AllDogsWorld

Artificial preservatives or atificial antioxidants in dog food

Artificial preservatives helps to keep ingredients stable longer and give a longer shelf life than natural antioxidants. However, dog owners have had concerns over the safety of artificial preservatives in dog food.

The most controversial of these has been ethoxyquin, which has been approved for use in animal feeds for over 30 years. It is currently allowed in dog foods at levels of up to 150 parts per million (ppm), or 0.015%.

Natural preservatives or natural antioxidants in dog food

Some pet owners prefer pet foods with only natural preservatives. Vitamin E, vitamin C, citric acid, and rosemary are among the most commonly used natural preservatives. Mixed tocopherols are a common source of vitamin E in pet foods.

Vitamin C is provided by ingredients such as cranberries, blueberries, apples and some other fruits. Citric acid is also found in many of these, especially citrus fruits. Rosemary is an extract from the plant Rosmarinus officinalis, an evergreen shrub which has anti-oxidant properties.

If you choose to use a dog food containing natural preservatives, keep in mind that they cannot extend shelf life as long as the artificial preservatives can. Consider buying the food in smaller amounts, to make sure that it is used up before it loses its freshness or nutritional value.

Look for foods with a ‘best if used by’ date stamped on them. Store these foods in a dry location, away from excessive heat or humidity. If possible, place the bag inside another clean, dry container once it has been opened.

Symptoms of dogs with ear problem

The symptoms of your dog having ear problems are head shaking and ear scratching. Violet head shaking, often caused by a foreign object in the ear canal, may rupture a blood vessel and cause the ear flap to swell as it fills with blood. Some breeds, such as retrievers are prone to this condition called haematoma.

If your dog is shaking his head more than usual, probably there are ear mites in your dog’s ear. Take your dog to see the vet.

Do check if there is a pungent green-yellow or dark discharge from either ear. If there is, your dog may have an infection. Carefully pull out hair from inside ear and remove excess debris with cotton wool, then take your dog to the vet.

If your dog is shaking and stratching its ears and the ears have crusty tips, it could be a skin infection or scabies. Use insect repellent in the summer to prevent insect bites. Take your dog to the vet if the insect bites are already there.

If there is a swollen ear flap on your dog’s ear, check if it is painful when touched. If it is not painful, it could be a blood blister in the ear (haematoma). See the vet quickly. If it is painful when touched, it could be an abscess, perhaps from a dog’s bite. Take your dog to the vet quickly.