Please Help Me Find a Good Dog Food!

Your dog is an important part of your family so you’ll want to give him a diet that will keep him healthy. So what is a good dog food to feed your pet and which dog food ingredients may be harmful to your best friend?

{Due to the vast number of dog foods available today, it would be hard to do a dog food comparison to find the best one There are so many different dog foods for sale today that it is virtually impossible to conduct a dog food comparison to find out which one is best}. Sometimes what you feed your dog will depend on his size, how active he is, whether he is an adult dog or a puppy and, of course, your budget. A well balanced dog food contains the right proportions of proteins, fats and carbohydrates with the important vitamins and minerals. Please note just because a dog food has “balanced” on the label, does not mean that the balance is right!

Which dog food ingredients are best avoided.

Some cheaper dog food ingredients are merely “fillers” added only to bulk out the container to make you think to are getting value for your money. They have minimal nutritional value and should be avoided. Some examples of these are soy meal, cornmeal and wheat. Filler foods such as these can contribute to indigestion, poor immunity, a lackluster coat and other health problems.

Which ingredients should I look for in a balanced dog food?

A dog’s nutritional needs are different to a human’s. That’s why feeding a dog human food is not a good idea. Although both share the same basic food groups, dogs need nutrients in different amounts to humans. A dog requires more protein than a human and his digestive system can break down proteins very efficiently. This is one reason why meat based dog foods are better than carbohydreate based ones.

Carbohydrates are necessary though for digestion and for the muscles to work efficiently. Good sources are oatmeal and rice (preferably brown). Carbs containing fiber are good for digestion and also to keep your dog regular.

Some fat is necessary to provide energy and for the absorption of vitamins. Animal fats are unhealthy but omega 3 and omega 6 are good for your dog’s health and will keep his coat shiny and provide many health benefits. They may be included in some better brands of dog food, if not you can add them separately.

Most good dog foods will contain the necessary vitamins and minerals in the right amounts. Make sure the brand you choose contains the minerals calcium, magnesium and phosphorus as well as the trace minerals iron, iodine, selenium and zinc – only needed in tiny amounts. It should also contain vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K.

So, choosing a good dog food does require a certain amount of research and maybe spending a little more money to get the best. This is easily offset by the money you’ll save in vet’s bills, not to mention being the owner of a happy healthy dog.

Published on September 6, 2009 under Dog Food
Tags: dog food comparison, dog food ingredients, good dog food

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