You are what you eat. We have heard this saying so many times. It can even be applied to our dogs. A dog that eats a healthier diet will in fact be healthier.
But, what is a healthy diet for a dog? Many of us don't have a clue. If you walk into a store to buy dog food, you will find hundreds of choices. So, how do we pick the best one and what makes one brand better than another. The simple answer is "read the label".
The label will hold the most information available to determine what your dog is eating. The average person probably wouldn't think to read the label ingredients, but if you have done research into this and want the healthiest food for your dog, this is your starting point. By reading the label you will learn a lot about foods.
First of all, you want to see some type of meal listed in the ingredients. It doesn't matter if it's chicken meal or lamb meal, although chicken is considered the best choice since it is most easily digested. Make sure it doesn't just say meat meal, but an actual meat name. Whole meat without meal is mainly water. Also make sure the ingredients include a variety of vegetables and fruits.
You don't want to see a lot of filler ingredients. Grains should be at the bottom of the list. Some dogs may have problems with corn. Wheat and soy are also common irritants and allergens. Try to avoid labels with chemical preservatives. Food should be preserved with mixed Tocopherols, which is Vitamin E.
Also look for AAFCO (Association of American Feeding Control Officials) and feeding trials. This will mean the food was actually fed to dogs to see if they meet nutritional needs. It will mean the food is complete and balanced for adult dogs. Also, be aware that a manufacturer has up to six months to notify the consumer that it has made a change in its ingredients. So, keep checking the label even if you have been using a particular brand for a while. If you notice your dog is having problems with the food, there may very well have been a formula change.
If you obtained your dog from a breeder, then this is your best source of information regarding the best, healthiest food to feed your dog. If this is not the case, then you are pretty much on your own in finding the best food and your dog will be the food critic. When you feel you have found an appropriate dog food for your pet's diet, buy small bags at first. Test it on your dog and see how he reacts to it. If it doesn't sit well with him, then you aren't throwing out a large package that cost a lot. Once you have found the right food for your pet, avoid switching to different brands. Their systems take time to adjust to new foods and this will wreck havoc on their digestions.
Highest priced foods do not always mean they are the best. Remember, the best foods contain real whole familiar ingredients. It is always wise to avoid foods that contain many by products and preservatives. And, a dog food company is not required to list preservatives they did not add. In the end, studying labels, and trial and error, will be the best indicators of what is healthy and nutritious for you pet.
