CLIENT: IAMS

How to Choose a Dog Food Diet to Meet Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs

There is no one-size-fits-all dog food because there is no one-size-fits-all dog. Since they differ in breed, size, lifestyle, age, health conditions and so much more, dogs' nutritional needs are all different. Finding the right food to keep them happy and healthy may seem impossible, but it's not. Here are a few examples to help point you in the right direction.

Taco, the 4-Month-Old Dachshund

Meet Taco, a little bitty puppy that will grow up to be a little bitty dog. His current size and soon-to-be size are both important factors to consider when choosing a healthy dog food diet for him.

When dogs are still puppies, they need more high-quality animal-based protein (to help them build body tissue and strong bones) and fat (to help maintain their energy and support their skin and coat) than their adult counterparts. So, always start your puppy food journey by looking for foods made specifically for puppies.

But there's more to consider: his adult size! Taco is a little guy, and always will be. That's part of the reason we love him so much. Unlike large-breed puppies that can grow for up to two years, small dogs like Taco have high metabolic rates that cause them to reach their full size at around nine months. With that kind of growth spurt, they have their own unique set of nutritional needs.

So, based on what we know about Taco, we recommend a puppy food made specifically for small breeds to help him grow up to be the roughest, toughest, tail-waggingest hot dog in the neighborhood.

Food Recommendation: IAMS™ Puppy Small Breed

Pugtato, the 3-Year-Old Pug

As a pug, Pugtato is prone to weight gain, which isn't made particularly better by his potato-esque lifestyle and deep-rooted love of food. So, in this case, his breed, lifestyle and current health needs are important to consider when switching him to a new diet.

Pugtato needs a healthy diet that will help him lose weight while ensuring he gets all the nutrients he needs as an adult dog. That means his food should be lower in fat content than regular adult dog food and formulated with L-carnitine to help support a healthy metabolism. Just remember: Follow the proper dog feeding chart guidelines, usually found on the dog food bag (or can), to make sure he's not eating too much. Even too much of a good thing can be a bad thing when it comes to obesity.

Food Recommendation: IAMS™ Healthy Weight

Mariah Hairy, the 8-Year-Old Saint Bernard

Miss Mariah Hairy is the wisest, fluffiest lady on the block. But as the mature dog she is, she has different nutritional needs than the younger pups on the street.

She switched to senior dog food at just the right time for her size, around seven years old. The switch makes sure she gets the nutrition she needs for her changing body.

As dogs age, they tend to be less active. So, mature dogs like Mariah Hairy need more essential nutrients like protein, fiber and antioxidants to help meet their nutritional needs as well as fewer calories to make up for any decrease in activity levels.

Food Recommendation: IAMS™ Mature Large Breed

Choosing Food for Dogs with Other Unique Needs

Those are just three examples. What about dogs with more unique nutritional needs or health concerns? We can help you out with that too:

• Pregnant Dogs: A soon-to-be mama needs 25% to 50% more food than usual to help prep her puppies for the world. She should eat high-quality, nutrient-dense dog food formulated for all life stages, like IAMS™ Minichunks Chicken & Whole Grains Recipe or even puppy recipes like IAMS™ Puppy, formulated for growth.

• Nursing Dogs: Even though dog moms lose weight after birth, their nutritional needs increase dramatically. In fact, they may need two to five times their normal amount of food, divided throughout the day. Much like when she's pregnant, nutrient-rich formulas like IAMS™ Puppy can be a great option for a healthy diet during this life stage.

• Picky Eaters: There are several reasons a dog may turn their nose up at their food – some more serious than others. If it's a matter of taste or texture, you could try transitioning to a new adult dog food containing a different protein source than their current food. For example, if they're currently eating chicken-first dog food, try a lamb-first diet like IAMS™ Minichunks Lamb & Rice. You could also experiment with mixed feeding, such as adding wet food like IAMS™ Adult Chicken & Rice Paté to your pup's dry food.

• Digestive Health: If your dog struggles with digestion, make sure you're feeding them a fiber-rich dog food diet. Look for ingredients like beet pulp and prebiotics when choosing their menu. Specially formulated diets, such as IAMS™ Advanced Health™ Healthy Digestion dry food, support healthy digestion.

Want help choosing your dog food? We've got you covered! Our Dog Food Selector will help you find a recipe formulated just for your pup's unique needs.

SEE LIVE BLOG POST HERE

Client: U.S. Xpress

The Capacity Shortage: Causes, Effects, and What’s Next

2020 has been a pretty crazy year. Toilet Paper shortages. Murder Hornets. Face masks. No one could have possibly predicted what this year would bring.

The trucking industry has been no exception. Following historical marketing trends, experts predicted 2020 to hold a surplus of capacity without enough freight to fill it. In true 2020 fashion, the opposite happened. Load tender volumes have been consistent with some of the highest weeks in 2018, a year marking high freight volumes. Now, large carriers are declining thousands of orders every month, some more than they declined in all of 2019.

In other words, the freight is there. The problem is, the drivers aren’t. This year, there have been approximately 100,000 fewer new entrants into the CDL applicant pool than there was this time last year. By December, that’s expected to grow to about 200,000 – possibly worse if predicted surges in the market come into fruition. The capacity just isn’t there for a few different reasons:

Low Enrollment in CDL Schools

Since the onset of the pandemic, CDL schools have seen a huge decrease in enrollments. Some of them are now operating at 40 to 60 percent of their typical capacity. Crowding into classroom settings during a global pandemic is, understandably, not very appealing.

Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse

The Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse is an online database that identifies drivers prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions, such as operating a truck, due to a drug and alcohol program violation. Since its launch in January, over 50,000 drivers have been entered into the system. That’s over 50,000 drivers throughout the country who most large carriers are not comfortable having on their teams.

Unemployment Numbers

With a second round of stimulus checks and an extended bonus in unemployment checks, it’s becoming more and more difficult to recruit new drivers into the industry. This is putting carriers under pressure to increase wages for the second half of 2020, an operating cost that, in many cases, cannot be increased.

What’s the solution?

In true 2020 fashion, there’s no one answer. Some companies are investing in a newer or larger team to help recruit drivers. Others are restructuring service offerings to help fill the gap. And still others are investing in tech solutions that will continue being rolled out over time.

The answer could be all of the above. It could be something different entirely. The important thing is progress in bridging the gap between surplus freight and lack of capacity. Getting through the rest of 2020 depends on it.

SEE LIVE BLOG POST HERE

Client: Michigan Dental Association

Big Stories from Little Mouths: Cavities

Cavities. Everyone’s heard of them. Everyone fears them. But does anyone really know the truth about them?

Here’s a hint, it has nothing to do with sugar bugs. But there’s way more to it than that so let’s get down to the basics before your imagination runs too wild.

Cavities—the Fundamentals

Wait, we’ve already gone too far. Let’s start with enamel. Enamel is the irreplaceable outer layer of your teeth that protects the soft layer below it. It’s your teeth’s natural shield and it’s even stronger than bone. But once it’s gone, it doesn’t grow back. So for the love of all things dental, take care of it! (Not to worry, we’ll tell you how if you keep reading.)

Cavities all start in that good ol’ enamel. In fact, by definition, cavities are the destruction of tooth enamel. Simply put, they’re a hole in your tooth. They can form in many places, but they typically form on the top of your back teeth. See, when you bite down, food gets stuck. If that food is sugar, it’s particularly bad news—we’ll come back to that too. So long story short, they’re permanent damage to your teeth. But don’t freak out just yet—that’s why we have dentists.

A Game of Tug of War

But why would enamel just randomly break down? Valid question. It’s primarily because of what you eat. But again, we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

First, let’s talk about plaque. Plaque is basically just a sticky film that easily adheres to your teeth, especially in the grooves of back teeth and along your gum line. It contains bacteria that feed on sugar. This process creates acid that eats away at enamel. So like we said, it’s about what you eat—sugar. And the more of it you eat, the more your enamel is exposed to acid, and the more likely you are to get a cavity. Think of this process as team “Bacteria + Sugar.”

But, there’s another team in this game of tug of war: “Saliva + Fluoride”—also known as the good guys. Let’s start with saliva. Saliva, aka spit, slobber, or drool, is loaded with calcium and phosphate and bathes the teeth to keep them strong. As if that’s not good enough, it also reduces the acid (from team “Bacteria + Sugar”) by washing away the sticky, sugary foods attached to your teeth via plaque. In other words, it weakens the acid and helps repair your teeth.

Part two of this team is salvia’s sidekick, fluoride. Fluoride comes from toothpaste, water, and other sources. Together, saliva and fluoride form team “Replacing Minerals Lost During an Acid Attack to Help Enamel Repair Itself.” But that’s not very catchy. We’ll stick to team “Saliva + Fluoride.”

Stopping the Sugar Monsters

Good news is you can be part of team “Saliva + Fluoride.” See, you’re a superhero too. How? First, brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste. It helps, you guessed it, to increase the amount of acid-fighting fluoride in your mouth. Second, drink a lot of water to increase the amount of (also acid-fighting) saliva you produce. Go team!

But it doesn’t stop there. Truth is, helping your natural cavity-fighting team really just comes down to good oral health habits:

• We said it once, we’ll say it again—brush twice a day with fluoride-containing toothpaste. Since saliva production decreases at night, make sure one of those times is right before bed.

• Clean between your teeth daily with floss, Waterpik, or another interdental cleaner. This removes food particles and prevents plaque buildup—both big “Bacteria + Sugar” supporters.

• Eat a healthy well balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Your whole body will thank you for this one!

• Cut down on snacking. Grazing on sweet snacks or sipping on sweet or acidic drinks throughout the day is the number one cause of cavities. With every bite and every sip you cause a whole new acid attack in your mouth.

• Get a dental exam and cleaning every 6 months. When the dentist cleans your teeth, it’s not just a normal brushing. They’re actually removing dental plaque, checking for any areas of early tooth decay, and even applying a fluoride gel or varnish if necessary. This can prevent cavities from forming and even curb ones that are underway.

Fixing the Damage

These days, having a cavity isn’t as scary as it sounds, because they’re treatable! (We know, best news yet!)

• If a cavity is still in its early stages, it can often be repaired with remineralization treatments. Dentists use rinses, pastes, coatings, or filling materials that contain fluoride, calcium, and/or phosphates to fix, or even reverse, a cavity if it has just begun to form.

• If the cavity is a little further along, that’s okay too—dentists are miracle workers. In some cases, they can completely remove cavities and fill in the hole with silver amalgam or a white-colored composite material that will keep the tooth strong and healthy. That’s called a filling.

• In some cases, fixing a cavity may call for more complicated treatments like a crown, a root canal, or even an extraction.

And there you have it—the lowdown on all things cavities. Ready to start or improve your anti-cavity journey? Visit your MDA dentist or find one at WWW.SMILEMICHIGAN.COM.

SEE LIVE BLOG POST HERE