Recently, low fat eating has become all the rage… one of today’s more popular human diet styles.

So, it should come as no surprise that a number of market-savvy dog food companies would take advantage of this profitable trend… and offer low fat dog food to consumers.

But are these manufacturers creating products designed to enhance your dog’s health… or are they simply trying to profit from the latest fad?

Well, for the answer, we need to keep in mind… dogs aren’t human.

So, of course, neither is their “biology”.  What may be right for you… may not be so right for your dog.

Why Dietary Fat Might Be Good for Your Dog

As I’m sure you already know… saturated fats have been consistently associated with clogged arteries and heart attacks… in humans.

But not so for dogs.

Dogs consuming a relatively high fat diet rarely suffer from these dangerous conditions.  The species appears to be resistant… almost immune… to coronary artery (heart) disease… and stroke¹

Why?

Well, high fat diets can produce high blood cholesterol levels in dogs… just like in humans.

Cholesterol… with a Surprising Twist

That cholesterol isn’t the artery-blocking bad stuff you’ve been hearing about.

No… this is the “good” cholesterol… the “HDL” cholesterol… the kind that helps prevent the build-up of dangerous, life-choking “plaque” on the artery walls.²

And that high level of good cholesterol is what’s thought to make dogs so resistant to developing clogged arteries… atherosclerosis… the very cause of most heart attacks and strokes.^{3 4}

So, you see…

Most dogs can easily handle a significant amount of animal fat in their food… especially when it’s the natural kind of fat associated with a quality meat ingredient.

Dietary fat can be an excellent source of energy… and the only way for your dog to receive the essential fatty acids needed to sustain life.

When Dietary Fats Can Be Bad for Your Pet

OK… so, fats should be a regular part of your dog’s diet.  But there are two critical exceptions to this rule…

First, certain medical conditions may call for feeding a low fat diet… conditions like pancreatitis… or chronic obesity.  High fat dog food can aggravate these health issues.

In cases like these, your dog’s veterinarian can best guide you to the right products.

Secondly… when I mention fats, I’m not talking about just any old fat ingredient.  I’m not talking about fatty by-products like…

• Restaurant grease
• Beef tallow
• Industrial waste

You know, it’s no secret… the pet food industry is notorious for using some of the cheapest ingredients it can find.

An Important Message for the Pet Food Industry

To those of you “profit-first” dog food manufacturers who continue to produce such inferior products, I say…

Look.  We’re not using these fats to make soap, here.  No, we’re talking about feeding innocent, trusting creatures… beings most of us consider members of our own families.

And to dog food buyers (the rest of us)…

Together, we must hold the pet food industry accountable to the same standard we set for the products we feed to our own children.

We should expect all dog food companies to always act in the best interest of our pets… first… before making profits the overriding theme of their businesses.

So… What Can We Do?

We can reward those more responsible manufacturers with our dog food dollars… and reject those companies who selfishly make profit the central goal of their operations.

Our dogs trust us… and for this… they deserve nothing less.

Remember.  Bad dog food sucks.  Spread the word.

Zero.  Nada.  Zip.  That’s how many carbohydrates are required by a dog to sustain life.

The fact that a dog food doesn’t need to contain any “carbs” at all… may seem hard to believe.

But it’s true.

You see, according to the National Research Council… and compared to the other major nutrients… proteins and fats… no carbohydrates appear to be “essential” for the typical canine diet.¹

Dogs don’t need corn.  They don’t need wheat… barley… or potatoes.  They simply don’t need these ingredients… at all.

Yet surprisingly, carbohydrates represent the most common raw materials used for making dry dog food.

How can this be?

Why Dog Food Companies Love Carbohydrates

Since the early 1950s, dog food manufacturers everywhere have fallen head-over-heels in love with carbohydrates because they’re…

• Cheap (much cheaper than protein or fat)
• Abundant (simple to acquire)
• Durable (long shelf life)
• Necessary for the process of making kibble

Please notice that not one of these reasons has anything to do with canine nutrition.  Not one.

Are They Safe for Dogs?

Now, don’t get me wrong.  Carbohydrates aren’t bad for dogs.  No, in reasonable amounts they can actually provide a practical source of energy.

The problem lies in their quantity.

The amount of carbohydrates consumed using a dog’s “ancestral diet” as a model is dramatically less than what has become “the norm” for products created by the pet food industry.

