Research has indicated that higher levels of protein in your dog's diet could lead to kidney failure. Do you know if what you are feeding dog is safe? Are you harming the health of your furry friend by giving too much protein in your dog's diet?
The studies that showed a connection to high protein levels and kidney failure that the started concerns about protein levels in a dog's diets was not researched properly. The research was performed on rats, not dogs. Rats mainly eat plants as their normal diet. Therefore a rats biological makeup would mean it would have trouble digesting a diet containing high levels of protein. Rats have difficulty excreting protein due to their natural dietary needs, not because the high protein diet causes kidney failure.
So, where do we stand on protein in your dog's diet? Dogs are naturally omnivorous. In the wild, dog's would hunt or scavenge for food. The dog's diet would normally be of both animals and plants. Naturally dogs are meat eaters too. because of this, a dog can easily cope with a diet consisting of 30% protein or more.
When the protein intake is lowered in a dog's diet, renal function does not improve. Renal lesions are not less likely to form when a dog is being fed a low-protein diet. It is not until a blood urea nitrogen, or BUN, test indicates a level of 75, then a reduction in protein intake should be considered.
If you have worries about how much protein is in your dog's diet, you should make a appointment with you vet. Your vet can advise you on your dog's diet.
It is not correct that dog's can not normally digest high levels of protein. Kidney problems do not result from having high levels of protein in your dog's diet. Large amounts of protein are digested safely in your dog's diet, particularly when they mainly come from animal origins.
Ten amino acids should be given in your dog's diet through protein. Only twelve of 22 amino acids can be produced in your dog's liver. Because of this meat such as heart, spleen, and meat by-products should all be in your dog's diet.
If you purchase high-quality dog food it should contain meat as the main ingredient. This will provide the right amount of protein in your dog's diet. If you think about a dog in its natural environment. Would you see a wild dog grazing in a cornfield at mealtime?
Senior dogs should not be put on lower protein diets just because of age. In fact, some older pets require a dog's diet that is higher in protein than when they were at a younger adult stage. Unless your vet advises not to, you should always provide your pet the advantage of quality protein in your dog's diet.
Feeding your dog protein should not cause you concern. We all want what is best for our dog's and nature tells us that protein will help your dog to live a healthy life. If you have questions about protein and kidney failure in your pet, then you should speak to your vet about your dog's diet.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Your Dogs Diet Can Lead To Protein And Kidney Failure
Cat Diabetes-And How You Should Treat It
If your cat has diabetes then cat care is important to your pets health. You will need to take the appropriate steps to make sure your pet can lead a normal life. It is unfortunate that pet cats have there own form of diabetes. It is important as a pet owner you learn how this will affect your pet and how you can help your cat lead a normal healthy life.
There are two types of cat diabetes, that could affect you pet. The first type is caused by the lack of production of insulin, while the second type is the inability of the cats body to process insulin as it should do. just like in humans, diabetes can affect a cat at any age. But it normally appears in a pet in its later years.
Your cat will start to display symptoms that will tell you there is something wrong. These symptoms are very similar to the one in humans, You would start to notice your cat would require more fluid and would also urinate more. Because of your pets inability to process any glucose, then you will start to notice some weight loss.
Other symptoms you may see your cat are vomiting, loss of appetite and general weakness. Diabetic cats also start to have poor skin and coat condition, as well as breathing problems
If your pet cat starts to display the above symptoms, it would be very wise of you to take your pet to your local vet. This way you can have your cat tested for sugar levels in there blood as well as in their urine. it is better to have both tests done, because any cat that feels under any form of stress, will show a spike in there blood sugar levels. By having both tests done, you will be able to confirm if your pet cat really has diabetes.
There is no cure for your cats diabetes as of yet. There diabetes can be controlled through a various means, and for cats it is done by diet and weight control. Giving your pet a diet high in fiber and carbohydrates would be ideal for diabetic cats, especially if they are over weight.
By using this type of diet, you will control your cats weight and blood sugar levels. There are also some oral medications available that your trusted vet may recommend. These should help to maintain a suitable blood sugar level.
Owners of diabetic cats, also will need to monitor their pets glucose and insulin levels. This is for those pet owners who will have to give there cats insulin injections for their diabetes. But be warned, you need to be carful to avoid giving an overdose of insulin as this will be fatal to your pet.
Cat care and diabetes should always go together, this will ensure that your pet can lead a normal healthy life. If you provide the right care for diabetic cats, then you will still have many happy years to come with your pet.