Q. a few "top" dog food brands have corn in them. On the bag it states that same they all say, "It's the best for your dog" What's the best? Adding CORN as a temporary filler so the dog gets full then poops it back out and gains no nutrients from the food?
A. The dog food industry actually started as a profitable way of getting rid of a bumper wheat crop. Pet foods were made with whatever was left over or not fit for human consumption and that line of thinking is the same today as it was then. The major dog food companies are for their bottom line- Most of them are owned by human food companies and it just makes sense to send all their biproducts and excess grain to the pet food plant. For example, Purina and Nutro are owned by Nestle, and Iams and Eukenuba are owned by Proctor and Gamble.
Additionally, companies like Hills (Science Diet) have invaded vet schools by either sponsoring the student's only nutrition class (gee, I wonder what those vet students learn- that the ingredients in Science diet are bad- I think not) OR - they pay for a vet student's education in exchange that upon graduation, the vet recommends their pet food for 10 years- not to mention the trips to Hawaii they offer vets if they sell a certain amount of food.
So the answer to your question is that corn has been pretty cheap (except very recently), it provides a lot of cheap protein for dogs when compared to animal-based sources of protein and since feeding studies never have to go beyond three years or even compare different foods to each other. The only research being done is funded by the pet food companies themselves and all they care about is that the dogs are healthy enough to call the food "good enough not to cause noticible short-term health issues" not "what are the most nutritious ingredients that we can pack into this dog food"
Additionally, companies like Hills (Science Diet) have invaded vet schools by either sponsoring the student's only nutrition class (gee, I wonder what those vet students learn- that the ingredients in Science diet are bad- I think not) OR - they pay for a vet student's education in exchange that upon graduation, the vet recommends their pet food for 10 years- not to mention the trips to Hawaii they offer vets if they sell a certain amount of food.
So the answer to your question is that corn has been pretty cheap (except very recently), it provides a lot of cheap protein for dogs when compared to animal-based sources of protein and since feeding studies never have to go beyond three years or even compare different foods to each other. The only research being done is funded by the pet food companies themselves and all they care about is that the dogs are healthy enough to call the food "good enough not to cause noticible short-term health issues" not "what are the most nutritious ingredients that we can pack into this dog food"
What's the difference between caring for a pig as a pet, and caring for a dog?
Q. I've wanted to have a pet pig my whole life, and I have been doing a lot of research, and everything I read seems to all say the same things, which sound to me, like it's very similar to caring for a dog. Any pet pig owners that are more familiar with it, that can give me some tips? I want to know what I'd be getting myself into. I read that they are very smart, and trainable, and very sociable.
A. Hi there! I have found caring for a pig is sometimes easier and other times more difficult than caring for a dog.
What's similar?
- You feed a pig similarly to a dog. They should be getting half of their pelleted food in the morning and half in the evening.
- Pigs will play with toys but not as much as dogs (predator instincts vs prey instincts)
- Pigs get wound up like dogs. Every once in a while they just get amped up and go zooming around the house a top speed much like dogs do occasionally.
- Pigs can wear harnesses and with a lot of training, can walk on a leash like a dog.
- Pig poo stinks but so does dog poo.
- Pigs are affectionate and cuddly.
- Pigs make noises that let you know what they are thinking (like dogs).
- You train a pig very similarly to a dog (I only smack if he bites and use a squirt with a water bottle to the face for all other corrections).
What's easier?
- Pigs can be litter box trained. My piggy uses a litter box so I don't feel so bad if I am not home to let him out. Also, he nor I want to go outside during the bitter winter months. :)
What's more difficult?
- Pigs are smart and stubborn! Do not expect them to do something just because you want them to. Even if they know it's wrong, he's still going to knock over the garbage can, he will just wait until you leave the room.
- Training is a little more difficult since they do not respond to yelling. I use a squirt bottle for most corrections.
- Pigs are super smart but are dumb as rocks when it comes to food. Hamlet will put everything in his mouth and loves to eat foam. Luckily, they are less prone to blockages than dogs. You will need to 'pig proof' your house more securely than if you were 'dog proofing.'
- You need to find a vet that will take pigs. Do not go to a farm animal vet as they are not used to dealing with pets and could potentially overdose on vaccines/medicine/etc. because they are used to dealing with large farm pigs. I found an exotic animal doctor to take him.
If you want to see video of a mini pig growing up, you can view videos of my Hamlet on YouTube. You can search for 'Hamlet the Mini Pig' or 'PiggyGirl2010.' Feel free to message me on YouTube if you have any other questions. Good Luck!
