Are your pets, both dogs and cats, having a problem with chronic itching and chronic scratching? Is the skin red and inflamed with presence of dull hair and bald spots? Are there other problems such as bad breath, foul elimination, chronic licking or other allergy issues?

About a year ago I had changed the dry food diet for my dog Brandy. The nutritional change has worked. I had tried every dry food; generic, scientific, brand name, different price ranges, best recommended products and none of these had worked to correct his chronic itching and chronic scratching. I went back to the old fashion way of what dogs would do when living in the wild and what families of the yester years did. Brandy is so much better today. No more dry foods for Brandy.

With pets being dependent on us for their nutritional needs we have unfortunately made mistakes unintentionally?

Every pet needs different nutritional requirements. You need to be alert to the needs of your dog or cat. Just because some scientist or your family has fed their pets with dry foods does not mean that it is the best food source for your pet. When allergy health problems develop the first item under your control is food. Take time to do your research homework in order to meet the needs of your pet. Do not accept blindly that dry pet food is absolute.

My dog experiencing chronic itching and scratching and licking accompanied by dry reddish skin and dull hair prompted me to ask how did we get started feeding pets commercial dry dog food? The first answer I came across was convenience. Then convenience became an accepted indoctrination. The economy of today brings about the need to lessen our veterinarian expenses. Keeping our pet healthy is the key to keeping our monies in our pocket. More importantly our dogs and cats which are our family members need to be kept healthy.

Read the ingredient list:

1. What is the first ingredient?
2. What by-products are included?
3. What preservatives are used?
4. What additives are added?
5. What by-products are included?
6. What artificial ingredients and colors are used?
7. Does it contain any allergens particular to your pet?

The big question...Is this food healthy for my dog or cat?

Does the food contain:

1. Essential protein
2. Necessary fats
3. Correct amount of carbohydrates
4. Essential and necessary vitamins and minerals
5. Nutrients which your veterinarian suggests for your pet

For more information about chronic itching and chronic scratching and other health remedies for your pets. Visit the pet section of Tricia Deed at http://www.infotrish.vpweb.com/ and review Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

In the Case of your dogs bad breath or your dog's ear infection, natural remedies for dogs can be easy and inexpensive. Natural diet as a preventative measure and natural remedies when Dog illness or injury arises are the basis of attaining optimal health for your dog - so you'll have many happy vibrant years together.

The upkeep and promotion of dog health naturally is about being sure that your dog gets all that is needed to keep his whole body functioning properly. What effects one part of our dogs' body affects the other systems as well, so we need to treat his or her body as a whole. Natural cures and care consider the whole picture of our dogs' health. A Healthy strong dog will avoid most ailments including dog allergies and dry skin, these dog illness symptoms have underlying causes that can be addressed with home remedies. Many have found that no matter what their dog health questions, the answers are available through a more natural approach to dog health.

Dog Supplements and Dog Vitamins are an important part of your dog's diet in addition to natural dog food -- and don't forget the natural treats. Just like for us what our pets eat and absorb really does effect their health.

It is important to maintain good immune system function as the immune system is your dog's first line of defense against common dog illness. The stronger the immune system, the better prepared your dog's body will be to fight off any possible illness. Strengthening the immune system is particularly important today as our pets are exposed to a vast range of environmental hazards on a daily basis. Everything from household cleaners to car exhaust and chemicals on the grass at the park can have a negative effect on canine health.

What is special about natural cures for dogs is that they are created using some of the very same plants and herbs that animals turn to in the wild for healing; they know that nature can provide its own gentle healing and now our pets can benefit from this same power for their health and healing. Unlike conventional medications, natural products carry no harmful side effects.

Natural care whether diet, supplements or the occasional remedy for illness or injury address all important systems, helping to keep your dog active and vital and allowing it's body to repel invaders whether bacterial or viral. You'll notice your dog's healthy skin and shiny coat, and an increased vitality for years to come.

Let me tell you a quick story. People often ask me about natural dog food. They want to know which one is the best for their dog.

Yet, you might be surprised by my answer.

The truth is, there's no one "best" dog food. Just as every human has different needs, so does your dog. Of course, there are some basic nutritional needs that have to be met-everyone needs a certain amount of protein, fats and even carbs to get the nutrients they need for optimum health.

Dozens of Products Can Be Confusing

There are dozens of natural dog foods on the market these days with new ones being released weekly if not daily. Some are made by small, organic operations completely focused on the highest quality ingredients while others are made by the big conglomerates who often give up some control over ingredient quality to make a mass produced product.

It can be tough to find the quality ones amidst the flashy marketing campaigns. What do you really need to know? You need to translate the ingredient label.

Think of ingredient labels as going from greatest to least. That is, they're based on weight. The heaviest ingredients-the primary ingredients-go at the top and they're narrowed down from there so your least important ingredients are at the bottom.

Your Dog Needs Protein

A good quality natural dog food will start with chicken, salmon, venison or some other protein. It should be a specific protein. Within the next 2-3 ingredients you'll want to see a named meal to supplement the fresh protein.

Let's look at an example, if you're feeding a salmon and sweet potato dog food, you'll want to make sure the first ingredient is fresh salmon. You'll also want to see "salmon meal" listed high up in the ingredients because the fresh protein is mostly water and the dried meal supplements it so your dog gets the protein he needs.

When you see specifically named ingredients like salmon and salmon meal instead of "fish meal" you're getting a higher quality product.

Also look for foods with high concentrations of vegetables and fruits. Sweet potatoes are full of beta carotene which is great for your dog's eyesight. Broccoli is an excellent antioxidant that can protect your dog from cancer.

You can supplement your natural dog food with healthy fresh foods from your kitchen to boost the nutritional value even more. To learn more about natural dog food, please visit my website where I name a few brands you might be interested in and share more about labels.