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Trying to find the best food for your dog, in terms of price-quality fit is a serious challenge and this is precisely why most dog owners feel a bit overwhelmed.
The reason why you should be so careful with this is that some dogs might have problems with the digestive system if they don’t get proper food or if you feed them too much. High-quality food is reflected in your dog’s level of energy, the way his coat looks, and the color of the eyes.
There are some steps you might consider when choosing the right food for your dog, as each one of them ticks differently.
Age and breed
The food that you choose for your dog is in strong connection with his physical characteristics and behavior. While puppies need a lot of calories, senior pets need less. The same applies to highly active breeds that will burn more calories during the day and will therefore need more food and also consistent ones.
Couch potato breeds will be fine with fewer calories and precisely because of this fact you might want to find a way to protect them against any health issues. Some might appear because you have been overfeeding your dog.
As you go shopping, you will find food based on small breed and large breed formulas. You should look at the kibble size because your dog should be able to eat safely and comfortably.
For example, if you have a Jack Russel Terrier you might be interested to buy some dry food with meat flavors such as Pedigree Small Dog Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak and Vegetable Flavor. A small dog like yours will get enough vitamins and this food will nourish its skin and coat.
For a large breed, you might look for something different such as IAMS Proactive Health High Protein Large Breed Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken. Due to its composition the dog will have strong muscles and get a lot of proteins. It is good for their bones and especially dedicated to big dogs that consume a lot of energy.
Check the main words on the food package
For example, you should check first if the food is based on chicken meat or beef meat and which percentage it has within. You should check how much of any protein is included in the food package. Water can increase the amount of the protein mentioned on the pet food label and you might have to deduct this amount to see where you end up.
Another keyword on the package is “dinner“. These types of foods only contain 25% of the protein mentioned on the label. Be careful also with labels such as “platter“, “formula“, “nuggets“.
Regardless of how many ingredients appear on the label, they will add up to only 25% of the total amount of proteins.
Apart from the protein, you might be curious to check the flavor the food has. If the word “with” appears, then it means that what comes afterward is found only in 3% of that ingredient. So, a good example is if you buy this food chicken with cheese, then the food will have 25% chicken and 3% cheese.
Do not expect to have the flavors mentioned into big amounts, as there are slight amounts so that the dog can feel the taste and eat everything. Have a look at Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Canned Soft Wet Meaty Dog Food Combo with Chicken, Liver & Beef.
If you really want to feed your dog in a healthy way, you might want to go for something in a can, such as Purina ONE Weight Management, Natural Wet Dog Food. Then you will be sure your dog gets the best proteins. The food sold in cans is made with real meat and is high in antioxidants.
Check the ingredients carefully
It doesn’t matter how adept for dry food you are, you should not forget that dogs are carnivores and they need real meat, not just flavors.
On the other hand, as you read the ingredients on the label, you will get them listed based on weight. Therefore, the meat will be among the first.
This happens also because of the high amount of water it contains. If you want to provide your dog with the healthiest food, introduce meat in their weekly digestion. Vegetarian diets are recommended only if your dog has an allergy.
In the end, nothing else matters once your little ball of fur comes over and fills your life with joy. Reading carefully the labels from the dog food and distinguishing between the main ingredient and the flavor is the first step into making sure that your pet will stay strong and healthy!
What is your puppy’s favorite food?
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