the likelihood of her ever developing breast cancer will become almost zero percent. That alone is a very good reason to have your dog spayed as breast cancer is otherwise relatively common in older bitches. The chances of your dog developing pyometra, a disease of the uterus that can be fatal, is also greatly reduced.

Having your dog spayed will also relieve her of the twice yearly 'season' and the anxiety that often becomes part of it. She'll no longer want to roam in order to find male dogs to mate with and you'll no longer have to put up with the crowds of dogs who follow you during walks or who gather outside your home. And most importantly of all, unwanted pups will not become a problem.

If your female dog starts collecting her toys and treating them as if they were puppies, she's almost certainly experiencing a false pregnancy. Fortunately, this rarely lasts more than a week and although the dog will become very protective of her imaginary offspring, treat her as normal and she'll soon forget them.

If you've opted to not have your dog spayed, it's important to understand how her heat cycle works. The first 10-14 days is the period BEFORE ovulation and this is the time during which she will bleed.

Ovulation occurs as the bleeding stops so it's important to understand that it's during the 10-14 days following bleeding that she's actually most likely to become pregnant. Far too many owners make the mistake of believing that their female dog is safe once the bleeding stops and over-filled dog pounds are the sad result.

Doggie diapers are available in most pet stores and come in a range of sizes to fit different breeds. These are designed to stop the dog leaving blood on your furniture and rugs but unfortunately, unless the dog has been taught to accept wearing them from a very young age, most will soon chew them off.

Female dog owners who choose not to have their dog spayed MUST monitor their dog regularly for any lumps in the breasts and remember that unless they're serious about breeding, they have a duty to ensure that their dog doesn't produce unwanted puppies who will eventually find themselves sitting in a pound waiting for their death sentence to be passed.

Aki Majimacopyright@2005 by Aki Desorcy. Aki Desorcy is the Author of http://www.dog-treats-n-dog-care-tips.com/Where you will find free dog care care tips, dog treat recipes and other useful dog health care info for your pooch.

by:Brigitte Smith

An essential to your dog's health is his/her regular annual checkup with the vet. Whether or not you choose to have your dog vaccinated* at this time, the annual chekup is also an excellent opportunity for a thorough physical examination to be carried out, and a time to discuss any minor problems or issues which you feel may be affecting your dog's health or wellbeing.

This is a time when your vet may pick up inherited diseases and the like (when your dog is young) so they can be treated early, or just kept an eye on. And as your dog gets older, the vet may find the early signs of more sinister illnesses.

I recently took my dogs for their annual checkup, and for the first time alarms were raised about matters of significant concern – it was thought that Kara might have early stages of lymphoma (cancer) – which, fortunately, tests then proved to be not the case. And Jet apparently has something akin to the early stages of cataracts in humans in her eyes, and according to the vet, Jet is likely to go progressively blind over the next several years.

At least knowing this in advance gives me the opportunity to watch for any developing signs and, if and when necessary, adapt her outings and home environment to take into account any sight loss, and most importantly, it has made me realise that vitamin and mineral supplementation in dogs is actually a very wise idea.

Worming and "de-flea-ing" your dog are the commonest forms of health measures which you probably undertake yourself for your dog. Fleas infest almost every dog at some time. Sometimes a lot of the time. Dogs which socialise with other dogs outside the home tend to become infested the most often.

Fleas can carry disease and parasites, including tapeworm.But fleas are extremely irritating for your dog. They often cause intense itching, which in turn can cause your dog to damage his/her skin by vigorous scratching.

Some dogs are allergic to flea bites. Even after the fleas have been doused with flea poison and killed, the cycle of itch, scratch, itch, scratch, can remain.

My Rottweiler has been terribly affected two or three times now by this self-perpetuating cycle caused by her allergy to flea bites. Most of the skin damage has been caused by Kara incessantly scratching and injuring herself.

A dog with an infestation of fleas is neither a healthy nor a happy dog. So at the first sign of a flea, it's important to treat your dog for this very common problem. And those pesky fleas don't always readily show themselves. So if your dog is scratching more than usual, the first thing to do is a thorough search through your dog's coat.

If you sight even one flea, treat your dog immediately. Some people treat routinely just because it's flea season, and still others actually treat throughout the year. And of course, it goes without saying that if you have more than one animal, you must treat them all at the same time.

This way, you'll ensure that your dog is as healthy and happy as can be!* There are natural alternatives to vaccinations, and signficant controversy as to whether vaccinations are necessary to desirable. For further information, subscribe to the Healthy Happy Dogs newsletter.(c) 2004, Brigitte Smith, Healthy Happy Dogs

Brigitte Smith is a dog lover with a special interest in natural health for dogs. For your free special dog health report, as well as weekly tips, information, strategies and resources for a healthier happier dog, go to http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com and submit your name and email address.npodsystems@yahoo.com