What's similar?
- You feed a pig similarly to a dog. They should be getting half of their pelleted food in the morning and half in the evening.
- Pigs will play with toys but not as much as dogs (predator instincts vs prey instincts)
- Pigs get wound up like dogs. Every once in a while they just get amped up and go zooming around the house a top speed much like dogs do occasionally.
- Pigs can wear harnesses and with a lot of training, can walk on a leash like a dog.
- Pig poo stinks but so does dog poo.
- Pigs are affectionate and cuddly.
- Pigs make noises that let you know what they are thinking (like dogs).
- You train a pig very similarly to a dog (I only smack if he bites and use a squirt with a water bottle to the face for all other corrections).
What's easier?
- Pigs can be litter box trained. My piggy uses a litter box so I don't feel so bad if I am not home to let him out. Also, he nor I want to go outside during the bitter winter months. :)
What's more difficult?
- Pigs are smart and stubborn! Do not expect them to do something just because you want them to. Even if they know it's wrong, he's still going to knock over the garbage can, he will just wait until you leave the room.
- Training is a little more difficult since they do not respond to yelling. I use a squirt bottle for most corrections.
- Pigs are super smart but are dumb as rocks when it comes to food. Hamlet will put everything in his mouth and loves to eat foam. Luckily, they are less prone to blockages than dogs. You will need to 'pig proof' your house more securely than if you were 'dog proofing.'
- You need to find a vet that will take pigs. Do not go to a farm animal vet as they are not used to dealing with pets and could potentially overdose on vaccines/medicine/etc. because they are used to dealing with large farm pigs. I found an exotic animal doctor to take him.
If you want to see video of a mini pig growing up, you can view videos of my Hamlet on YouTube. You can search for 'Hamlet the Mini Pig' or 'PiggyGirl2010.' Feel free to message me on YouTube if you have any other questions. Good Luck!
Responsible Dog Breeders and Pet Owners - how do YOU prevent your dogs from unintended pregnancies?
Q. I've owned intact dogs for 25+ years without an unintended pregnancy.... simply by keeping them separated when b*tches are in season (not rocket science is it?).
How do you prevent unintended pregnancies?
spay/neuter
ship the dog to a kennel when the b*tch is in season
etc...
I want to hear how you do it...!
My email is open - always has been.
How do you prevent unintended pregnancies?
spay/neuter
ship the dog to a kennel when the b*tch is in season
etc...
I want to hear how you do it...!
My email is open - always has been.
A. When my b*tch was in season the dog remained on the top floor of the house, with a stair gate at the bottom of the stairs. When he came down to go into the garden or on walks, he was on a collar & lead. Easy if you engage your brain & use a modicum of common sense!
My dog has not sired any unwanted litters & hormone driven behavior has never been allowed to be a nuisance to other dogs or people
I researched the health benefits of castrating & deduced from the EVIDENCE that it was better to leave a male intact because of the hormonal & skeletal development of the dog.
My b*tch never had an oops litter because I policed her every move & ensured that at no point came into contact with an entire male. I decided that for my sanity I would not keep her indoors for three weeks, but it was a case of lead only walks at off peak times, when I was least likely to encounter other dog walkers. Before she retired, I would not take her to championship shows, as I did not think it would be fair to bench her near mulitiple entact dogs.
In my opinion it's wrong for someone to attempt to force their belief that neutering is the ONLY responsible course of action down the throats of dog owners who are capable of managing the behavior & training of an intact dog & preventing a b*tch from whelping an oops litter.
My dog has not sired any unwanted litters & hormone driven behavior has never been allowed to be a nuisance to other dogs or people
I researched the health benefits of castrating & deduced from the EVIDENCE that it was better to leave a male intact because of the hormonal & skeletal development of the dog.
My b*tch never had an oops litter because I policed her every move & ensured that at no point came into contact with an entire male. I decided that for my sanity I would not keep her indoors for three weeks, but it was a case of lead only walks at off peak times, when I was least likely to encounter other dog walkers. Before she retired, I would not take her to championship shows, as I did not think it would be fair to bench her near mulitiple entact dogs.
In my opinion it's wrong for someone to attempt to force their belief that neutering is the ONLY responsible course of action down the throats of dog owners who are capable of managing the behavior & training of an intact dog & preventing a b*tch from whelping an oops litter.
Can i pet a stray dog without getting any infections/diseases?
Q. I'm in india right now, and there's a lot of stray dogs. If I pet them on top of the head between the ears will i get any diseases?
A. this is what,s called an uncontrolled medical experiment. you were the subject.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment