This can lead to heart failure and death. The diets ingredient choice should focus on its nutritional content. But, recent studies have shown that dogs eating grain-free diets had more advanced DCM than those eating grain-based diets. *. WE ARE COMPENSATED FOR REFERRING TRAFFIC. Because of this, the product can get exposed to contaminants. When Should I Spay or Neuter My Australian Shepherd? Remember: these animals also lick their you know where and hunts lizards!). THE INFORMATION SHARED ON THIS SITE IS THE RESULT OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. You are all happy with your Aussie puppy and trying to get everything ready and prepared. Due to some loose regulations, Food Companies have to put this term on labels. Research must support the choice of ingredients. Here are some examples of dietary needs: Puppy diets need more protein than adult diets. Research must support the choice of ingredients. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. One ingredient may be able to deliver many of the desired nutrients. Some of the fiber is not digestible, which is a good thing. Offering digestible and sustainable ways of providing the nutrients dogs and cats need. Dogs and cats have very different nutritional needs than humans, so they should not eat only what we eat. Amino acids are the basic building blocks that will form the protein. Once again, my intent is not to convince you to like or dislike any ingredient. Does your Pet Food Company own the manufacturing facility? 3.) Animal by-products are nutrient-dense internal organs of animals. Weight loss diets need increased protein to increase the sense of fullness. link to When Should I Spay or Neuter My Australian Shepherd? Always ask your veterinarian any questions you have about your Australian Shepherds diet. Renal Disease Diets need a decreased amount of protein to improve clinical signs. Some Food Companies have their diet made in shared facilities. But, we have to remember that pets and humans have very different nutritional needs. This helps the intestines to absorb water and form stool, preventing constipation. It is known that the deficiency of an amino acid called Taurine is one of the causes of DCM. This ignores your pets proper nutritional content, digestibility, and palatability. To find more information about diets and their relationship with this disease check out the FDA website at: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy. The fact that a human would rather not consume those parts does not mean that they are not nutritional to pets. Other special nutrients are. They also support muscle during weight loss. I sure did, but this book helped me understand why! So, there is not a specific, universal diet that will fit all dogs. People can become fanatical when it comes to defending their diet of choice. Tempting ingredients to us may not always be the best source of nutrients for your furry friend. The ingredients serve as the vehicles to take nutrients through the digestive tract. Lately, grain-free diets have been in this spotlight since they have been linked to a severe health condition in dogs called Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Does the manufacturer meet certification standards for quality manufacturing ? This is the part that can be a bit confusing. Switching foods cold-turkey is never recommended. What is. *Allergies are often caused by the protein source of food. link to Should I Get an Australian Shepherd? WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN AFFILIATE PROGRAMS WITH BLUEHOST, CLCJ, SHAREASALE, AND OTHER SITES. She also enjoys working on her Australian Shepherd Zoe Marie Instagrams page @zoemarietheaussie. She practiced as a small animal surgeon in the University of Sao Paulo Teaching Hospital until she decided to move to Orlando, Florida in 2011. These ingredients are not appealing to humans. How do we know what to believe? Your veterinarian can work with you to transition your pet from one food to another. These diets need decreased fat to promote weight loss but provide optimal energy. Keep in mind is that there is no scientific resource to prove that a grain-free diet is superior to one with grains. }); This post and site may contain affiliate links. The dog diet subject can be quite controversial. But what exactly is it? Different breeds, different ages, and different health conditions have different nutritional needs. 70% of the chicken is water and the other 30% are bone, meat, and fat. AUSSIE UNIVERSITY IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED. It must meet the age, weight/size, lifestyle, and health-specific needs of the particular pet. Research the company and brand you want to use. Make sure they work according to quality standards. TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. It is one of the few ingredients that contain fiber, carbohydrates, protein, fat, minerals, and vitamins. (ISO Food Safety and Handling Standards). 