Introduction
Your dog's health and wellbeing is important to you and your
family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian
bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give
your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they
see at the store. It's easy to overlook the importance of dog
food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.
To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and
should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to
meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on
the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.
Picking a dog food
The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that
has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog
food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is
good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made
from materials unusable or less desirable for human
consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a
quality considered unfit for humans to eat.
Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of
vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although
you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical
labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an
explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.
Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and
minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store
brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed
nutrition.
Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food
should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn
gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food
results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and
firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog
food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole
grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because
good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.
Types of dog food
There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three
most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned
products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food
made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and
contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.
Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more
veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food.
They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest
food for your dog. After all, you've never seen your dog enjoy
commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.
Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional
dog food, but they argue it's worth it. You may find that
locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy.
Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your
own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.
If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good
premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than
an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain
high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label.
It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before
deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will
know your dog's dietary needs and you will find that veterinary
offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog
food.
All Natural Dog Food
Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and
wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein
ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food
are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value
which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and
fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog
food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that
really help the health of your dog's skin and also your dog's
coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it
has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.
Dried Dog Food
A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more
economical than the generic brands even though they cost more
per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food
for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog
foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium
dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade
ingredients.
Vegetarian dog foods
There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are
allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also
vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their
dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use
soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your
vet before putting him on a specialized diet.
Conclusion
Overall it's usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not
our food, even though they may prefer what we're eating! Of
course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every
dog needs some TLC from time to time!
About The Author: David Amos is a dog lover and long time dog
owner. For more information about dog food click
www.onlinedogcare.com/dogfood and for more about dog
care and keeping your dog happy and healthy click
www.onlinedogcare.com.
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