Choosing The Right Dog Food
With so many brands and types of dog food on the market, it might be a daunting task deciding on which type will be right for your dog. What we feed our dogs is probably one of the most important decisions we need to make on behalf of our pets. With a few tips, you'll be well on your way to making an educated decision.
The top two ingredients are the most important to look at. Look for meat, fish, egg, or some type of meat meal or fish meal as the first or second ingredient. Dogs don't need a lot of carbohydrate's like flour, wheat or corn, but many dog foods have those ingredients listed first.
Age is another important factor. Make sure you are not feeding a puppy and senior dog the same food. Dogs need different nutrition at various stages of development. Puppies will need a smaller protein requirement. While seniors will need fewer calories and more fiber.
Check for the AAFCO statement. Dog foods labeled as 'complete and balanced' must meet standards established by AAFCO, either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial.
Breed is another important factor in dog food selection. Some breeds may benefit from different types of food. Large breed dogs are prone to joint problems and it will be helpful to find food with a supplement like glucosomine added to their food.
Another choice to consider is wet or dry dog food. There are pros and cons to both and you need to look at the dogs age and long term benefits of both. Wet dog food is healthy because of the water/oil content that dry dog food doesn’t contain, as it will provide your canine with exactly what it needs to maintain a healthy beautiful coat. Where as dry dog food is much better for long term dental health. Sometimes Senior dogs with dental problems may benefit from wet food, but most other dogs will do best with dry.
The best thing you do for your puppy or dog is make an educated decision on what to feed them. You need to take in consideration the dogs age, breed, activity level and your budget. Not all dogs do well on every food. Also when switching a dogs food make the transition gradual, usually over 4 days. Then over the next couple weeks keep an eye on them and make sure there is no diarrhea or vomiting. There are many resources available to help make choosing the right dog food a little easier. Just remember you and your dog with both see the benefits from choosing the best dog food for them.