Best Food For Dogs: How To Choose the Right Food for Your Pet
Dry food, wet food, semi-moist food. Premium, super-premium, organic, holistic, natural. Homemade, raw, commercial. Some are made for puppies while others cater to health-related concerns. With all of the types of dog foods to buy or make, how does one know which is the best food for dogs? Well the answer is simple: it depends. It depends on your specific dog, and although each diet will be different, here are some suggestions on how to choose the best food for you canine.
First off, remember that the most expensive brands aren't necessarily the best brands. FDA regulations make it such that, much like people food, marketing tactics can allow companies the ability to advertise for things that they may indeed not be selling you, such as "complete & balanced" food. The best way to beat this is to read labels carefully, as you would if you were buying food for yourself.
If the label shows the food to contain anything harmful including toxins, dyes, chemicals, preservatives, and most especially, animal "by-products," (scrap animal waste that other companies can't use), then DON'T BUY IT. These ingredients are all harmful to your dog, and a good rule of thumb is this: if I wouldn't eat it, then I probably shouldn't feed it to my dog.
Speaking of ingredients, what should dogs be eating? Over time, it has been recognized that the number one ingredient most canine diets should contain (barring any health problems) is protein. Way higher in content than any grain, dogs need protein. The first ingredient listed on any label should be a meat: chicken, lamb, beef, fish, venison. Grain-based diets (such as corn being the highest content ingredient) are unhealthy for most any dog.
The life-stage of your dog is an important factor to consider when buying food (is your dog a puppy, an adult, a senior?) and if your dog has any specific skin or health conditions, be sure to take that into account when deciding. Your canine's flavor preference, medical condition, environment and lifestyle should all play a role in deciding which food to buy, and try any new brand on for 6-8 weeks. If the result is positive (i.e. your pup has lots of energy, has a shiny coat, and appears healthy overall) then you may have found something that works - so stick with it!
First off, remember that the most expensive brands aren't necessarily the best brands. FDA regulations make it such that, much like people food, marketing tactics can allow companies the ability to advertise for things that they may indeed not be selling you, such as "complete & balanced" food. The best way to beat this is to read labels carefully, as you would if you were buying food for yourself.
If the label shows the food to contain anything harmful including toxins, dyes, chemicals, preservatives, and most especially, animal "by-products," (scrap animal waste that other companies can't use), then DON'T BUY IT. These ingredients are all harmful to your dog, and a good rule of thumb is this: if I wouldn't eat it, then I probably shouldn't feed it to my dog.
Speaking of ingredients, what should dogs be eating? Over time, it has been recognized that the number one ingredient most canine diets should contain (barring any health problems) is protein. Way higher in content than any grain, dogs need protein. The first ingredient listed on any label should be a meat: chicken, lamb, beef, fish, venison. Grain-based diets (such as corn being the highest content ingredient) are unhealthy for most any dog.
The life-stage of your dog is an important factor to consider when buying food (is your dog a puppy, an adult, a senior?) and if your dog has any specific skin or health conditions, be sure to take that into account when deciding. Your canine's flavor preference, medical condition, environment and lifestyle should all play a role in deciding which food to buy, and try any new brand on for 6-8 weeks. If the result is positive (i.e. your pup has lots of energy, has a shiny coat, and appears healthy overall) then you may have found something that works - so stick with it!