Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Chocolate. Who can resist it?

Your dogs health depends on it! (resisting, that is). We humans get to indulge because most of us know when to stop. But your dog won't quit after just a few. Give her a chance and she'll down the whole box of Godivas in one gulp. So on Valentine's Day, you're actually being kind to your best buddy if you eat all the chocolates yourself!

**Why is chocolate harmful to a dogs health?**

Chocolate, as you know, is made with cocoa beans. And cocoa beans contain methylxanthine alkaloids in the form of theobromine and caffeinea, which are toxic to dogs. Chocolate can also contain high amounts of fat which can put your dogs health in jeopardy as well.

**How Much is Too Much?**

Though it's certain that dogs and chocolate don't mix, different dogs react differently to the methylxanthines. And reactions can vary according to the age, size and overall health of the dog. The smaller the dog the smaller the dose needed to produce an effect.
And of course, if your dog's health is already weakened by other medical conditions, he's more susceptible. The same holds for older dogs..
Theobromine is present in differing amounts in different kinds of chocolate:

· White chocolate 1mg/oz

· Hot chocolate 12 mg /oz

· Milk chocolate 44-66 mg/oz

· Semi-sweet chocolate 260 mg/oz

· Dark chocolate 450 mg/oz (wow!)

· Baking/bitter chocolate or cocoa powder varies as much as 150-600 mg/oz.

**How much chocolate can a dog eat and survive?**

That depends in part on her weight.

Under 200 mg theobromine per kg body weight (91mg per lb) has not been observed to be fatal. A potentially lethal dose in a 16 pound. dog is only one pound of milk chocolate. Only two ounces of baking chocolate can cause serious problems in a 10-pound dog. People stop eating chocolate before getting to toxic levels, but dogs don't!

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It never ceases to amaze me how fired up people can get over something like dog food. I have never really gotten into the debate or weighed in on it. Our breeder was feeding Cooper one type of dog food and we didn't care for it so we researched a few others, talked to our vet and to the pet food store owner and went with another. We haven't looked back since.

That doesn't mean however that the food we use is good for all dogs. It might disagree with your labrador retriever. Much like food disagree from person to person. Allergies to be more specific. But that doesn't mean one is better that the other. It just means one is more agreeable.

Pet food to me is something like looking for insurance quotes or paying your taxes. It's something importan that you are going to be doing for a long time. So research it out and talk to the professionals and see how your dog does with the food you have chosen. Just because somebody tells you one type of pet food is better than another doesn't make it true.

If you are shopping for anything you are probably going to be doing some reading first and looking around for the best deal you can find. It doesn't matter if you are buying meds like Phentermine, shopping for electronics or doing your grocery shopping. You should be doing the same for your dog food.

The reason why I blog about this is because we just got back from our local pet food store with our free bag of Canidae. Our pet place offers a free bag for every 10 that we buy. It works out to a pretty good deal and their price is comparable with everybody else. So why not safe a little when stocking up on your dog food.

Many people have written and asked what the right dog food is for their dog or what is the best dog food for a healthy nutritious lifestyle. It is an age old debate that can spark many different answers and opinions. Some will tell you that brand a is the best and others will say that brand b is the best. It's not like your dog is taking diet supplements, you have to feed them so finding the best dog food is a choice you don't want to take lightly.

Dogs are a lot like humans and have different allergies and reactions to different kinds of foods and ingredients in them. Just because Brand A is good for one dog does not mean it's the best for another. Your dog may not handle grain or corn as well as another. Hot spots could be a sign that your dog needs a change in diet.

The best dog food for your dog is the one that they do the best on. If your dog is healthy and you are happy with their coat then why change for the sake of going to what you think is a better brand.

From time to time the topic pops up about whether or not feeding your dog carrots is good or not. My dog loves carrots and we use them for training purposes as well as rewards for good behaviour. You are actually do your dog a favour by adding vegetables into their diet. Dogs are omnivores, they can and should eat fruits and veggies. Of course like everything else in moderation and by mixing it up a little. Carrots are good for their teeth but at the same time contain sugar so please feed in moderation.