1.) For example: natural vs. commercial, raw vs. cooked, grain-free or with grains, etc. Commercials and ads have many ideas created by business executives and marketing teams. Here are some scientific-based facts behind ingredients so you can make your own, well-informed decision. Some pet food producers choose ingredients according to what is trendy with humans. Corn is actually an excellent source of nutrition. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN BEFORE CHANGING YOUR PETS DIET OR MAKING ANY OTHER HEALTH DECISIONS. Dr Tatiana da Silva graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2000. You dont know what the future will hold for you and your Aussie, but one thing youre certain of is that youd prefer your dog not to have puppies. On her free time she loves to spend quality time with her wife and pets (3 dogs and 3 guinea pigs). Follow these guidelines and know you are feeding your Aussie the best quality food he/she needs. You've only seen one page. For example, chicken, beef, etc. There is nothing allergenic in corn. Now, its time to choose high-quality ingredients that will deliver those desired nutrients. We have lots more on the site to show you. Consider science and testing when choosing the right diet for your Australian Shepherd. The food can become toxic with substances that are not supposed to be there. Chicken meal is nothing more than chicken after the removal of water and fat. These diets help muscle and bone development during growth. Can you verify veterinary, scientific research that supports the represented Pet Food Company. Our goal is to discuss factors you must keep in mind while choosing an appropriate food for your Aussie. like L-carnitine. Also needing increased fat to encourage palatability and provide the appropriate caloric amount. Every diet has a specific nutrient profile. When should you spay or neuter your With nearly 200 unique dog breeds to select from in the United States, you have your work cut out for you in narrowing down just one, but youre trying. Downloadthe FREE Aussie Airplane GameTo Quickly Help Get (And Keep) Your Dog's attention! (and its free! A nutrient profile is the precise nutrient balance to target your dogs needs. Diets are definitely not one size fits all. ALWAYS consult a veterinarian when in doubt about a specific diet. The name By-Product is from a human perspective, so I can see why it can be a bit misleading. If the chicken was used in place of chicken meal, it would require more volume, calories, and fat to achieve the same desired protein amount. Taurine is especially concentrated in the heart muscle and contributes to proper heart function. This is so they can absorb. Then, you come across the question: what should I feed my Aussie? It may even cause adverse symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. This is another example where the term that is used can throw you off. ALL POSTS AND CONTENT ARE THE PROPERTY OF THIS SITE AND CANNOT BE DUPLICATED OR DISTRIBUTED WITHOUT EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION. Taurine is an essential amino acid, which means it cannot be produced by the body and needs to be supplied by the diet. We are referring to the heart, liver, and lungs. aid: '4617337.ed6eab' We will describe the process of how diets form, so we can understand that a little better. Pay attention to quality, digestibility, palatability, and functionality. Does it stand behind the quality of its food? She has been working for Banfield Pet Hospital since validating her Veterinary degree in the USA. reliable? There are some important facts we have to consider when choosing our dogs source of nutrition. Be sure your dog does not have any specific nutrient needs that are not in that specific diet. So the chicken meal is actually a high quality, concentrated protein and it is also easily digested. Just click the link and tell me where to send it!). Next, we discuss more about some of the ingredients that can cause a lot of controversy among pet owners. Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a progressive disease of the heart muscle. This is to help with the weight loss. The heart becomes larger and weaker and is not able to pump adequate amounts of blood through the circulatory system. Thus, the quality of the diet is at risk. Your Australian Shepherd will live a healthy and happy life! It must meet the age, weight/size, lifestyle, and health-specific needs of the particular pet. Research is still ongoing and the question remains whether the DCM is caused by overall lack of taurine in the diet or other dietary factors that interfere with its digestion, absorption, metabolism, and/or excretion. This nifty little e-book contains a simple game you and your Aussie can play right away, as well as a special smacking sound that you can use to get your dogs attention! $rfsn_creative.generate('refersion_client/29703/creatives/dynamic/66122-7ddd993063ecf2f1787f833ee585d1dd.json', { 2.)