Nutrition Nuggets is the newest offshoot of petMD’s Dog Nutrition Center, a joint venture made up of the talents behind Hill’s Pet Nutrition and the medical information authorities of petMD. One such authority is Jennifer Coates, DVM. Each week Dr. Coates will use her expertise and wisdom to blog about the intricacies of dog nutrition.
I’ve talked before about the wealth of information that, by law, has to be printed on all pet food labels. Today, I want to touch upon something that isn’t listed … the quality of the ingredients that make up the food.
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I recently sat in on a short lecture on nutrigenomics as it applies to the development of new pet foods. My initial response was probably the same as the one you are having right now … nutro-g-what?
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Some dogs have guts of steel and can eat almost anything they find in the yard or on a walk with no ill effects. However, not every dog is so lucky. Many tend to be more sensitive than this.
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According to a recent study, 78% of dogs over the age of three suffer from some form of dental disease, making it the most common health problem affecting dogs.
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A dog food that is rich in antioxidants can help keep your pet healthy and happy throughout the years by combating the damaging effects of free radicals.
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I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure life would be worth living without the occasional treat. I do pretty well when it comes to eating my fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but I have to be honest and say that I also use that as permission to occasionally indulge. I think the same mindset... READ MORE
I have a problem with roly-poly puppies. Of course, puppies shouldn’t be "lean, mean, fighting machines," but when a puppy crosses the line from normal "baby fat" to just plain fat, I find it concerning.
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I’ve talked before about the MyBowl tool and how it can help us all learn about the importance of balanced canine nutrition derived from high quality ingredients. But look below the food bowl on the web page. Do you see the water? I’d be willing to bet that many eyes have passed right over... READ MORE
One of the most important breakthroughs in canine nutrition came when veterinary nutritionists recognized the different nutritional needs that dogs have as they mature. This may seem fairly self-evident now, but dog owners and veterinarians used to have more of "a dog is a dog is a dog" mentality... READ MORE
Probiotics are all the rage. Numerous nutritional supplements, and even foods like yogurt, contain these live microorganisms (bacteria and/or yeast) that can provide health benefits when given to an animal or person. We tend to think of probiotics when considering gastrointestinal health or disease,... READ MORE
... graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado. She is the author of several books about veterinary medicine and animal care, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms, Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian .
Jennifer also writes short stories that focus on the strength and importance of the human-animal bond and freelance articles relating to a variety of animal care and veterinary topics. Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and pets.