If you are wondering what fruit and vegetables to avoid please have a look at this thread Dangerous Foods and Plants to Dogs.

This is an article of interest for both pet owners and their pets. It cites that pet obesity is up nearly 40% and that is alarming for not only our pets but us as well. Why? Because there is a direct corelation between obese pets and obese or over weight pet owners. "Pet obesity leads to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hip dysplasia, back and joint pain, endocrine diseases and, at an advanced stage, becomes a tricky affair for the vet to work around. "

Forget kids, pets are obese too Daily News & Analysis, India - 10 Apr 2008 MUMBAI: Nikki Bhasin found it downright rude when people raised their eyebrows at her six-year-old Labrador Retriever, Budd. For, in the eyes of this Bandra …

All Natural Dog Food 

Commercial dog food is a great convenience for busy caregivers. You want the best for your companion animals, but with a bewildering array of foods and claims to choose from, how do you decide what's best for your animals?

Standards For Dog Food Ingredients

The commercial dog food industry is huge and extremely profitable ($25 billion a year in revenue worldwide). While manufacturers may appear to have the best interests of your companion animals at heart, they are generally more concerned about their stock prices and bottom lines. This may be especially true of commercial dog food manufacturers owned by large, diverse, multinational parent companies. What this means to you is that if an inexpensive ingredient is available to replace a costlier one, many companies will make the substitution to save money. A few companies pride themselves on their "fixed formulas," meaning that they always use the same ingredients. This may be good … if the ingredients are of acceptable quality to begin with.

Healthy Dog Food System 

Dog food may be labeled as "complete and balanced" if it meets the standards set by a group called AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials. These standards were formulated in the early 1990s by panels of canine and feline nutrition experts. A food may be certified in two ways: (1) by meeting AAFCO's published standards for content ("Nutrient Profiles"), or (2) by passing feeding tests or trials. While most researchers agree that feeding tests are superior in assessing the nutritional adequacy of a food, clinical experience as well as scientific studies have confirmed that even foods that pass feeding trials may still be inadequate for long-term maintenance. Also keep in mind that the standards set only "minimums" and "maximums," not "optimums." Commercial foods are designed to be adequate for the average animal, but not all foods will be suitable for an individual animal's variable needs.

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It actually sounds kind of gross, but BARF is an acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. Many health conscious veterinarians are huge advocates for this diet which can completely replace commercially prepared dog food. One of the first proponents of the BARF diet was Dr. Ian Billinghurst who still recommends it today. He believes that it is the ultimate way to get our pets in to optimum health. Many people believe that the BARF diet simulates what your dog would eat in his natural environment.

Many people feel that there are a lot of health advantages to feeding a raw food diet. Many owners who have dogs with problems such as allergies, skin problems, weight problems, and anal gland problems have found that the bones and raw food diet has helped to significantly remedy these issues.

Some of the advantages to feeding a biologically appropriate raw food diet include no consumption of preservatives found in most commercially prepared kibble diets, it usually tastes better to your dog than regular dog food, and in general, muscle mass and body condition improve on a raw food diet. One also often finds that dogs produce fewer stools, eat more slowly, and have fewer health problems. Many advocates of the raw food diet also claim that it is less expensive than commercially manufactured dog food. One of the biggest disadvantages to this diet is that it takes longer to prepare.

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It actually sounds kind of gross, but BARF is an acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. Many health conscious veterinarians are huge advocates for this diet which can completely replace commercially prepared dog food. One of the first proponents of the BARF diet was Dr. Ian Billinghurst who still recommends it today. He believes that it is the ultimate way to get our pets in to optimum health. Many people believe that the BARF diet simulates what your dog would eat in his natural environment.

Many people feel that there are a lot of health advantages to feeding a raw food diet. Many owners who have dogs with problems such as allergies, skin problems, weight problems, and anal gland problems have found that the bones and raw food diet has helped to significantly remedy these issues.

Read the rest of this entry »