Hi friends…we have a little something special for all of our readers that just LOVE their Doggies! Richard from Dog Food Genius is here to share How To Find The Best Dog Food — A Guide To Healthy Canines with us. If you ever have a question about what to feed your pet or if they can eat something this is the place to go!!! So be sure to check out his blog for tons more Dog info…it’s a treasure trove of info…now here is Richard…
We all love our pets. In fact, most owners treat their dogs as part of the family. And with this love comes the responsibility of making sure they are eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting the best care possible. But aside from taking your canine to the vet regularly and making sure she stays active, how can owners provide the right nutrition? Simply put – what makes a good dog food and how can we find the best brands or products on the market? Below, we’ll discuss what dogs need to eat, detail good and bad ingredients, and explain how to compare different types of dog food.
What To Look For In A Dog Food
Like any other purchase, consumers can’t always rely on companies to tell the truth about their products. Industry jargon can be misleading, and promises of “good ingredients” can be nothing but marketing. After all, the pet food industry generates $30 billion in sales per year.
Even a quick glance at the ingredient list on the packaging can be challenging to decipher. For example, what’s the difference between “chicken”, “chicken dinner”, “with chicken”, and “chicken flavor”? And what about grains like corn, wheat, and soy – is grain-free kibble worth the extra expense?
While all dogs require the same general nutritional requirements, the type of food and amount of calories your pup needs to consume can depend on his breed, age, size, activity level, and allergies.
Fortunately for you, the dog experts at Dog Food Genius have put together this comprehensive graphic detailing every aspect of buying the best dog foods. You can find it below for your review and reference, but here are the highlights:
- Ingredients to look for on the food label include whole proteins (e.g. chicken, beef, fish, duck and eggs), whole grains (e.g. oats and quinoa), healthy supplements (e.g. Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin) and good vegetables (e.g. sweet potatoes, peas and carrots).
- Avoid unspecified ingredients, by-products, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners
- Avoid chemical preservatives – primarily BHA, BHT, PG, and Ethoxyquin
- Your dog absolutely does need a good mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Choosing a protein-only diet is not the right approach.
- Regulations don’t cover the phrases “organic”, “all-natural” and “holistic”, so companies may use the terms as marketing gimmicks
- How much you feed your pup is just as important as the quality of the dog food you buy
Check out the awesome infographic below for more information on how to choose the healthiest dog food! And if you do choose to change your pup’s food or brand, be sure to gradually introduce the new product mix over the course of two weeks.
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