Flying like Superman, Robbie requires high-quality nutrition to play with his ball-wielding sister Bonnie. These well-fed, active cocker spaniels romp in Spotsylvania county. Mary Susan Billingsley Visit the Photo Place

READ BEFORE YOU FEED PET PORTAITS: Tuesday-Friday, April 1-4 and April 8-11, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Larry W. Stone Photography. Free studio mini-session and a 5-by-7 portrait of your pet dog or cat, with one family member (if you wish), in exchange for a donation to the Greater Fredericksburg Area SPCA's new building. For appointment, call 540/287-7563. NUTRITION INFORMATION WEB SITES:

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Making the best dog food choices helps pet stay healthy. By Sarah A. Ferrell

Date published: 3/29/2008

LOVING A GOOD dog is a magnificent obsession. How to best feed your dog is an ongoing challenge as you attempt to build a better dog who can live his best life.

Have you ever said, "If I only knew what was the best food for my dog, I would feed that food?" A book called "The Ultimate Pet Food Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Feeding Your Dog or Cat," by Liz Palika (lizpalika.com) will soothe your nutrition fears and educate you to feed your pet a healthy diet.

Palika explores 2007's contaminated pet food disaster that resulted in more than 6,000 sick pets; 3,000 pets died. Pets who suffered from food tainted with melamine, toxic additives and recalled corn and rice have raised the nutrition consciousness of all of us who previously had not closely studied food labels.

Discover how food affects our dogs' "body condition and state of health, immune system, disease development and recovery, energy, and behavior." Instead of making feeding choices based solely on convenience or economy, Palika shares pet nutrition information that is based on dog food research facts and analysis.

Better foods

When you read labels searching for clean, organic, whole foods for your dog and offer him a new food that may be more expensive than a generic, cheaply formulated food, don't be surprised if the look on his face tells you he approves of higher quality kibble.

Are you spoiling your dog? No. Palika discusses food palatability, explaining that "appealing foods trigger more and better digestive enzymes and digestive juices. Gastric pre-digestion is an important part of optimal nutrition."

Palika points out "old dogs can have problems absorbing nutrients" and need a "nutrient rich diet with nutrients easier to digest." She suggests: "Yogurt helps an aging body digest proteins more efficiently; a 'green' food supplement may boost nutritional values for the older dog."

Two "green foods" cited in Palika's text are Springtime Inc.'s "Tonic Blend" and Trinatural 's "Missing Link." Palika quotes Joan Weiskopf, author of "Pet Food Nation," explaining "the key to optimal protein in the geriatric pet's diet is to feed more easily digested proteins."

Pet Food Ingredient Dictionary: omhpet.com/wellness/dog_ingredients _dictionary.html American Association of Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)--news releases on pet food recalls; ingredient list directory: aafco.org Ingredient Wizard Tool: naturapet .com/tools/comparison.asp ASPCA Poison Control: aspca.org/apcc American Veterinary Medical Association's "Household Dangers": avma.org/communications/brochures/hazards/household_brochure.asp Merk Veterinary Manual (excellent discussion of canine digestive process): merckvetmanual.com/ Green Food resources: Springtime Inc's Tonic Blend: springtimeinc.com; Trinatural's Missing Link: trinatural.com Book Excerpt and Dog Cookie Recipe: Pet Food Nation: thedog place.org/Articles/Reviews/Pet.Food .Nation_Weiskopf.htm Safe dog chews: Greenies? Rawhide? cbsnews.com/stories/ 2006/09/08/earlyshow/saturday/main1987520.shtml Food companies/food analysis tests/free samples: dogfoodanalysis.com/how-do-you-rate-the-foods.html proplan.com/expertAdvice/nutrition Health.html peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2 &cat=1661&articleid=2661 bluebuff.com/sample/true-blue- results.php Note: All Web sites listed are offered for education and information only of "Devoted To Dogs" readers. No intention is intended to promote any type of product sales. Always discuss your questions and all aspects of your dog's nutrition and health with your family veterinarian. --Sarah A. Ferrell

Date published: 3/29/2008