One responsible source estimates natural carbohydrate consumption for a dog’s ancestors at around 14 percent of total diet.²

Yet today’s dry kibble averages somewhere between 46 and 74 percent carbohydrate.³

The Numbers Aren’t Even Close

Wow… that’s roughly four times the amount of “carbs” found in the canine ancestral diet.

It looks like the pet food industry may have taken advantage of the dog’s remarkable willingness to eat just about anything.

OK… maybe the ancestral diet represents an extreme.  But considering the dog’s evolutionary background… it just seems that manufacturers may have gone too far in the opposite direction.

Doesn’t it make sense for a dog’s diet to be more balanced… more “natural”… more like the canine ancestral diet?  With more protein and fat… and fewer carbohydrates?

My Strongest Recommendation

When choosing dog food, it makes good sense to favor products lower in carbohydrates.  That’s because as the carbohydrate percentage of the overall “pie” falls… its protein and fat content must necessarily rise.

Simple math.

And remember… even though most dog food companies fail to disclose the percentage of carbohydrates contained in their products… the Dog Food Advisor reports an estimate of this all-important figure inside every review.

So… always favor dog foods rich in meat-based protein.  You’ll be providing your pet with a diet closer to the one she was naturally designed to eat.

Plus, you may even be adding years of good health to your best friend’s life.

Never forget.  Bad dog food sucks.  Spread the word.

And the debate just goes on. Are dogs carnivores… or omnivores?

You know, when it comes to choosing a top dog food, you simply have to know the answer to that question.  And you need to know the truth.

Yet if you’ve already been told dogs are omnivores… creatures that eat both meat and plants… then what you’re about to hear may be hard to accept.

That’s because scientific evidence clearly points to the fact that…

Dogs Have a Genuine Carnivorous Bias

From DNA studies, we know that dogs evolved directly from the timber wolf somewhere around 15,000 years ago¹.

And, of course, it should come as no surprise… wolves were… and still are… carnivores.

So, by their very genetic pedigree, dogs (too) are carnivores… not herbivores (plant-eaters).  Their teeth, their digestive systems and their behavior clearly confirm this fact.

Now, to be fair… and more accurate… dogs must also be recognized for their significant omnivorous ability.

After all, it’s true.  They do have the ability to eat a remarkably diverse diet.  But it’s wrong to ignore the fact that their bodies are optimized for eating meat.

Dogs Don’t Grind… They Chop

For comparison, think about a typical herbivore… a dairy cow.  Now, picture the way they “chew their cud”.

Cows chew widely from side-to-side.  And they have broad, flat back teeth… ideal for grinding grains and plant material into finer particles.

Even omnivores share this same combination of boxy back teeth and sideways grinding motion common to herbivores.  Think of your own mouth and how you chew.

Dogs, on the other hand, don’t have flat teeth.  Like most carnivores, they have narrow pointy back teeth.

Plus dogs can’t chew from side-to-side.  Their jaws can only move in an up-and-down, chop-chop motion.

It’s the perfect combination for cutting meat into smaller chunks.

Why Dogs Don’t “Do” Carbohydrates Very Well

Now, herbivores (and omnivores) have one powerful weapon carnivores usually lack…

Salivary amylase.

Amylase is a special enzyme plant-eating animals produce in their saliva.  It’s needed to initiate the break down of starchy carbohydrates… before they enter the stomach.

Now, meat-eating animals also produce amylase… but the enzyme is produced further down the digestive tract… in the small intestine.

The fact that a carnivore’s saliva is basically amylase-free makes carbohydrate digestion decidedly more difficult for a dog.

Meat-Eater… or Plant Eater?
Digestive Anatomy Reveals the Truth

Since they eat fewer but larger meals, carnivores have bigger stomachs than their “grazing”, plant-eating counterparts.

What’s more, meat-eating animals maintain a much higher stomach acid concentration.  This allows faster, easier digestion of animal protein… and kills the disease-causing bacteria abundant in decaying meat.

The small intestine also highlights the significant difference in digestive designs.

Herbivores have an intestinal system that’s unusually long… sometimes greater than ten times the length of the animal’s body.  Longer tracts like this are a requirement for consuming a plant-based diet.

