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How To Choose The Right Dog Food (Read This First)

 

Choosing the best dog food should come naturally for all first time dog owners. It’s esential for all pet owners. Yet I always witness people queing at the pet store to purchase the cheapest dog food available. 

And, there are numerous cheap and susbstandard dog food brands in the market. They are really a bad investment in your pets health. 

Proper nutrition is an essential requirement for dogs, and choosing the right dog food can help keep your pupper happy and healthy. High-quality dog food will give them energy, keep their coat smooth and healthy, and keep them jolly. 

The dietary requirements of dogs will vary from dog to dog. Age, size, health, weight, and other factors should all be taken into consideration when selecting the right dog food, whether it’s dry or wet dog food.  

Tips for Selecting the Right Dog Food 

Here are a few tips to help you select the best dog food for your canine friend: 

Consider Your Dog’s Breed and Size

The breed and size of your pooch are important considerations when selecting the best dog food. Large and active dog breeds will require more calories than small and inactive breeds. 

Similarly, puppies and lactating dogs will require more calories than adult or senior dogs. So, your dog’s size, health, and behavior are important factors to consider when selecting their food. 

Some pet food stores offer special diets for certain breeds like dog food for French Bulldogs or dog food for hunting dogs, but most manufacturers will only produce dog food for small breed dogs and dog food for large breeds. 

Choosing the right size of the kibble will help ensure your pooch is eating comfortably and safely. 

Wet Or Dry Dog Food?

When finding the best dog food for your pet, you can choose either wet or dry dog food. 

Unlike wet dog food, dry dog food does not require refrigeration. It’s also easier on your wallet than the wet food variety. While both wet and dry dog food options generally contain similar ingredients, wet dog food options may contain more animal protein or byproducts. 

Food Allergies

If your dog has food allergies, it’s important to take caution when choosing dog food. Some signs to watch out for include skin redness, itchiness, sensitive skin, and extra thin coat. 

Their diet should contain high quality sources of carbs and protein to boost their immunity against allergies. 

Dogs with allergies should be put on a special diet for at least 21 days to boost their immunity. For best results, experts recommend choosing food products with the appropriate ingredients to avoid food sensitivities. 

You don’t want to feed your pet poor quality dog food with artificial additives and other unhelpful ingredients.  Otherwise, allergies are likely to occur. 

Read the Ingredients List

Don’t let the phrase “human-grade” or “human-quality” fool you! These phrases are often used on the food labels, but they might just be marketing gimmicks. 

Check the ingredients list to ensure the food product is tested and certified safe for human consumption. Remember, the main ingredients should be meat. Also, avoid any products with artificial additives, or preservatives, as these may cause health problems. 

Some of the ingredients you want to avoid include wheat gluten, grain meals, sugar, corn, Propylene Glycol, byproducts, rendered fats, artificial sweeteners, and food colors. 

Check the Expiry Date   

As with people, when dogs consume expired food, they may suffer food poisoning. 

So, make sure the dog food of your choice is not expired before giving it to your dog. Always make sure to check the expiry date of every dog food product before you buy. 

Research the Dog Food Brand

Before choosing any specific dog food brand, learn as much as you can about the pet food company. 

Finding the right dog food brand (one you can trust) is vital to ensuring that whatever you’re feeding your pet is actualy the best dog food out there. 

You need to find a pet food brand whose core business is manufacturing pet food. You don’t want to buy dog food from a pet food supplier that is in business for the sole reason of making money. 

You want one that is genuinely concerned for the welfare of your dog. One that has a good track recordn of manufactring dog food. One that hasn't had any of their products recalled. 

You wouldn't do business with a company whose pet food has been recalled, particularly if that products has been linked to the death of any dogs or pets. 

Not all dog food brands are created equally, and some are untrustworthy. The commercial dog food sector is not well regulated. Certain brands are unethical and try to make sales at all costs.

Experts recommend choosing dog food that’s produced in human-grade facilities instead of buying food formulated in any other site. Research the brand thoroughly to ensure you’re buying your dog’s food from a trustworthy manufacturer. 

The best dog food is Not the cheapest. 

You get what you pay for… 

Feeding your dog the best pet food, high-quality supplements and treats is the best way to ensure that your pupper is getting proper nutrition for optimal health. 

This might cost you slightly more at first, but you will most likely save in vet bills. And you will have a happier and healthier dog. 

Proper nutrition is simply a wise investment. 

Buy the best dog food out there…

In most cases, you’re responsible for all the nutrients that your puppy is going to get. And remember, good nutrition is vital to your dog leading a healthier and longer life. 

That means your choice of pet food is so important. If you buy poor quality dog food, your puppy will most likely pay for it with ill health and regular vet visits. 

Is dog food comparison worth it?

If you go browsing around the web, youll find plenty of dog food comparisons and reviews,... each with its own set of guidelines for choosing the best dog food in the market. 

Some of these sites consier the ingredients list, as well as the perfectntages of fat, proten, an carbs. 

But don’t be fooled! 

While dog food comparison is a good place to get started in your search for the best dog food, your shoul take these pointers into account: 

High-quality meat should be the primary protein source. 

Avoid from any proucts that contain corn or wheat. Both are prone to a certain mold that produces a deadly toxin for pets. Though mold is not dangerous to pets, there have been reports of dogs dying from pet food containing this toxin. Better safe than sorry…

Avoid chemical preservatives as these are used for the sole reason of increasing the shelf life of the products. 

Stay away from “Meat and Bone Meal”, which legally includes animals or pets from vet hositals or road acidents. These poor pets and animals might have died from any illnesses or other causes. 

Conclusion

Selecting the best dog food for your new pet means finding a reliable brand that uses high-quality ingredients all the time. 

The best dog food should contain the proper ratio of protein, carbs, fats, fiber, and vitamins depending on your dog’s breed, age, size, lifestyle, and health. 

Find a nutritious dog food brand that meets the above criteria and your pup’s individual requirements as recommended by your vet for a happier and healthier canine friend.


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