Healthy Natural Dog Food - Signs of Good Nutrition

Good nutrition helps your dog resist infection and disease. He/she will live longer and spend more quality time being your friend and companion. Dogs need healthy, natural or organic human grade dog foods!

Let's take a look at the various parts of the body that can give us a signal about the state of overall health. The word 'symptom' is from the Greek word 'signal'. Symptoms are signs that the body is out of balance or attempting to heal. We want to look at what symptoms mean, not try to suppress or cover them up. Suppressing symptoms can prevent the body from healing.

We will start by looking at the eyes. Take a look at your dog's lower eyelid. The color here can indicate proper assimilation of iron and other minerals. If they are white or light colored, there is poor assimilation. The lids should be pink to red. Gums are also indicators of the proper use of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. If in poor condition and health, we will see loose teeth, bleeding, tarter build up, light color or white spots. Good healthy gums show no bleeding when rubbed and firm teeth. The gums should be dark in color. Your dog should not have bad breath! Feeding a good diet of human grade dog food will help keep eyes and gums in good shape.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and is an amazing indicator of overall health. Skin needs high quality protein, fatty acids and fluids. Without these, we see dry, flaky areas, 'hot spots', recurring infections and susceptibility to parasites. Good skin should be smooth and pliable. Try lifting your dog's skin and watch how quickly it returns to shape. It needs to be elastic and firm.

If your dog's coat is dry, brittle and dull, it could mean his diet is filled with poor quality proteins and is deficient in fatty acids. A healthy coat will be soft, glossy and bright with minimal shedding. It is not normal for your dog's fur to always come out in clumps!

Energy levels are a natural indicator of health. Is your dog energetic or does he seem listless and tire easily? Dogs that appear hyper or overly nervous may be suffering from a poor quality diet loaded with preservatives and toxins.

Always pay attention to your dog's look and personality. Changes in either may be reflective of disease or early signs of other physical challenges. Weight change in particular can be especially significant and you should monitor your dogs weight regularly. Most dogs in America are over weight and this can not only interfere with your dog's quality of life but may shorten it dramatically as well. You want to feel some flesh on your dog's bones but you should be able to feel his or her ribs when running your hand down their side.

Remember that a healthy diet is the cornerstone of good health for both humans and dogs. Feeding your dog a "Human grade", unprocessed dog food will provide high quality vitamins and minerals that are readily absorbed by the body. Dogs are people too you know! OK obviously not but they still need high quality human grade dog food to have the best chance to live long and healthy lives.

Dr. Janice Elenbaas

Always remember, Health comes from the inside out!

Dr. Janice Elenbaas DC - The first woman recognized to adjust animals in Canada and a founding member of the Ontario Veterinarian Chiropractic Association is a passionate advocate of the benefit of whole foods for both humans and animals. Her company Lucky Dog Cuisine provides all natural HUMAN GRADE cooked meals for dogs. For more info or to receive her FREE INFOSERIES on dog nutrition please visit =>
http://www.luckydogcuisine.com