DOG FOOD And NUTRITION

Certain Dog Foods May Make It Harder for You to Fight Illness

When researchers at Portugal’s University of Porto tested 14 store-bought raw dog foods for the bacteria Enterococcus, they all contained it. What’s more, the...

It Probably Isn’t a Food Allergy

Suspected food allergy is a common reason people bring their dogs to the Clinical Nutrition Service at Tufts. By the time they get there,...
Raw food, no matter the form in which it’s fed, is laced with serious risks.

Back to the Raw Food Diet Debate

If scientific study showed that raw food diets are better for dogs than cooked food and also that they are safe to feed for...
Once in a while, even the most voracious eater just can’t.

Chicken and Rice for an Upset Tummy?

There’s no shortage of advice on the Internet for what to feed a dog who is having temporary GI upset, either with vomiting, diarrhea,...

Dear Doctor: Are dogs really carnivores?

Q. You said in a recent article that it’s not a good idea to choose dog food by the ingredients list because it doesn’t...
The science on whether a lower-protein diet will curb aggression has been mixed.

Less Protein to Reduce Aggressive Behavior?

At the level of folklore, it makes sense to think that a diet relatively low in protein would help inhibit aggressive tendencies in a...
Would it be better to put out a lot and let the dog choose how much to eat?

Free Feeding Versus Scheduled Feedings

On the face of it, there are a number of reasons to allow your dog unlimited access to food rather than doling it out...
Popcorn can make a good snack for dogs. But for those with certain health conditions, salted popcorn is a bad idea.

Reduced-Sodium Diets: What’s Available?

There’s more than a fair chance that a reduced-sodium diet is in your dog’s future, if it’s not here already. An estimated 10 percent...
Sorting through dog food labels can be a confusing experience if you don’t know how to interpret the information.

How Can a Dog Food Be “For All Life Stages?”

When you look at a bag or can of dog food, there’s always a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)...
Stainless steel is the way to go.

The Right Food Bowl

The best all-around food and water bowls for a dog are made of stainless steel and have a heavy bottom. Glass or ceramic bowls,...
Young puppies should be fed more than twice a day.

Dear Doctor: How often to feed a puppy

Q. We’re about to adopt a new puppy. I have always fed my dogs twice a day, but the breeder is telling me that...

Five Common Nutrition Mistakes We Make For Our Dogs

We all want to feed our dogs as nutritiously as possible, but many owners’ earnest efforts are misguided. Even with the best of intentions,...