Choosing Dog Food

   Posted: December 30, 2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 438 | Rating: 4 / 5

If you visit any supermarket, you will see at least a dozen varieties of dog food lining the shelves. Pet specialty stores can have hundreds of dog foods to choose from. How do you know which kind of food is best for your dog? All dog foods are not created equally. There are definitely some good choices available, but there are also some unhealthy varieties lining the shelves.

The first step is to scan ingredient labels. Good dog food will have a single-source meat meal listed first on the list of ingredients. Most healthy dog food will have “chicken meal” listed first. If the ingredient label has a second meat source listed after chicken, that’s good too. You should also look for food that contains unprocessed grains and vegetables.

The lower quality dog foods will contain a lot of generic fats and proteins. Instead of listing “chicken meal”, it might list “meat meal”. These foods are not as healthy and tend to contain a lot of artificial preservatives, colors, sweeteners, and added sodium.

If the dog food lists by-products in the ingredients, don’t touch it. Ingredients like lungs, kidneys, bone, stomachs, blood, brains, and intestines can actually be found in some cheap dog foods. Don’t let your dog near these foods. They are unhealthy and unsafe for consumption.

Keep in mind that every dog is unique and has different nutritional needs. Dogs all have different taste preferences as well. It’s a good idea to consult your veterinarian when you are looking for healthy dog food.

One easy way to evaluate your dog’s current food is to check bathroom byproducts. When you clean up your dog’s waste, take a quick look at the consistency. If your dog’s food is agreeing with his system, his waste will be firm. If your dog has frequent diarrhea or mucous-laden stools, then talk to the vet about a better food option.

Always be careful when you change your dog’s diet over to a new food. You should make the switch gradually by adding some of the new food with the old for a few days. If you make dramatic changes to a dog’s diet, you can cause major digestive disturbances causing your dog to feel sick and have terrible diarrhea.

If your vet has recommended an expensive dog food, copy down the ingredients and look for other brands with similar composition. You should be able to find a good quality dog food for a reasonable price with a little research. If you find a good, cheap dog food that has too much grain, try mixing the dry food with a can of grain-free wet food. This will give your dog a balanced diet with a little treat to enjoy along the way.

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