Many dog owners pay scant attention to what they feed their dogs. Often, they base their decision solely on price, rather than taking the time to find out what the food actually contains. If they did they’d be shocked to find that these cheap dog food products often contain ingredients that are harmful to their dogs.
Not only that, but cheap dog food may not be the bargain it appears to be (more on this later).For now, here are some tips you can use in selecting a healthy dog food for your dog.
If you want to find out if your usual brand of kibble meets your dog’s nutritional requirements, all you have to do is read the label. Dogs are omnivores so they need meat and vegetables in equal measure. What you’re likely to find in commercial dog foods though is grain based fillers, just what your dog doesn’t need.
But labels are often confusing, so how to you cut through all the baloney to find the information you need? Have a look at the first 5 ingredients on the list and see how many are from meat products. If the majority are, then the food is probably okay for your dog.
It’s not that grains are bad for your dog, just that they are better fed whole. Grains like rice, millet, oats and barley are actually a rich source of fiber, but the grains contained in dry dog food are primarily there as filler, and contain minimal nutritional value.
The other things you should look out for are preservatives and artificial flavors and colorings – a quality dog food will not contain any of these. If preservatives are present, take particular note of what kind are used. Chemical preservatives can cause cancer, so rather go a product that uses natural preservatives, like Vitamin E and C.
If you don’t want the hassle of checking out packaging labels on every bag of kibble you buy, then the safest bet is to buy a premium or super-premium, vet approved, brand. You can rest assured that these brands are formulated to provide the nutritional balance your dog needs.
Now you’ll probably look at the price of these products and wince. They do seem very expensive but as with most things in life, quality costs more. You may recall that at the beginning of the article I suggested that buying cheap was not the way to go. Here’s why that is.
Cheap brands are generally low in nutritional value. You’ll have to feed your dog considerably more to get the same level of nutrition. And with more food comes the threat of obesity, which is behind a whole plethora of canine ailments. Plus the ingredients in the cheap dog food brand are low quality, so your dog will likely develop allergies, skin conditions, and more serious conditions. All of this will require veterinary treatment, and I don’t have to tell you how costly that can be.
Feeding a premium brand means you can feed smaller quantities, so that expensive brand of kibble last longer and also passes quality nutrition to your dog. Your dog will also pass less waste, so there’s less for you to pick up!
Hopefully this article has illustrated why you should always feed your dog the best dog food you can afford. But quite aside from the health benefits, your dog deserves it.
There’s plenty more about best dog food, dog care, information on dogs and other interesting dog information at dogsanddogtraining.com
Useful Facts About Dog Food
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