How to Choose a Dog Food

There are so many pet foods on the market that choosing one can be overwhelming.

How to Choose a Dog Food?

1) Choose a brand with ingredients you recognize

Avoid vague ingredients like “meat”, “meal” or anything with “byproducts“.

You want to see "real food" ingredients.

Chicken, salmon, beef, venison, etc should be one of the first ingredients. This tells you the food has a high percentage of this protein source.

However, fresh meat isn’t enough on its own.

Meat has a high water content--65-75% . This means it doesn’t provide enough protein by itself for your pet.

So, what do you do?

2) Look for “meal” to support the fresh meat used in the food.

Meal is a combination of meat, bone, skin and connective tissue rendered and dried.

It’s a great protein source.

You want to see a named meal--chicken meal, salmon, etc.

Not just “meal” or “animal meal”. That could be anything.

And likely not a “good” anything. It could be waste products. More on them in a minute.

3) Look for vegetables and fruits

Your dog needs these just like you do!

Sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene which is good for your pet’s eyesight.

Green beans and carrots are great for your dog’s health too.

Is Your Dog Allergic to Grains?

You should also be aware if your dog has a food sensitivity or allergy to wheat, corn, oats or soy.

These are in many dog foods.

If so, you can find a food that’s grain free.

The breakdown on the label of a quality food should be:

Kibble (Dry Food) should have a moisture content of less than 10%. (Otherwise you're paying for water)

The more expensive brands are usually made up of more quality ingredients.

It may have a higher price tag up front but it’s more filling so your pet eats less.

Plus, since it's more nutritious, you may pay less in vet bills.

There are Dozens of High Quality Dog Foods

It’s getting easier to choose a dog food that’s high in quality.

Even some grocery stores are starting to carry better brands.

But, mostly, you’ll find them in better pet stores and online.

Here are three high quality dog foods. How to choose a dog food starts here.

Nature's Variety Dry Dog Food Beef & Barley 15 lb. Bag

Wellness Simple Food Dry Dog Food Salmon 10.5 lb. Bag

How to choose a dog food doesn’t have to be a daunting task once you know what you’re looking for.

Rotate Your Dog Foods!

Many of my long time readers say they have three varieties they rotate.

This ensures your pet is getting a variety of nutrients.

So, there you are.

How to choose a dog food. Hope you found this helpful!

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