Feeding & Nutrition

Food Amounts Vary by Age

• Puppies (dogs less than one year old) require more protein and calories than adult dogs and they typically need to be fed three to four times a day from weaning to six months, and two to three times a day from six months to a year. When choosing puppy food, make sure you select a name-brand food that is specifically labeled for puppies.
• Adult dogs need to be fed according to their lifestyles. Active dogs will need a higher caloric intake than sedentary dogs. Adult dogs typically need to be fed twice a day. Observe your pet-if it seems to be overweight or underweight, you should consult your veterinarian and consider a change in its diet.
• Aging dogs often need special nutritional attention. Your vet may suggest certain supplements to combat joint problems or other age-related issues.

Necessary Nutrients

A dog's nutritional health depends on receiving the correct amounts and proportions of nutrients from the six required groups: water, protein, fat, carbohydrate, minerals and vitamins. With the exception of water, commercial dog foods identified as 100% complete and balanced contain all of these required nutrients.

Water

Water is essential in helping regulate body temperature, lubrication of body tissues and as a fluid medium for the blood and lymph systems. Because water is involved in practically every reaction within an animal's body, any large deviation will be associated with adverse effects. A dog's body, therefore, has several systems designed to maintain constant water balance.

Water intake is controlled by thirst, hunger, metabolic activity (work, gestation, lactation, growth), and the environment (humidity and temperature).

Dogs obtain water from the water they drink, fluid ingested with food, and water generated from metabolic processes in the body.

Water is lost in urine, feces, respiration, and to a small extent in flakes of skin, saliva, and nasal secretions. For nursing females, water will also be required for milk production.

A dog's water requirement is determined in large part by the amount of food they consume each day. A general guideline is that dogs require 1 ml of water for each kcal of energy.

Energy is measured in calories and a calorie is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water from 14.5 degrees Celsius to 15.5 degrees Celsius. Because this amount of heat is so small, it is common to describe energy requirements and the energy content of foods in kilocalories (1000 calories = 1 kcal). The term Calorie, written with a capital C, is often used to refer to the amount of energy in 1 kilocalorie of food.

Food and Water Consumption

As food intake increases, a dog's water intake also increases. When the water content of a diet increases, the dog usually drinks less water. Therefore, dogs consuming canned diets, which contain approximately 70-75% water, will generally drink less water than dogs consuming dry diets, which contain about 8-12% water.

Protein

Protein is an essential nutrient and serves numerous functions in the body, including muscle growth, tissue repair, enzymes, transporting oxygen in the blood, immune functions, hormones, and as a source of energy. A protein is defined as a group of amino acids linked to each other in different quantities and sequences. Each protein has a precise combination of amino acids that is specific for that protein, and the arrangement of amino acids determines the specific nature of a protein. Dietary protein that is digested in the stomach and small intestine is broken down to form free amino acids which are then absorbed into the bloodstream. Amino acids are distributed to various cells of the body where they are utilized to build body proteins.

Over twenty amino acids are involved in the synthesis of protein in the body. Essential amino acids are those that cannot be formed fast enough or in sufficient amounts to meet the requirements for growth and maintenance and, therefore, must be supplied in the diet. Nonessential amino acids are those that the body can produce in sufficient amounts from other nutrients and metabolites and, thus, do not need to be supplied in the diet.

Although essential amino acids are not stored as such in the body for any significant period of time, they are constantly metabolized. Consequently, they must be provided simultaneously in the proper proportions in a pet's diet. Essential amino acids for dogs include:

• arginine
• histidine
• isoleucine
• leucine
• lysine
• methionine
• phenylalanine
• threonine
• tryptophan
• valine

Sources of Protein

Protein is derived from both animal and plant sources. Most protein ingredients contain inadequate amounts of one or more amino acids and are thus inefficient if used as the sole source for meeting protein needs. However, by careful selection and combination of different protein sources, these inefficiencies can be completely overcome. For example, soybean meal and corn complement each other perfectly, because the amino acids which are deficient in one are present in the other. Neither meat nor soybean meal is an ideal source of protein; however, either can be adequate if fed in combination with another complementary source of amino acids.