Dogs Are Optimized for Eating Meat

As you can see, the evidence clearly supports it.  Dogs are designed to be carnivores.  Yet the facts clearly confirm their unusually flexible diet.

Dogs have evolved over thousands of years in the constant shadow of Man… mostly surviving on the very food scraps and leftovers of human existence.

Simply put…

Dogs can eat a variety of foods.  But they’re naturally designed for eating meat

Today, the dog food market is literally overflowing with different product designs.

Some feature meat.  Some, vegetables.  And yet others are made almost entirely of cereal grains… and nearly meat-free.

So, how do you choose the right one for your pet?

The Bottom Line

Well, just knowing that dogs are naturally built for consuming meat can make it a lot easier to identify the better dog food products out there.

Even though properly designed vegetarian dog foods have been proven to work, it’s important to give preference to meat-based products.

All in all, meat-based dog foods are simply closer to a dog’s natural diet… more like “the real thing”.

That’s why meat ingredients should always be the first thing you should look for at the top of any dog food’s ingredients list.

OK, let’s play a little game… shall we?  Here’s the question…

What’s the one nutrient a dog simply cannot live long without?

A nutrient so important… so vital… no dog could survive deprived of it for more than a few days… before ultimately dying an awful death.

Think about it.

Is it protein?  Fat?  Or maybe some vitamin… or mineral?

Well, surprising enough… it’s none of these.

I’m talking about water.

Water… The Forgotten Nutrient

You see, water is probably the most overlooked… taken-for-granted canine nutrient your dog counts on you to provide.

I know, I know… it’s difficult to think of water as a nutrient.

But it is.  And compared to the other five nutrient “families”… proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals… it’s unquestionably the most important.

Dogs need constant access to water.  It’s the one (and only) nutrient that must be served “ad libitum”.  That is, “on demand”… instantly available whenever a dog’s natural urge to drink calls for it.

That’s because water is forever being lost through the urine and feces.

Plus… since dogs can’t sweat to stay cool, they lose a lot of moisture through the “cooling effect of evaporation”… as they breathe… and pant… to control body temperature.

And that brings me to my number one dog feeding pet peeve…

Canine Water Negligence

Water negligence is the dangerous practice of failing to provide adequate, fresh (uncontaminated) drinking water for every dog.

Unfortunately, this problem is far too common.  That’s because most people are simply unaware they’re doing anything wrong.

For example, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken my family to the beach on a hot day… only to watch (in disbelief) as a dog pants in thirst… while her owner sits under an umbrella… sipping a cold drink!

Or that far more common habit of supplying water that’s been allowed to become dangerously polluted with germs from the dog’s own mouth.

This hazardous situation is caused by using too small a water bowl… or allowing the water volume in any container to become perilously low… thus “concentrating” the germ population to a recklessly high level.

By the way… this problem can be aggravated by forgetting to wipe away that slimy, germ-laden “biofilm” from inside the water bowl… at least once each day.

And tainted water can increase the risk of intestinal disease.

How to Avoid Dehydration and Disease

So, follow these recommendations to ensure your dog stays adequately (and safely) hydrated at all times…

1.  Use an oversize bowl and fill it with fresh drinking water

2.  Change all water at least twice each day

3.  Wipe away any biofilm from inside the bowl

4.  Keep dog bowls as clean as you keep your own dishware

5.  Never separate your dog from her drinking water at any time

6.  Carry fresh water and serving bowls with you when traveling

By the way, Patti and I regularly place Bailey’s food and water bowls in the dishwasher for a thorough scrubbing.  They come out sparkling clean… and ready to serve up a nutritious diet.

Give it a try.

I’m always amazed at the obsession most people have about dog food protein.

Especially since protein isn’t even considered an “essential” nutrient.

Surprised?

Well, it’s the stuff protein is actually made of that’s considered essential… not the protein itself.

I’m talking about amino acids.

You see, amino acids are the basic building blocks of all protein.

Think of protein as a freight train… with each “car” of that train being an amino acid.  It’s the kind of cars… as well as the order in which they are arranged… that makes each protein unique.

Ten Critical ‘Life-or-Death’ Nutrients

Every dog has the natural ability to make her own amino acids… except for ten very special ones… ten “essential” amino acids that absolutely must come from the diet.

Otherwise, a dog could suffer serious health consequences… or maybe even death.

