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You owe it to your dog to thoroughly inspect and check the dog food that you buy for him. If you are purchasing semi-moist dog foods that come wrapped in cellophane then be sure to follow the simple guidelines below.

The cellophane should be soft and pliable, and it should not be off color. Pillow-pouched bags should contain a small amount of air that does not escape under moderate pressure. A careful inspection should also be made through the unopened wrapper for any dull or furry, gray or black spots; or for any shiny or moist, whitish or yellowish spots. The first is mold growth, the second bacteria.

Soft-moist foods are not subjected to high heat and many species of both mold and bacteria remain viable in soft-moist foods. A little water is all either needs to get started, and away they go, held in check only by the inhibitors within the soft-moist food.

Once the visual inspection of the wrappers and wrapped surface of the food has been made, tear open the cellophane. Observe all odors at the time of opening the wrapper. Pick up a piece of the food and squeeze it. Regardless of the type, it should be soft, spongy, and tender. It should have a slight lubricated feel, but should not feel moist on the surface.

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Keep in mind that as your Labrador ages, she will need less food to maintain a consistent weight. With elderly dogs it is important to cut back on the amount of protein (particularly meat) that is ingested, because high levels of protein can put a strain on the kidneys.

Overweight dogs should be brought back into their ideal weight, primarily through gradually increasing the amount of their daily exercise. Reduce the number of calories in the dog’s diet by substituting low-calorie fillers such as grated carrot or apples, unsalted popcorn, or low-fat cottage cheese for a portion of their meal.

Underweight dogs can be brought up to a good weight by adding high-calorie boosters to their meals, such as an occasional raw egg, cheese, or hamburger. Such caloric supplementation may also be needed during the winter if your Labrador is kenneled or worked outside much of the time, and during peak working periods when extra calories are burned. A high-calorie supplement can be purchased from your vet, pet stores, and online catalogs.

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Are you giving your dog the best nutrition he or she needs?  Probably not.  Most dog owners think nothing of the type of dog food they are feeding their lovable pets.  More times than not they go for the cheapest hard-type dog food that their local store provides.

There are a lot of dog owners who also feed their dogs only human food.  Both practices can be hindering your dog from reaching optimum nutrition and health.  As animals, dogs are different from humans and need different nutrient ratios.  In addition, simply serving your dog only dry dog food does not have all of the vitamins the dog needs.

The best sources of healthy dog food to buy your pet may not be at your local grocery store or pet store at all.  In fact, you will find many online dog food stores that will provide you with choices that you might never see at your local dog food shop.  By shopping online for your dog food you will find many varieties of dog treats, dog canned foods, dog gourmet foods, and unique dog recipes.

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There are two common methods that are being used to feed nursing puppies: Bottle feeding and tube feeding. 

Bottle feeding:  Bottles and nipples have been used for feeding newborn puppies for many years. The form most often used today is the toy doll’s bottle. Most of these are made from plastic and some have real rubber nipples that are made in the same shape and form as the larger baby nipples.  Bottle feeding a newborn puppy is not much different from bottle feeding an infant.  Keep in mind that all equipment should be very clean. The bottles and nipples should be sterilized, the formula boiled, and the hands and utensils washed in hot soapy water.

Tube feeding:  Another way of feeding a newborn puppy is through feeding tubes.  With the proper equipment and experience, a pup’s entire feeding can be placed into its stomach without getting the milk anywhere close to the trachea or the lungs.  Once the dog owner is used to the technique of feeding the newborn puppy with a stomach tube it is unlikely that he will ever again feed a puppy with a bottle and nipple.  The feeding tube eliminates bottles and nipples that have to be cleaned after each feeding and sterilized before the next.  Also, the danger of inhaled milk, which sometimes happens during bottle feeding, is greatly reduced and the feeding time is reduced by 75 %.

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