Protein Digestibility

To evaluate the protein levels of different dog foods, two factors should be considered. One is the level of protein and the other is the protein digestibility, or availability of the protein to a dog, which can be determined only by controlled feeding studies. Two diets may have the same protein level listed on their packages, but the results of dog digestion studies may indicate very different levels of protein digestibility. For example, a dog food which contains 21% protein with 85% digestibility would deliver equal amounts of protein as a diet containing 23% protein with 78% digestibility.

In addition to the protein level, quality control during processing of dog foods is important. Protein may be damaged by excessive heat processing, but most reputable dog food manufacturers use proper cooking methods and employ quality control measures to ensure that products are made properly. Because information about protein digestibility is not listed on dog food labels, the manufacturer's reputation is important.

Excesses and Deficiencies

In dogs fed diets containing more protein than is needed, extra protein is metabolized and used for energy. Unlike fat, there is a limit to the amount of protein stored as such in the body. Once the demand for amino acids is met and protein reserves are filled, protein energy could potentially go to the production of fat.

Protein is an essential nutrient. Dogs fed diets too low in dietary protein may develop signs of deficiency. These may include a depressed or decreased appetite, poor growth, weight loss, rough and dull haircoat, decreased immune function, lower reproductive performance, and decreased milk production. Dogs can also experience subclinical protein deficiencies. In such a condition, they may appear perfectly healthy, yet they may be more susceptible to infections and other environmental stresses.

Carbohydrate sources

Carbohydrate sources are sugars, starches and dietary fiber. Simple sugars are the smallest carbohydrate molecules and are easily digested and absorbed. By contrast, complex carbohydrate, or starches, are combinations of simple sugars forming long chains which require more digestion before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Dietary fibers are carbohydrate which are not digestible by dogs or other mammals.

In manufactured pet foods, most dietary carbohydrate are supplied by cereal grains, such as wheat, corn and rice.

The primary site of carbohydrate digestion is in the small intestine, where these complex compounds are broken down to glucose (a simple sugar). Glucose is the normal source of energy used by most cells in the body.

When dogs consume diets containing more than are needed, excess carbohydrate energy is stored in the form of glycogen in the liver and muscles and is converted to fat and stored in adipose tissues. During periods of fasting, stress, or exercise, glycogen is broken down to glucose and delivered to the bloodstream where it is distributed to all body tissues.

The primary function of carbohydrate is to provide energy.

Carbohydrate in dog food

Carbohydrate may make up 40 to 55% of dry diets. A large portion of the carbohydrate in dog foods is derived from cereal grains. Cereal grains are usually processed by grinding, flaking or cooking. These processes improve palatability and digestibility. Raw or improperly cooked starches are poorly digestible, so careful processing is important to make highly digestible pet foods.

Here is a list of some common sources of digestible carbohydrate found in dog foods:

Cereal Grain or flour from:

• Corn
• Oats
• Rice
• Barley
• Wheat
• Sorghum

The bran or hulls from grains and other vegetable products provide some common sources of dietary fiber in pet foods:

• Soybean hulls
• Wheat bran
• Beet pulp
• Rice bran
• Oat bran
• Pea fiber

Fat

Fat is a concentrated form of energy. Compared to protein and carbohydrate, fat contains approximately two and a half times the amount of energy per pound. Most dietary fat is made up of triglycerides, which is a group of three fatty acids linked together. Fatty acids can be classified by the length of their carbon chain, by the presence or absence of double bonds, the number of double bonds, the position of those bonds along the carbon chain, and by their melting point.

Fat with no double bond at all is called saturated fat. Fat containing fatty acid chains with a double bond is called unsaturated fat. These may vary from a single double bond in the fatty acid molecule (monounsaturated) to fatty acids with many double bonds (polyunsaturated). Saturated fat is generally solid at room temperature and unsaturated fat is usually liquid.

Fat digestion is more complex than that of protein or carbohydrate. Still, healthy dogs can digest fat with great efficiency, approximately 90-95%.

In addition to being a source of energy, fat is needed as a source of essential fatty acids. The polyunsaturated essential fatty acids are important for normal skin and hair coat, normal immune function, and many other aspects of health.

Minerals

Minerals are relatively simple molecules compared to other nutrients which can be large and complex. Nutritional issues related to minerals include the amount of each in the diet, proper balance of all minerals, and the availability of minerals in the dog's food.