These ten essential amino acids are…

• Arginine
• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Threonine
• Tryptophane
• Valine

So, What Happens When One Is Missing?

Proteins are manufactured by a dog’s cells in a step-by-step, assembly line fashion.  If just one amino acid is lacking, the entire process shuts down.

This missing nutrient is known as the “limiting amino acid”.  That’s because its absence “limits” the process from using any of the other available amino acids altogether.

So, every dog food must contain all ten.

Don’t Count Protein… Count Amino Acids

Now, trying to judge a dog food strictly by the amount of protein it contains can be very misleading.

You see, just because a dog food boasts a high protein percentage doesn’t mean it contains the right amino acids.

So, how can you improve the odds a product will meet a dog’s amino acid needs?

Well, remember… proteins are made completely from amino acids.

So, all you need to do is find a protein source rich in all ten essential nutrients… and you’ve got a quality ingredient.

The Best Sources of Essential Amino Acids

Now, generally speaking… animal-based protein sources contain a more favorable essential amino acid content… than non-animal sources.

But the right combination of vegetable proteins can also satisfy a dog’s amino acid needs.

The main thing to remember?  Don’t fall in love with any dog food just because it reports a lot of protein in its Guaranteed Analysis.

Sure… a higher protein content usually indicates you’ve probably come across a better dog food… but only if you take the time to confirm the protein comes from a quality ingredient.

OK. In Part 1 we talked about what fiber really is… and why it’s only found in vegetables and grains.  And never in meat.

We also talked about…

• A simple way to reduce the risk of canine colon cancer
• How to use fiber to prevent both constipation and diarrhea
• A clever way to “dilute” a dog food’s caloric content… and achieve sure-fire weight loss

And then there’s that important difference between the two kinds of fiber… soluble and insoluble.

Now, here are still more amazing benefits of dog food fiber…

Helping Your Dog Avoid the Debilitating
Consequences of Uncontrolled Diabetes

In the intestine, water-holding fiber creates a barrier that can slow the absorption of nutrients¹.  And it can also delay the time it takes for the stomach to empty².

That’s why fiber is so effective at managing the wild swings in blood sugar often associated with canine diabetes.  This seems especially true for dog food recipes containing higher amounts of insoluble fiber³.

It’s easy to see why high fiber diets are a standard recommendation for dogs diagnosed with this debilitating disease.

Preventing the Agony of Inflamed Anal Glands

Many have watched in utter bewilderment as their dogs dragged their backsides curiously against the floor… in obvious distress.

This not-so-unusual practice is known to veterinarians as “scooting”.  And it’s caused by a blocked glands found on either side of a dog’s anus.

Dog food fiber can provide a solution to this familiar problem.

As you know, fiber can absorb water and produce added bulk.  These enlarged stools place pressure on the anal sacs during defecation… and can induce natural drainage of these swollen glands.

And welcome relief for your pet.

How to Take Advantage of
the Amazing Benefits of Dog Food Fiber

Sp, when choosing dog food it’s important to become keenly aware of the one thing most shoppers innocently overlook… dietary fiber.

Here’s what to look for…

The Guaranteed Analysis part of a dog food label lists crude fiber on its standard info panel.  The word “crude” (as it’s used here) refers only to the method of measuring the fiber… not to its quality.

Today, the average dry dog food shows crude fiber at 2.5 to 4.5 percent.  But its concentration in many reduced-calorie products may be as high as 9 or 10 percent ⁴.

And yes… it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.  That’s because excess fiber can decrease the digestibility of other important nutrients.

Not to mention the fact that different fiber ingredients produce different results.  Beet pulp, for example, has been shown to provide good stool characteristics… without compromising the digestibility of a dog food’s other nutrients⁵.

So, What’s the Bottom Line?

Even though fiber is not considered an essential nutrient, its remarkable benefits make dog foods containing a reasonable amount of it worthy of your consideration.

Likewise, products with fiber content anywhere near or below the lower end of this range… may not be as desirable.

And it’s probably a good idea to stay away from dog foods where crude fiber exceeds 10 percent.

Of course, be sure to check with your vet if there’s any question about specific health issues before trying to treat them yourself.

If you missed Part1 of this article… be sure to read The Amazing Benefits of Dog Food Fiber (Part 1).

