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The Right Food For Your
Dalmatian
Having the proper dog nutrition is
one
of the most important aspects of raising a healthy Dalmatian and yet it
is often the source of controversy among breeders, veterinarians, pet
owners and dog food manufacturers.
All Dalmatians are susceptible to forming life-threatening urinary
tract "stones" though these can be effectively managed with diet.
Although susceptibility to forming these "stones" is present in almost
all Dalmatians, keep in mind that not all Dalmatians will necessarily
form "stones" in their lifetime.
Most dog foods are sold based on how to make a product appealing to
owners instead of what would meet the needs of dogs. Some foods are
marketed on the basis of their protein content, others based on a
"special" ingredient and some are sold because they do not contain
certain ingredients such as preservatives. We want a dog food that
specifically meets our dog's needs, economical and causes few, if any,
problems.
Most foods come in dry, semi-moist and canned forms, and some can now
be purchased frozen. The dry food is the most economical, contain the
least fat and the most preservatives.
The canned food is the most expensive, contain 75% water, usually
contain the most fat, and have the least preservatives. Semi-moist
foods are also expensive and high in sugar content. In feeding the
Dalmatian, the critical part of the diet is not the amount of protein
but rather the type of protein.
Purines are a form of protein known to promote urinary "stones" in
Dalmatians. We need to provide our Dalmatian with a diet that is low in
purine, not necessarily a low-protein diet. Vegetable-based diets are
not always satisfactory.
While broccoli, kale, tomatoes, and carrots are low in purines,
asparagus, cauliflower, beans, peas, mushrooms, spinach and whole
grains are high in purines.
The same is true for meats and dairy. Cheese, milk and eggs are low in
purines, but most fish such as herring, mackerel, or sardines, organ
meats such as liver, kidney, sweetbreads, poultry such as chicken,
duck, or turkey, and meats such as beef, lamb, pork, and veal, are high
in purines.
The worst offenders are organ meats, and fish. In most commercial diets
suitable for Dalmatians, poultry, lamb and eggs are usually the
preferred sources for protein while rice is considered as the main
source for carbohydrate.
There are commercial low purine diets available from veterinarians. You
can also select other diets by paying close attention to their
ingredients. In addition, it is also important to pay attention to
treats that you give to your Dalmatian.
The best treats for this breed includes fruits and cottage cheese. Last
but not least, Dalmatians should be encouraged to drink large amounts
of fresh, clean water. This not only keeps them hydrated, but it helps
flush out their urinary tracts to keep large "stones" from forming.
There are more
information articles on all aspects of basics dog training, dog health
issues, dog grooming and dog nutrition in
the article directory
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