The pet food market is a multibillion-dollar industry, the benefit of which is plenty of choices for dog owners. But what makes a dog food GOOD!
The problem with that, though, in my opinion, is there is too much choice, and not everyone knows what makes dog food good?
As a dog owner, I sometimes find shopping for dog food frustrating because the choice is so overwhelming. And sometimes unnecessarily expensive.
I much prefer the time when there were two or three tinned options and a couple of dog rolls in the supermarket. The choice was easy – usually price.
But nowadays, there are whole supermarket aisles dedicated to dog food – tinned, frozen, fresh, grain-free, protein-packed, in chicken, beef, lamb, horse (but they often hide that) — all claiming to be nutritionally, scientifically, environmentally, and sustainably better than the other brands.
What Makes A Dog Food Good According To Vets
For a start, we all know that dog food tends to be highly processed and packed with unnecessary and not very healthy ingredients. Things like cereal by-products and hulls are used as fillers because they are cheap but have no or minimal nutritional value.
Good dog food should contain a balance of protein (the main ingredient), meat fat, fruits, and vegetables.
Even though dogs are omnivores (animals that eat both meat plus fruit, and vegetables), they still require a diet high in protein content.
Dog food needs protein because it provides your dog with the energy to play, grow, and even heal. At the same time, fruits and vegetables contain an assortment of vitamins and nutrients that are essential to your dog’s health.
Next time you go shopping for good dog food, look for products that list whole food ingredients on the label. And like human food, the higher up the list, the more of that ingredient the product contains.
Labels on dog food are not always clear to read and understand, but good dog food will have good amounts of whole food and few if any fillers that contain little or no nutritional value.
The other thing to look for is dog food that meets the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which is a not-for-profit regularity board that sets the guidelines and standards for all pet foods.
The Dog Food Veterinarians Recommend
Let’s face it, many people don’t have a clue what goes into commercial dog food – and many dog owners don’t care. But I do, and I hope you do too!
So what do the veterinarians say makes good dog food?
Veterinarians are almost unanimous when it comes to what makes good dog food – the ingredients should be of good quality and be easily digestible.
I mentioned earlier about reading the dog food label; however, while the label may say that the ingredients meet dietary requirements, your dog could be missing out on a vital part of their diet if the source of the nutrients is hard to digest.
Vets will commonly recommend that you feed your dog the best quality food that your budget will allow – shortly after you have paid their bill 🙂
And there is merit in that advice because generally, the more you pay for your dog food, the better the quality – but not always!
Good quality dog food provides your dog well balanced nutritional meals, which is vital to your dog’s mental and physical health, and may save you money on vet bills in the future.
But like many things in life, it’s not as simple as that.
You may have done the research and settled on a brand of dog food – your dog likes it, and it’s easy on the wallet.
However, as your dog gets older, it is important to ensure that you keep an eye on the diet your dog needs at this time in their life. It may be as simple as feeding the dog less or changing the type of dog food altogether.
If you have more than one dog, and they are of different breeds or ages, then you need to consider the different calory intake that each dog requires.
If you are not sure, talk with your vet.
In Summary
Shopping for good dog food shouldn’t be stressful.
One thing you can do to reduce the stress is to learn what to look for on the labels.
Trust the advice of your veterinarian.
Feed your dog a high-quality diet with a good balance of protein and fruits and vegetables to keep them healthy, mentally and physically, and agile as they mature with you.
And that folks, is what makes a dog food Good!
Related articles:
5 Reasons to Switch Your Dog to a Raw Food Diet
Your Dog’s Nutrition: What You Need to Know
What Foods Are Toxic To Dogs
Benefits of Homemade Dog Food Include Knowing What’s In It
You may also want to check out this website Dog Food Reviews and Ratings