Minerals perform many different functions in the body such as bone and cartilage formation, enzymatic reactions, maintaining fluid balance, transportation of oxygen in the blood, normal muscle and nerve function, and the production of hormones. While the function of some minerals can be separated from that of others, it is impossible to adequately nourish a dog without providing all the minerals in their proper proportions. This is due to the fact that minerals interact in many aspects of body function and maintenance.

Supplementation of any one mineral to an otherwise balanced diet can create imbalances and possibly disrupt an animal's nutritional health. Manufacturers producing good quality dog foods maintain a safety margin for all essential nutrients in the product formulation to compensate for any loss during normal processing and storage and for the variation in the needs of individual dogs.

Situations requiring supplementation should be addressed by a veterinarian. Supplementation may sometimes be needed to correct a specific deficiency due to a dog's inability to utilize the normal level of a particular nutrient.

The minerals are usually grouped into macro and micro categories. Macro-minerals are needed in greater amounts in the diet, and found in larger amounts in the body than micro-minerals.

Macro-minerals

• Calcium (Ca)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Sodium (Na)
• Chloride (Cl)
• Potassium (K)
• Magnesium (Mg)

Micro-minerals

• Iron (Fe)
• Zinc (Zn)
• Copper (Cu)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Selenium (Se)
• Iodine (I)

Calcium and phosphorus are essential minerals and are necessary for normal bone development, as well as numerous metabolic functions. These minerals provide rigidity to bones and teeth, aid in normal blood coagulation, aid in controlling passage of fluids through cell walls, and are necessary for nerve excitability.

Sodium and chloride serve largely as fluid-regulating minerals to help maintain the balance between fluids inside and outside individual cells of the body. Sodium aids in the transfer of nutrients to cells and the maintenance of water balance among the tissues and organs. Chloride is required for the formation of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach which helps in the digestion of protein, as well as helping to maintain acid-base balance throughout the body.

Potassium is found in high concentrations within cells and is required for proper enzyme, muscle, and nerve functions, as well as helping to maintain fluid balance throughout the body. Potassium is widely distributed in foodstuffs and deficiencies in the diet are not likely when dogs are fed complete and balanced dog foods. Like sodium and chloride, potassium deficiency can occur in dogs that have chronic diarrhea and/or vomiting or other illness.

Magnesium is important as a structural component of both muscle and bone, and it plays a key role in many enzymatic reactions throughout the body. Some attributes of magnesium are also common to calcium, potassium, and sodium. Calcium and phosphorus influence magnesium balance, because high amounts of calcium or phosphorus decrease the absorption of magnesium from the intestinal tract.

Although the bodies of dogs contain only about 0.004% iron, it plays a central role in life processes. A small amount of iron (heme) combines with a large protein (globin) to make hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying compound in red blood cells. Iron is also an important component of the enzymes needed for energy utilization.

Iron is absorbed primarily from the small intestine. The absorption of this mineral is rapid. Red blood cells and their hemoglobin are constantly being destroyed and replaced throughout life, especially during growth, so an adequate supply of iron is essential.

Zinc is important in the production of proteins and a functional immune system, as well as for DNA and cellular turnover. Some 300 enzyme systems are also dependent upon zinc including enzymes which protect cells from damage caused by oxidation. Zinc is present in natural feedstuffs and can be added as zinc salts or other complexes into complete pet foods.

Manganese is an essential element for many animal species. The name, manganese, is derived from Latin for a form of magnetic stone, magnesia.

Manganese occurs in the body principally in the liver, but it is also present in appreciable amounts in the kidney, pancreas, and bone. The lowest concentrations are found in skeletal muscle. Despite the small total supply in the body, this element has several essential functions involving protein and carbohydrate metabolism and reproduction. More specifically, manganese is thought to be an activator of enzyme systems involved in the production of energy, fatty acid synthesis, and amino acid metabolism. The functions of manganese, copper, zinc, and iron may be interchangeable in certain enzyme systems.

Copper is another mineral that is important for energy metabolism and oxygen transportation in the bloodstream. Copper absorption is generally greater (60 to 70%) in younger animals than in older animals (10 to 20%). This mineral is absorbed in the stomach and small intestine, and stored primarily in the liver, kidney, and brain. The availability of natural dietary copper is reduced by phytates, by high levels of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), by increased levels of calcium, zinc, iron and sulfur, and by some toxic metals such as cadmium, silver, or lead.

