There are hundreds of commercially made dog food on the market today and that makes it difficult to tell which brand is better than the rest and why. In the first place, you can’t judge which dog foods are good based on advertising; many companies spend millions on advertising for inferior food. And unless you really love your dog that much, testing the food for yourself is out of the question. The best indicator of quality is price. More often than not, low quality dog foods are the cheapest available on the market.
Good Ingredients
Before you can make an informed decision about what dog food to buy, you need to know what ingredients are superior to others. Quality dog foods’ first four ingredients should include protein and meat, and not grains. Other quality ingredients you should look out for are turkey meal, fish meal, chicken meal, lamb meal, potatoes, rice, sunflower oil, and other human-grade ingredients. Make sure the label places “chicken meal” as the main ingredient, not “chicken” . Chicken meal is the cooked version of the protein, whereas chicken counts the entire chicken – including the beak, feet, and feathers. Other good ingredients in dog food are vitamins and fatty acids like Omega 3 and 6. These are essential for a healthy coat and skin. Finally, make sure that the dog food does not have preservatives.
Bad Ingredients
Ingredient’s that you DON’T want in your dog food are inferior proteins like soy, corn, wheat, sugar, and chicken by-products. These are difficult to digest and may give your dog serious health problems if it is consumed for a long time.
Nutrition, Your Dog, and Your Vet
It would also be helpful if you follow your veterinarian’s advice on what good to get. Dogs of different ages, especially old age, need a prescription diet. They might be more expensive than the average dog food but these diets contain the right nutrients dogs in that age category need.
Proper nutrition is key to your dog’s good health and longevity. By being informed of which ingredients are top quality and which ones to avoid, buying your dog’s food won’t be the confusing and harrowing task it used to be. If you’ve got any more questions, ask your vet’s staff for recommendations and advice.