By now, you’ve probably heard a lot about the benefits of dietary fiber. And if you haven’t… you really need to.

Because fiber might just be one of the most amazing (and overlooked) nutrients in dog food.

You simply won’t believe what it can do for your dog.

Now, before we talk about fiber’s many talents, what exactly is it?

Well, dietary fiber represents that part of edible plants that can’t be digested¹.

Because fiber is only found in the wall of a cell… and since animal cells don’t have cell walls… fiber can only come from vegetables and grains.  Never from meat.

Basically, dietary fiber includes the carbohydrate remnants of plant cells… after digestion.

There are two kinds…

• Soluble fiber
• Insoluble fiber

In a nutshell, one dissolves in water and the other doesn’t.  That’s why each contributes different benefits to a dog food recipe.

Fiber Helps Prevent Constipation… and Diarrhea

Yes, you heard that right.  It can do both!

That’s because insoluble fiber absorbs water… like a sponge  So, it can attract moisture from outside the colon and into a dog’s stools… to help promote regular bowel movements.

And in certain conditions… it can also absorb excess water from inside the colon… to help control diarrhea, too.

Fiber is a stool “normalizer”.  It’s the perfect solution to many canine regularity problems.

Imagine… help for both constipation and diarrhea… from the same nutrient.

Fiber May Help Reduce the Risk of Colon Cancer

In a dog’s gut, good bacteria ferment fiber to create special “short chain fatty acids” that can help a dog’s colon repair itself… and prevent cancer.

But fiber can help in another way, too.

As water is absorbed into the colon, fecal matter swells against the colon wall.  This pressure causes muscle contractions… which can speed food faster through the digestive tract.

This faster “transit” time allows less contact between the colon wall and dangerous cancer-causing substances.

Fiber Helps Promote Weight Loss

Adding fiber to any dog food “dilutes” its caloric content.  So, there are fewer calories per serving.  And that can significantly aid in weight loss.

As fiber absorbs water, it expands… causing a dog to stop eating sooner.  That’s because (in dog’s) a full stomach signals “satiety”… or hunger satisfaction² .

So, dogs feel fuller… and consume less energy… fewer calories… per meal³.

A recent study showed that dogs fed a high fiber diet lost more than five times the fat mass of dogs fed a low fiber diet⁴.

As a matter of fact, trying to bring about canine weight loss without using dietary fiber makes the whole process needlessly more difficult.

Continue on to Part 2 and discover…

• How to help your dog avoid the misery of uncontrolled diabetes
• The one valuable detail most dog food shoppers innocently overlook
• The ideal fiber content to look for on a dog food label

Continue on to read The Amazing Benefits of Dog Food Fiber (Part 2).

Have you ever seen a dog eating an orange?  Or a lemon?

Probably, not.  That’s because unlike humans… who require vitamin C to sustain life… dogs possess the natural ability to make their own.

Without vitamin C humans get a disease called scurvy… and die.  Dogs do fine without it.

Just the same, there have been some reports claiming the vitamin may be beneficial in the treatment of bladder infections… or even hip dysplasias.

Unfortunately, those claims are only anecdotal and have not yet been scientifically confirmed by what’s known as “peer-reviewed” research.

So, don’t worry if you don’t find vitamin C… or any of the vegetables or fruits that naturally contain it… on your dog food’s ingredient list.

Your dog can take care of that nutritional shortfall… all by herself.

Adult dogs can vary in size from 2 pounds to 250 pounds¹.  So, with such a huge range of sizes, how can you figure out how much food your dog needs?

OK… time to get a little technical.

First, it’s important to know your dog’s energy requirements are not linearly proportional to his body weight.

In other words… they’re not related to each other… in a straight line.

A dog weighing fifty pounds does not necessarily use five times more energy than one weighing just ten.

No… a dog’s energy requirements are not linearly related to his body weight.  They’re related to his metabolic weight… the virtual weight of his energy-using tissues… his muscles, his organs, and so on.

Of course… energy needs are also related to a dog’s activity level… how much he uses those tissues, too.  Is your dog active… or inactive?  Is he a puppy… an adult… or a senior?

An internationally respected veterinary research institute has developed a formula that uses a dog’s metabolic weight to scientifically determine his energy needs².

Click here to use our Dog Food Calculator to reveal your dog’s daily energy requirements.