The Best Dog Food

The best dog food you can buy your pet is one that meets his or her needs completely; a holistic dog food of sorts. That means all the protein, fat, and roughage they need. Making the stuff yourself is one possibility, but there are a number of very good prepared foods on the market.

First, it's important to note that dogs must eat meat to be in the best health. A dog that has been forced into a vegan lifestyle will not be healthy. However, an all meat diet isn't appropriate either. Your four-legged friend needs the vitamins, minerals and fiber that come from plants.

The best dog foods have all this stuff in the proportions that dogs need, and none of the stuff they don't. Different breeds of dog generally have the same nutritional requirements, but those requirements change as age and activity levels change. Younger, more active dogs need more food than older, less active dogs the same size.

Dogs don't digest grains well at all. And grains are very high in calories and very low micro nutrients. Too much of that stuff can not only make your dog fat, but digesting it actually uses more micronutrients than the grain provides, so feeding too much to your dog can result in malnutrition.

The best ingredient lists for good dog food will start with meat. Actually, look for a specific kind of meat. The generic term "meat" often implies low quality byproducts from processing plants and factories. What the type of meat is (beef, chicken, pig, mutton or fish) becomes less important than whether or not it can be identified.

Be careful of feeding your dog cooked bird bits as the bones become brittle when cooked. A raw chicken bone, for example, still has some chew and flex to it while a cooked one has all the collagen and whatnot cooked out of it, rendering it capable of turning into throat-tearing shards.

Dogs have strong digestive systems. They're enough like wolves that raw meat shouldn't be a concern. Don't fear feeding your dog raw cuts of meat. The parasites, bacteria and other bugs that can harm humans have little or no effect on your dog.

Finding the perfect food for your pet is important. You want them to eat their own food without pausing to think. The right food means they won't be begging for your food at dinner, instead they will be happy to see their own bowl come dinner. The best way to discover the perfect food for your pet is to try a few out. Buy small amounts and let your dog taste them. Eventually, you will discover the best food available for your pet.