Dog Food and Nutrition Tips Articles | Dogs

By: Matthew Hick

Dog food comes in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and even flavors. There are special formulas for overweight, older, and active dogs. Unfortunately, these may not be meeting your dog’s necessary health requirements. In a society where we watch what we eat and read labels, are the dog owner’s of the world reading dog food labels? It’s probably true that many dog food buyers never really thought to read the label, but did you ever wonder what is really in the dog food you buy?

In your typical store, there are numerous dog food choices to pick from. With so many choices, how do we know which is best for our pet? If you acquired your pet from a dog breeder, this would be your best source of information. They can tell you what works best for your dog and perhaps even what to avoid. If you saved a pet from the animal shelter, then your dog will have to be your source of information and your dog food choice will be one of continual testing. Buy the smallest bags available when testing dog food. And in case the dog doesn’t do well with it, there won’t be as much waste.

Even reading the typical dog food label can be confusing and misleading. But, there are certain items you can look for when trying to make your purchasing decision. First, check to see if the label mentions AAFCO (Association of American Feeding Control Officials) and feeding trials. This enables you to know the food was actually fed to dogs during trials and also that the dog food is complete and balanced for certain or all of a dog’s life stages.

Search for dog food that contains water, energy, protein, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. It is also important to look for some type of meal such as chicken meal or beef meal. Whole meat lacking meal is mainly water. Chicken is the recommended meat by nutritionists for a dog’s diet, as it is easily digestible. Easily digestible is key in looking for dog food. Nutrients must be easily broken down. Some dog food products contain corn or some type of corn, since this enables the manufacturer to offer a competitive price. Unfortunately, certain dogs will have problems with corn. Wheat and soy are also known to be irritants with dogs.

Labels are tricky and hard to read, but it is an important job as a pet owner. A little bit of attention and research and you can be sure the dog food you are buying is good for your dog. Once you’ve found the right dog food for your pet, keep checking the label. A dog food manufacturer is allowed up to six months to report on the label if the formula has been changed. Keep in mind, tasty dog foods mean they are appealing to eat and not necessarily healthy. Remember, once you’ve found the right dog food, refrain from changing brands or flavors for any reason, since this can lead to a dog’s stomach getting upset.