The functions of copper in the body are quite varied because it is involved in collagen and elastic connective tissue formation, the development and maturation of red blood cells, antioxidant functions, as well as providing pigmentation for hair and wool.

Selenium. This trace element was one of the few nutrients to be identified as a toxic substance long before it was found to be an essential nutrient for animals. Although selenium is required in the smallest amount of any of the generally accepted trace elements, it is also the most toxic if consumed in excess. Selenium works in conjunction with Vitamin E to act as an antioxidant in the body and it is necessary for normal immune function. Selenium is usually added as a separate ingredient in commercial pet foods to assure an appropriate supply.

Iodine is critical for the production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. The primary function of these hormones is to regulate and influence basal metabolic rates of the body (for example, how quickly an animal metabolizes or burns up energy after eating a meal). Without the thyroid gland, or the adequate function of these hormones, a dog would exhibit poor growth, hair loss, weight gain, and extreme weakness.

Vitamins

The scientific recognition of the existence of vitamins at the beginning of the 20th century resulted from the efforts of a number of researchers working independently in several countries. They recognized that diets composed of purified ingredients were not able to support the life of experimental laboratory animals and had the curiosity to find out why. The isolation of vitamins and the definition of their functions in the body, the discovery of the "therapeutic" value of minute quantities, and the nutrient profile of ingredients with respect to vitamins have profoundly affected animal (and human!) nutrition.

Compared to the other groups of nutrients, vitamins are required in the smallest amounts. And unlike minerals, vitamins are complex substances. Vitamins are classified as either fat-soluble (Vitamins A, D, E, K) or water-soluble (B-Vitamins and Vitamin C). Fat-soluble vitamins depend on the presence of dietary fat and normal fat absorption for their uptake and utilization in the body.

Like so many of the other nutrients discussed thus far, vitamins work in concert with other vitamins and nutrients to nourish the animal. This makes it important to provide balanced amounts of vitamins and other nutrients in complete diets. Adding supplements to diets which are already complete and balanced may create imbalances with detrimental effects.

FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Vitamin A has been the subject of much research in the fields of animal nutrition and veterinary medicine. Vitamin A has a number of functions necessary for the health and well-being of animals including a role in normal vision, growth, immune system function and reproduction. In addition, Vitamin A and its precursor, beta-caroten, have antioxidant functions. The plant source of Vitamin A is beta-carotene which animals must convert to the actual vitamin before it becomes active and functions as Vitamin A.

Although Vitamin D (cholecalciferol) is considered a vitamin, it is also considered a hormone and is one of three major hormones involved in the regulation of calcium in the body. Its primary functions are to help in the mineralization of bone and to increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine. Vitamin D can be acquired in the diet, or, in most species, it can be produced in the skin following exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.

Vitamin E is used to describe a family of chemical compounds called tocopherols, derived from the Greek words meaning child-bearing, which refers to its role in reproduction. It is also known for its action as a biological antioxidant. Tocopherols are found in plant oils, particularly in association with the polyunsaturated oils from seeds such as safflower and wheat germ, or soybean oil. Lack of Vitamin E in the diet could result in damage to the wall or membrane of cells throughout the body. As a nutrient, Vitamin E works in conjunction with other nutrients and compounds (selenium, a micro mineral, and glutathione, an amino acid-derived compound) as an antioxidant to minimize damage to cells from oxidation.

Some tocopherols are more active in the body than others. The alpha form of the vitamin is the most active as a nutrient, and it is the compound added to dog food to meet the animal's dietary requirement. When Vitamin E is used as a preservative, a mixture of several forms of tocopherol are added to help prevent oxidation of the fat in the diet. The form of tocopherol most effective at preventing oxidation of fat in foods has low biological activity in the body and is not considered part of the nutrient content of the diet.

There is no known toxicity due to oral ingestion of even moderately high amounts of Vitamin E in animals. Good quality commercial dog foods contain adequate amounts of this vitamin to meet a dog's dietary needs.

Vitamin K was the last of the four fat-soluble vitamins to be discovered. The most common forms of Vitamin K in the diet are called menadione and phylloquinone, which come from green, leafy plants and vegetables. The major function of this vitamin is as a clotting agent within the blood.

WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS

B-complex vitamins are those vitamins originally identified as B1, B2, B6, B12 and others which are listed below. These vitamins are required in small amounts in the daily diet and are essential to many functions in the body. Although these nutrients don't provide energy in and of themselves, they are critical in the metabolism of protein, carbohydrate and fat, which results in energy for body processes. Unlike the fat-soluble vitamins, the B Vitamins are not stored to any extent in the body and must be consumed daily.

Water-Soluble B Vitamins include:

• Thiamine (B1)
• Niacin
• Riboflavin (B2)
• Pantothenic acid
• Pyridoxine (B6)
• Biotin
• Vitamin B12
• Choline
• Folic acid
• Inositol

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is also a water-soluble vitamin and has a primary metabolic role in the body of all mammals involving the synthesis or production of collagen. While ascorbic acid is essential in the diet of humans, other primates and guinea pigs, dogs have no dietary requirement for this vitamin since they make their own Vitamin C.

Feeding During Pregnancy

Regardless of the breed of dog, the female should be at least one year of age and in at least the second heat period before she is bred. If males are overweight, they may be physiologically and anatomically inefficient for mating. Overweight females can have lower conception rates and more problems at whelping. If possible, each dog should be fed as an individual to achieve and maintain normal body condition.

During the last two to three weeks, requirements for all nutrients for pregnant females will increase, and caloric requirements can be met during this last trimester by gradually increasing the female's food intake. Diets containing more than 1600 metabolizable calories per pound of food and at least 21% protein are recommended. The easiest way to ensure proper nutrition is to feed a good-quality dog food that is labeled complete and balanced for reproduction and growth, or for all life stages.

Unless a female has a tendency to put on too much weight during pregnancy, she can be given all the food she wants to eat. It is not unusual for a pregnant female to temporarily decrease her intake at about three to four weeks into the pregnancy. Normally, she will eat more during the latter phase of pregnancy. However, if this does not occur and body condition begins to deteriorate, steps should be taken to increase food intake. This can be done by moistening dry food with warm water to improve palatability, or by adding small amounts of canned dog food to the dry food and feeding several times each day. As whelping nears, the female may lose her appetite. This is considered normal behavior, and unless she appears to be having a health problem, no change in the feeding program is necessary. In may cases, food refusal during the ninth week is an indication that whelping will occur within the next 24 to 48 hours. Usually within 24 hours after whelping, the female's appetite will return. After the puppies are born, she should receive all the food she wants.

During reproduction, water serves as a carrier of nutrients to the developing fetus and removes wastes for elimination. Fresh water in a clean bowl should be available at all times.

Feeding During Lactation

The demand for milk by nursing puppies will continue to increase for about 20 to 30 days (or up to 4 weeks). Consequently, the female's food and water requirements increase during this time. At peak lactation, the female's food intake may be two to four times above her usual or maintenance food intake. In order to maintain good body condition and to provide ample amounts of milk for the puppies, nursing females should be offered all the food they want.

Moistening dry dog food with water will help increase food intake during lactation. Another important reason for offering the dry food moistened is that at three to four weeks of age, normal puppies will start nibbling solid food. As puppies begin to eat more solid food, the demand on the female for milk production will decrease. Normally puppies are weaned between six and eight weeks of age, and by weaning time, the female's food consumption should be less than 50 percent above her usual or maintenance level.

To help reduce the milk flow and prevent mammary gland problems, the following procedure for weaning is recommended:

On the day the puppies are weaned, the female should not receive any food, but should have plenty of fresh water to drink. The puppies should be separated from the dam and offered food and water. Dry food moistened with warm water may help stimulate the puppies' food intake. On the day after weaning, the dam should receive 1/4 the amount of food she was fed prior to being bred. The dam and puppies can be grouped together for several hours on the day after weaning so that the pups can nurse the dam dry. On the third day, the female should receive 1/2 the amount fed prior to breeding, and on the fourth day, 3/4 the amount. By the fifth day she should be offered her usual maintenance level of food. If the litter is large, the female may be quite thin when the puppies are weaned. In this case, she should be given extra food after the fifth day of weaning and until her body condition returns to normal.

Refusal To Eat

If your dog is normally not picky about its food and if you have avoided creating "problem eater" habits, a trip to your veterinarian may be in order. Any deviation from his normal habits may be a sign of illness.

