Here are some frequently asked questions that we receive at Health Products for Pets

What is chicken by-product?
Chicken by-product meal consists of the dry, ground and rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines.  Chicken by-products are much less expensive and less digestible than chicken muscle meat.  As well as quality, the nutritional value is also not consistent.   A simple guideline, any protein by-products consists of any parts of the animal OTHER than meat. When choosing a pet food, owners should pick a food without any by-products to ensure quality and high nutrient protein source.

My dog is 12 years old, should he be on a senior formula dog food?
Older dogs are going to need a good, well balanced diet that is lower in calories, protein and fat and higher in fiber.  For some older dogs, one can continue to feed their regular food, but in a smaller quantity. Yet, specially formulated senior diets are lower in calories and help to create a feeling of fullness while providing fewer calories. Senior diets have a protein of around 18% (on a dry matter basis) whereas diets for dogs in renal failure are around 14% protein. If your dog has significantly decreased kidney function, then a diet that is lower in protein will lower the workload for the kidneys. These diets are lower fat usually translates to lower calories so many senior diets have a fat level of around 8 to 12%. Older dogs are more prone to develop constipation, so senior diets are higher in fiber at around 3 to 5%. If your older dog will eat dry or dehydrated food or chews, it will help to control tartar build-up and reduce gum disease. We suggest trying Fromm Gold Senior dry.

click on Read more for other important questions answered

What are the benefits of whole grains in pet food?
Whole grains are an easy-to-digest source of complex carbohydrates, fiber and energy. Next to protein sources, whole grains are one of the most important components of a pet's diet. Whole wheat grains are frequently used in canine foods, as they are not only more digestible than corn but are also one of the most nutritionally balanced cereal grains. Rice is another nutritionally beneficial and highly digestible grain frequently used in pet foods. A combination of brown rice and white rice can be used; white rice for its digestibility and brown rice for its added nutritional value.

Is corn meal better than just corn kernels?
Both, corn and corn meal are difficult ingredients to digest by dogs and in many cases, causes allergic reactions. Corn (or corn meal) simply serves as low -cost filler.  Corn passes right through a dog, providing little to no nutritional value. If a dog food lists corn as the first or second ingredient on its label, this reflects about 25% filler in that food.  This would be considered a low quality pet food.

The presence of fillers provides a clear insight into what the manufacturer thinks of their pet food.  And ultimately you and your pet. 

Lucid Distributors Inc. does not use corn or corn byproducts as ingredients in its dog food formulas.

Solid Gold has Green Cow Beef Tripe in cans for dogs, can this be fed as a maintenance diet?
Tripe is the stomach lining of the cow's "fourth" stomach, or abomasums. The abomasums is where the actual digestion of the grasses and grains the cow has ingested takes place. Green tripe contains the partially digested plant matter the cow had eaten as well as the naturally occurring gastric juices and digestive enzymes.

Tripe is one of the healthiest additions to a maintenance diet. Dogs who have diets that include tripe have healthier, shinier and richer colored coats, healthier skin, healthier teeth, better stools and increased vitality. Be aware that tripe naturally has a potent smell.  Tripe contains an incredible range of nutrients including, enzymes, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and probiotics. For sick dogs whose appetites are waning, tripe can often stimulate appetite and aid in digestion.

Lucid Distributors also offers beef tripe by Companion Natural in 4oz freeze dried rounds, ZiwiPeak Lamb/Venison/Tripe dry dog food, Solid Gold Petzyme Treat (dehydrated raw cow tripe)

My dog is allergic to beef and most other red meats, what food can I feed?
Lamb is an excellent choice if your dog is allergic to red meats.  Lamb is calorie dense, an excellent source of high quality protein and fats, which are required for healthy muscle and brain function.

Lucid Distributors offers many Lamb based formulas from:  Solid Gold, ZiwiPeak, and Halo.

Is Glucosamine beneficial for animals with arthritis?
Yes.  Arthritis is a growing health issue for many dogs today.  Lucid Distributors offers various products, specifically for dogs suffering from arthritis or joint pain.  These products contain glucosamine which is nature’s building block for connective tissue in the bone & joint system. It is effective in helping relieve arthritis, stiff joints, repairing tendons, ligaments & cartilage and even helps with hip dysplasia. Glucosamine with chondroitin is another preferred combination to relieve arthritic pain.  Chondroitin works synergistically with Glucosamine (both work together so the total effect is greater than the sum of the two) to build up the components of the bone & joints.  The pets will receive the benefits of these ingredients, without the risk of side effects of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).

