How to Choose a Healthy Dog Food
With so many brands to choose from, how do you know which one is the best for your puppy or dog? All brands advertise how wonderful their product is. But what really goes into processing the food? What ingredients do you look for? What ingredients do you avoid? Which one is right for my dog?
Every dog has different nutritional requirements based on their age, breed, size, and energy levels. The best place to start is by getting your veterinarian’s recommendation. Next, become very familiar with the labels on the bags of food. Dry food is recommended over wet because it is better for the dog’s teeth.
Dog food should be made in the ratio of:
· 40% meat
· 50% vegetable
· 10% grain
What to look for in the label of dry dog food:
· First 3 out of 5 ingredients listed are proteins
· Crude protein 30% or more
· Crude fate 20% or more
· Crude fiber less than 4 %
· Moisture less than 10%
· Rolled oats, barley, quinoa, millet, brown, rice
· Vitamin E and C are good preservatives
· Taurine
Avoid products that contain:
· Meat by products – chicken beaks, feet, bones, hooves, eyes, skin, fur, etc.
· Corn or cornmeal – not digestible, are fillers, can cause food allergies
· Preservatives – BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin
· Generic fats and proteins such as animal fat, meal, or eat and bone meal
· Artificial sweeteners, color, or sugars
Use 2-3 different brands of dog food:
· Gives a variety of nutrients to fill in the gaps that other miss
· Helps eliminate food allergies
· Gives the dog a change
Changing a dog’s food:
· Gradually over time to avoid digestive upset
· Mix the 2 foods together for a couple of weeks
· Gradually decrease the amount of food you want to eliminate
Fresh food can be added to you dog’s diet:
· Eggs
· Meats – such as chicken
· Dairy – such as yogurt
· Vegetables – such as carrots
Food to avoid:
· Chocolate
· Onions
· Honey
· Alcohol
· Mustard seeds
· Moldy foods
· Grapes
· Raisons
· Nuts
· mushrooms
Check your dog’s nutritional status by looking at their stool. The stool should be firm with no blood or mucus.
With the right information, you can make an educated decision as to which dog foood is the best choice for your beloved canine. For more helpful information, Click Here!