Offering variety in pet foods encourages a dog to become a "holdout" to see what it will be offered next. Some dogs are eager to eat a particular pet food for several days. Suddenly this eagerness vanishes and they eat reluctantly or refuse to eat for a few days. This refusal can be the dog's own attempt to control calorie intake. Overeating can cause a dog, like a human, to experience an uncomfortable feeling. The dog will attempt to relieve his discomfort by not eating or eating very little of his food.

Transitioning To a New Food

If for health or other reasons you must change your dog's diet, do it gradually over a seven to ten day period. Add a small amount of the new diet to the food currently being fed. Each day increase the quantity of the new diet and decrease the amount of the old. This gradual diet change helps avoid digestive upsets.

Feeding Nursing Puppies

As a rule of thumb, each puppy in a litter should gain approximately its birth weight each week during the lactation or nursing period.

While most females are excellent mothers, some nervous or inattentive dams may require special attention to help them calm down and accept their new offspring. This may involve working with both the dam and/or puppies, and placing pups near nipples at feeding time. Poorly nursing puppies may be smaller in size, cooler in body temperature and weigh less. Routinely handling the pups will allow for an opportunity to check their condition and progress, although excessive handling may be stressful for the dam and pups and should be avoided.

Introducing Puppies to Solid Foods

By six weeks of age, most puppies are ready to be weaned. If they have started to eat solid foods from the dam's dish, it is not unusual for puppies to begin to wean themselves at about four to five weeks of age.

Young puppies should be fed an appropriate puppy life stage food at least three times a day until their food requirements, per pound of body weight, begin to level off as they mature. Feeding schedules can be reduced to twice a day when pups are four to five months old, and once a day when they are eight months or older. Fresh water in a clean bowl should be available at all times.

Warm water or milk can be used to moisten dry food, however, too much milk can act as a laxative and cause digestive problems for some puppies and adult dogs. One hour should be allowed for a puppy to eat, after which the uneaten portion should be discarded.

Establishing routine eating habits by feeding a puppy in the same place and at the same time each day is recommended and can help in housetraining. Offering human foods from the table is not recommended because it encourages begging and may create a finicky eater. Puppies consuming a complete and balanced diet do not need supplemental vitamins, minerals, or meat.

The amount of food offered to a puppy will vary depending upon its size, activity, metabolism, and environment. For the best results, develop a regular feeding schedule, such as three small meals a day for younger pups. You can gradually reduce to one feeding in the morning and one in the evening as your puppy ages. An overweight puppy not only presents a poor appearance, but the excess weight can cause bone abnormalities. Anytime owners have questions or concerns about their animal's body condition, they should consult their own veterinarian.

Feeding Older Dogs

Aging dogs are defined as older or geriatric when they have reached the last 25 percent of their expected life span:

• Small breed dogs greater than 12 years of age
• Medium breed dogs greater than 10 years of age
• Large breed dogs greater than 9 years of age
• Giant breed dogs greater than 7 years of age

Some signs of aging are described as:

• changes in body weight
• difficulty in locomotion (movement)
• changes in hearing and/or eyesight
• changes in skin and/or haircoat
• changes in urine or bowel habits
• bad breath associated with teeth or mouth problems

Current commercial diets formulated for adult dogs at maintenance generally provide adequate protein. Less active animals may have reduced energy requirements, and caution should be used when feeding energy dense diets to avoid the risk of excessive weight gain.

Foods that can be Hazardous to your Dog

Is There Such a Thing as a Perfect Treat?

• Hard and Crunchy - these treats can be shaped like a bone, a biscuit or any fun shape that your dog might want to "crunch" down on like People Crackers - the people dogs love to eat!
• Soft and Chewy - these treats come in all shapes and sizes. They are often molded into shapes and as the name implies they are easy for your dog to sink his teeth into.
• Natural Treats - these treats are a favorite of most dogs. Whether you give them a piece of chicken jerky or a pig ear, they'll love you forever. These treats are made from natural ingredients and are high in digestible protein.
• Dental Treats - these treats promote healthy teeth and gums. They should also freshen doggie breath. Some are clinically proven to reduce tartar and plaque build up.
• Rawhide Chews - these chews come in many different shapes and sizes. You should be able to find the perfect chew for any size or type of dog.