The Best Kind of Dog Food for My Dog

Commercial foods include canned food, dry food, frozen food, and dehydrated food. Raw diets and home-cooked meals are additional options. Many companies claim their foods are natural, have specific benefits based on functional ingredients, or are preferred by more dogs. With some basic information about how to read dog food labels and about the nutrition dogs need, you can make the best decision when selecting a dog food for your dogs.

Although many self-proclaimed experts will tell you what you should feed your dog, keep in mind that you need to make the choice that will work for the lifestyle you and your pets have. Budget is often a consideration, although often using premium food saves money on veterinary care in the long run compared to feeding cheap grocery store brands. Some dogs may not want to eat the food you believe is best for them, and others may have specific health issues that you should address with your veterinarian. Find a vet who is knowledgeable about animal nutrition and has training in the area beyond the very brief coverage given the topic in vet school.

Feeding a raw diet is the best approximation to what a dog would eat in nature. Dogs in the wild never ate cooked food, and never ate anything resembling kibble. They ate whole prey, uncooked, often many days after the animal died. With this diet they took in enzymes and nutrients, with a mix of muscle meat, organ meat and bones. Because it is biologically appropriate, a raw food diet (also known as "BARF" which stands for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) is the best food for your dog if it is done correctly. According to Kay Aubrey-Chimene, bio-nutritional consultant who has worked in animal health and nutrition for almost 20 years, recommends that dogs be fed 75 percent raw meat (with bones) and 25 percent raw fruits and vegetables. Small amounts of egg and dairy can be incorporated a few times a week as well. While our pets are not as susceptible to contamination to raw meat as we are, care should be taken with pets whose health is challenged, and precautions should be taken to prevent contamination for people in the home. Frozen or dehydrated raw commercial foods such as Honest Kitchen and Nature's Variety are a good option for those who wish to give their pets the benefits of raw meat without working with it directly.

When selecting a commercial food, whether kibble or canned, it is important to keep the grain content to a minimum. Dogs in the wild do not eat grain, especially cooked grain. In fact, dogs and cats do not have salivary enzymes as we humans do, and do not make the amylase that is needed to break down starches. Fortunately, many companies are producing grain-free foods with high quality ingredients. Read the label to see if grain or starch is included, especially in the first five ingredients. Some brands worth considering are Wellness and Innova Evo.

Meat should be the first ingredient in dog food, and should be of high quality. Look for products that state that they do not use byproducts or that the meat is human grade. In some cases you can not get this information on the label, but can find details on the company's web site. Also avoid ingredients such as "animal digest" or those referred to as "meat" rather than as a specific type of meat such as chicken or lamb.

To choose the best dog food for your dog, learn about the ingredients that are often added to foods and how to identify them from reading labels. Chemical preservatives, especially ethoxyquin, BHA, and BHT, should be avoided, as should artificial colors and flavors. The term "natural flavor" often is used to refer to monosodium glutamate (MSG), which should also not be part of your dog's diet. Again, you may get more detailed information about such ingredients on the company's web site, as they are limited by regulations regarding what they can say on labels. Look for an actual statement that the food does not contain chemical preservatives, since companies don't need to list them on the label if they are already added to the ingredients that they purchase.

Some of the best commercial foods now have added ingredients to help boost your dog's digestion and overall health. Consider finding a food that includes added probiotics, digestive enzymes, or healthy oils. The oils can be a good source of healthy essential fatty acids. Vitamins and minerals are often added, just watch for minerals that are chelated indicating they are organic, as inorganic minerals are largely ineffective.

The information in this article should not be considered medical advice. The information in this article is not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe or cure any ailment. Always consult your animal health practitioner before you start, stop or change anything that has been previously prescribed.