Dog Food : All Dog Foods Are Not The Same

Introduction:

Your dog’s health and wellbeing is important to you and your family. Not to mention keeping down the cost of veterinarian bills! So you need to carefully consider the food that you give your dog. People sometimes just pick the first dog food bag they see at the store. It’s easy to overlook the importance of dog food but it is essential to pick the right one for your dog.

To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.


Picking a dog food:

The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.

Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.

Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.

Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.


Types of dog food:

There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you’ve never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.

Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it’s worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.

If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog’s dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.


All Natural Dog Food:

Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.


Dried Dog Food:

A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.


Vegetarian dog foods:

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.



Overall it’s usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we’re eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time!

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How To Choose The Right Dog Food

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Do you still remember the day, you brought home this fluff ball with two brightly lit eyes that melted your heart? Well! He may have grown bigger since then and probably looks more handsome or beautiful and there’s one thing that you will never be able to deny: your dog loves you unconditionally.

Dogs are not merely pets; they always end up being a part of the family. Hence, you need to take care of your dog just the way; you would take care of your family. One of the most important aspects is their diet. These days you can find hundreds of variety of dog food over the internet and in the super-market but the question is: are they healthy for your dog?

The diet and the amount of food intake will depend on the dog breed you have. If you have a German Shepherd or a Doberman then the intake of food will be more than what you would ideally give to a poodle. There is no particular type of food out there, which can be termed as the super-healthy food for dogs. When talking of dog food, you need to decide the intake keeping in mind several factors like:

Exercise: If your dog is exercising twice a day or going for a run in the neighborhood park then he needs a high-calorie diet. On the other hand, if your dog spends most of its time in front of the TV or just being at home then he needs a low-calorie diet.

Breed: The bigger the dog, the more they eat. A poodle and a St. Bernard can never have the same food intake. The St. Bernard will probably eat a few pounds of chicken as compared to a poodle who will be fine with a couple of pieces.

Health: This is important. Depending on the health of your dog, the food intake will change. Just like humans, dogs also face severe health problems like Diarrhea, stomach infection etc. During such times, irrespective of the breed, you should stick to a particular diet so that your dog can regain his/her health as quickly as possible. Never over-feed or under-feed your dog!

Packaged Dog Food

These days, you will find packaged dog food everywhere but it doesn’t mean that they might be the best for your dog. Different pet food will contain different ingredients, and you need to check the list of ingredients because some of them might be potentially harmful for your dog. The most common danger to dogs is allergy and this can be caused by certain types of dog food.

Different types of pet food contain different ratio of various nutrients or macronutrients like fat, proteins, and carbohydrates. The amount of vitamin and minerals in each of these products will also vary although most of them will be well within the limit that is acceptable by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). You will need to take a decision on whether a particular dog food is deficient in the nutrients for your dog’s needs or not. Accordingly, you can purchase the dog food.

For example, you can try the Berman Puppy milk from Fuzing.com. The Berman Puppy Milk has additional vitamins and minerals for a growing puppy. It mostly contains organic pure natural materials, which can be easily absorbed by a puppy and help him or her to grow up faster and in an healthy way. The Berman Puppy Milk can be served 2-3 hours during the day.

Where to Start:

If you have a dog or puppy recently then you can visit a vet to get him/her checked before proceeding to getting a diet in place. If your dog is around 1 year old or even more then you probably have him/her on a diet. The important thing is that there is a approved list of food that your dog should eat on a regular basis and this will keep him/her healthy. The food that you buy should ideally have high -quality ingredients like vegetables, whole meats, fruits, and grains.

But before you buy any particular type of food, you need to assess his/her health. Make a note of any particular condition that might need veterinary care or even medications. Some of the conditions that you need to keep in mind include bad breath, itchy paws, tartar buildup, thinning of the coat, stinky ears, recurrent constipation or diarrhea, worms or flea infestation, low energy, and even anti-social behavior.

These are certain areas that you will need to consider prior to buying dog food and it will help if you refer to a pet dietician and get a particular diet for your dog. The most important thing is how many times you feed your dog. He will wag his tail but it doesn’t mean that you start feeding them because it will do more harm than good. Take care of your dog just the way you will take care of your family!

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