Which Are The Best Types Of Dog Food?

Buying and bringing home a dog is a simple job and the whole process could be completed within a few hours or days. However, the tougher part is to take care of them and ensure that they are fed properly and remain healthy and in good condition at all points in time. As pet owners, you must pay attention to the quality and quantity of food which you are giving to them. With so many choices available, choosing the best type of dog food is not easy. We are therefore spending some time knowing more about it for the benefit of our readers. The food which you choose for your dog should be good on its stomach and it also should remain within your budget. It, therefore, could be a tight rope walk and we are sure the next few lines could bring in some clarity on the subject matter.

Take Into Account The Age Of The Dog

While choosing eating habits of your dog or even while deciding on the best dog food for puppies, you must take into account the age of the dog or puppy, its activities, the reproductive status, breed, and other such things. Its behavior and overall health levels should also be considered. If you have a lactating mother or a puppy, you certainly would have a look at the food that has more calories in it. On other hand dogs which are senior and old and which have a sedentary lifestyle should not be overburdened with too many calories. Hence, you must do your research or even take expert opinion so that you are not found wanting as far as the quantum of calories is concerned.

Look At The Food Packaging And The Writing On It

You must not ignore the writing on the food packaging when you are choosing the same for your pet dog. The protein content, in particular, should be carefully analyzed because quite often the water content is not mentioned in it. The water content could dilute the strength of the protein calories. Hence, while the packaging could read 90% protein when the water content is taken away it could come down to 70%. Therefore you must always look for dog foods which are transparent and open.

Understand The Ingredients Properly

The food label often lists ingredients based on various attributes including weight and so on. When choosing meat meals or meats always keep in mind the water content in it. You would do better to choose foods with meat meal or meat as the first and main ingredient. You have to keep in mind that dogs are omnivores and they should be put on a vegetarian diet only under very special circumstances such as allergies and illnesses.

Be Sure Grain Free Food Is Right For Your Dog

If you believe that your pet dog has an allergy and it should be given a grain free diet, you would be better advised to take the decision only after taking feedback from your vet rather than acting on your own. Grains are always not bad for dogs unless they suffer from a severe allergy. Further choosing food with grains in it could also be lighter on your pocket without actually compromising on the quality of food which you give to your dog.

Be Sure About The Nutritional Adequacy Statement

You must not be just carried away by the nutritional adequacy statement that is written on dog food packets. You must delve deeper into it and be sure that it makes perfect sense. For example, some food items might be good for puppies while others could be adequate for grown-up dogs. You must carefully read the nutritional adequacy statements and be sure that you are giving the right food to the right dog depending on its, age, size, and activity levels and so on.