For more information on products with Glucosamine and Chondroitin, on our website, click on:  Dog Supplements

• Platinum Naturals Glucosamine Sulfate
• Platinum Naturals Glucosamine/Chondroitin Sulfate
• Grizzly Joint Aid
• Halo Vita Hip & Joint
• Nupro Joint Support
• McIntosh Flex-All Joint Support Biscuits
• Ark Naturals Sea Mobility
• VIVA Pet Supplements 

My dog has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, is there a supplement that I can give to increase appetite and energy level?
Nature’s Botanical Pet has a wide variety of supplements to relieve or treat various health conditions.  Milk Thistle is an effective herb used for detoxifying the liver, and for supportive treatment in chronic inflammatory liver disease and hepatic cirrhosis. This supplement can be used in combination with Hemo Cleanse by Nature’s Botanical Pet.  Hemo Cleanse can reduce the tumor growth, purify blood, and carry away the destroyed tissue.  Hemo Cleanse is an excellent supplement for treating animals with cancers.  The combination of the two products should help make the dog’s life comfortable.

Which food is best for a puppy?
All puppies, regardless of breed, require higher levels of nutrients for energy and growth than adult dogs.  Puppies require formulas containing minimum 25% protein.  Small breed puppies should contain a higher percentage of protein than those formulated for large breed puppies, due to their different metabolisms.  Fat is generally around 15%, but once again higher for small breed puppies than large breed puppies.  For large breeds, the lower fat is important to control the rate of growth in large breed puppies, to reduce the probability of laxity in the hips. It is also important to keep feeding puppy food for according to the breed specifications, though.  Large breed dogs can remain on puppy food much longer than small breed puppies.

Most puppy foods are formulated with chicken or lamb as the main protein source. Suggested puppy food available from Lucid Distributors
Solid Gold Wolf Cub - Bison (for large breed puppies)
Solid Gold Hundchen Flocken – Lamb (for small breed puppies)
Evolve Puppy - lamb
Halo Spot’s Stew for Puppies - wholesome Chicken and wild Salmon recipe

My dog just had his teeth cleaned and I want to maintain and reduce plaque build up.  What treat can be fed for dental prevention?
Dental care is just as important as feed a nutrient-dense diet.  Poor dental health can lead to initially to gingivitis, tooth loss and irreversible periodontal disease.  This disease is consists of dangerous bacteria that can spread through out the body and can develop systematic diseases in the kidneys and livers.

Your pet will love these treats.  They taste great and best of all are food for them!
Solid Gold - Dragon’s Teeth & Dragonette, Garlic Doggie Bagels, Beef or Turkey Jerky Treats
Dr- Chew - Sweet Potato Treats
Ocean Chew - Ray Tails
Bright Bites Dental Treats – Cinnamon, Peppermint and Spearmint flavored
Northern Biscuit - Beef Liver Bonanza

Should I only feed my dog dry food or wet food?
Although dry dog food is more convenient than canned food, canned dog food generally has less grain in its ingredients but contains more moisture. The moisture content helps keep a dog hydrated and benefits the urinary tract.
Ideally, a balance of canned and dry food is a good idea. 

Some dry dog foods contain poor quality grains and fillers, which dogs cannot digest. High quality and natural dry dog foods do contain grain, but the choice of that grain(s) is less difficult to digest (rice and oatmeal, for example), as opposed to cheap grains (like corn and grain fractions).  If you want a grain free dog food, there are several nutrient-dense grainless dog foods now available.   These foods are formulated with the major carbohydrate source from potatoes and sweet potatoes, which are good sources of Vitamin B and other minerals. The food may contain whole eggs or egg product and a good range of probiotics (beneficial bacteria).  Also, peas and tomato pomace are used primarily for fiber, but in small quantities not to detract from the overall ingredients.  Fruits and vegetables are included as minor ingredients for antioxidants properties and fiber.

Lucid Distributors offers several grainless dry dog foods:
Taste of the Wild - High Prairie (bison/venison), Pacific Stream (smoked salmon) and Wetlands Canine Formula (roasted wild fowl)
Solid Gold – Barking at the Moon (salmon/beef)
NRG Dehydrated – Chicken a la Veg, Buffalo a la Veg and Salmon a la Veg

DISCLAIMER: 
Health Products for pets website contains articles on many medical and nutritional topics; however, no warranty whatsoever is made. The medical and nutritional information provided on Health Products for Pets website is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified veterinarian, chemist, nutritionist and so on). Health Products for Pets is not a doctor.  None of the individual contributors, system operators, developers, nor anyone else connected to Health Products for Pets can take any responsibility for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented on this web site.  Nothing on HealthProductsforPets.ca or included as part of any project of Lucid Distributors Inc., should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a nutritional or medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.

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