Having a dog in your life brings so much joy and love. There is no pet on the planet more loyal and caring than your canine companion. Therefore, choosing the best food for them is extremely important. Just like human beings, a dog’s diet is absolutely critical when trying to live a long and healthy life. However, it can be hard for new pet owners to decide which dog food is best for their pet.
People often wonder how to choose dog food. What they need to realize is that dogs are individuals just like humans. This means that even a well-formulated dog food can prove to be ineffective to some canines. In fact, some dogs could even get sick from it. Luckily for us, there are many high-quality foods out there for our pets, so we are bound to find one that cooperates with our dog’s digestive tract.
There are few steps we can take when deciding how to choose dog food. Luckily, they are very simple to follow, and will give you a better idea what to look out for and consider.
Consider Their Age
The first step on how to choose dog food for your pet is considering the stage of life your canine companion is in. Just like in humans, a baby’s diet will be different than that of an adult. The same goes for dogs. A puppy that eats adult food will not get the higher amount of calories, protein, and vitamins it needs in order to achieve proper growth. On the other side of the spectrum, an adult eating puppy food will likely gain weight and can potentially become obese. When it comes to proper nutrition, one dog food does not rule all!
Checking The Ingredients
The next step, and possibly the most important, on how to choose dog food is looking at the ingredients. Just like in a human diet, high-quality ingredients are absolutely essential in order to live a long and healthy life. Most economy dog food brands are made from inexpensive ingredients. As a result, these ingredients provide little to no nutrition to your dog. While they may meet the necessary legal qualifications for amounts of protein, carbohydrates, etc., these foods are made from lower grade materials. This means that you may have to feed larger amounts of that lower quality food to provide your pet with the same nutrition as they would get from a higher-quality food source. When you’re looking at dog food, you must review the ingredients on the back. The first ingredient on the list should be a named meat source, rather than some sort of grain (corn). Consider dog food brands such as Blue Buffalo, which always make sure meat is the primary ingredient in their recipes.
AAFCO Statements
Lastly, the last step on how to choose dog food is checking the AAFCO statement. The Association of American Feed Control Officials provides dog nutrient profiles that can help you evaluate the dog food you are looking at. If your dog food is labeled as complete and balanced, it must meet the standards established by the AAFCO.
Visit Dog Food Insider To View Dog Food Brands Right For Your Pet
In conclusion, when it comes to how to choose dog food, there are a few factors to consider. However, all dogs are different, and some may react differently to some food than others. It’s important to take the time in switching foods and see what your dog reacts best to. That way, your dog will be happy, and will be able to live the long life that you want them to live. At Dog Food Insider, we provide in-depth reviews on every dog food out there on the market. Visit our websites to get expert advice on various brands in order to help you decide which dog food to try.
