A dentist by training, Dr. Mike Sagman is a longtime advocate for animals who owns and manages DogFoodAdvisor.com, a website that helps pet owners make informed decisions about dog food products. At DogFoodAdvisor.com, readers can find insider tips as well as reviews of and ratings for thousands of items. Dr. Mike Sagman and his team at DogFoodAdvisor.com recently shared an article with tips for finding superior dog food brands.The first step in ensuring that your dog is getting the right food is to check product labels. Things to avoid include unidentifiable meat ingredients, questionable by-products, and preservatives. Generally speaking, you should look for foods that contain high-quality versions of not only meat, but also fruit, vegetables, and grains.It’s also important to research the company and manufacturer behind the product you are purchasing. Despite the fact that many dog owners are quick to distrust large pet food companies, it’s the smaller organizations that have a history of creating the highest number of pet food recalls. In fact, the majority of recalled dog foods in recent years have come from the latter. Large corporations like Big Heart, Mars, and Purina, on the other hand, are more likely to produce safe products that adhere to the nutritional claims on the packaging.Regarding nutritional claims, dog owners should be aware that pet food companies are not required to verify the nutrient content or safety of their products. To help ensure that your pet is getting what is listed on the packaging, you must confirm that the food underwent some kind of nutritional testing and the company carefully monitored the safety of the product through internal quality control measures.
A dentist with nearly 40 years of experience, Dr. Mike Sagman launched The Dog Food Advisor (The Advisor) in 2008, following the death of a beloved family pet. His dog Penny was a victim of the largest pet food recall in US history. Through The Advisor website, Dr. Mike Sagman and his team have distributed their reviews and analysis of over 4,500 different types of dog food to help concerned pet owners avoid similar tragedies. Expert contributors at The Advisor provide a wealth of information for dog owners seeking a food for their pet’s specific needs. One common problem requiring a special diet is canine obesity.Many dogs start to get a little thick around the middle due to lack of exercise, larger-than-necessary portions of food, or excessive treats and table food. When a diet is necessary, a dog owner should consider several factors.First, reducing calories isn’t always enough. Unfortunately, many food manufacturers cut calories by reducing the amount of protein and increasing the amount of carbohydrates in their food. Unlike with human dietary recommendations, dogs may not benefit as much from reducing their carb intake when looking for weight loss. When searching for a good food for a dog on a diet, an owner should consider protein, fat, and caloric counts. Senior and light foods may not be the right option.Second, owners should carefully monitor the number of treats they give their dogs. Most dog owners love treating their pets every now and then. Unfortunately, those treats can add up, especially when multiple family members are handing them out. One vet suggests setting aside the amount of treats the dog can have at the beginning of the day. When they are gone, the dog has to wait until the next day, no matter how much he or she begs.Reducing portions is also a good strategy. Cutting a dog’s intake by 15 to 20 percent for six to eight weeks can help with weight loss.Finally, exercise is a must. Burning calories by walking and playing can significantly aid dieting efforts.
