7 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Food

When choosing a dog food for your best friend, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind.

Here’s 7 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Food for your dog

·    You should select a super premium or holistic dog food that is nutrient rich and has human grade ingredients. This means that the dog food is made up of food that is fit for human consumption. Most dog food is not. These dog food brands will include necessary protein, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids.  They are also made without the toxins and additives that can be harmful to your dog’s health.

·   Meat should be the first ingredient as this is the primary ingredient in the bag or can. Meat by-products, and other nebulously described ingredients, when listed as a primary ingredient should be your cue to pass on this dog food.

·   Secondary ingredients should be vegetables and rice. Once again, be wary of any by-product, meal or odd sounding term. If you don’t know what it is, it’s probably not something you would want your dog to eat.

·   Preservatives such as BHA,  butylated hydroxyanisole and BHT,  butylated hydroxytoluene are used some dog food manufacturers including one that is a favorite of many veterinarians The problem with these preservatives according to some dog nutrition experts is that these chemicals may be carcinogenic. Vitamin E & Vitamin C are natural preservatives and healthier for your dog. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that fights the formation of free radicals and the onset of cancer in dogs.

·   Check the label for the AAFCO guarantee.  The Association of American Feed Control Officials works to ensure uniform standards for dog food nationwide.

·  Check the expiration date.  Some manufacturers make these dates hard to read . When in doubt ask the retailer to point out the date to you.

·    Consider making your own homemade dog food. This is an increasingly popular way assure a healthy and nutritious diet for your dog. A couple of options for homemade dog food include: The Bones and Raw Food Diet also known as BARF and vegetarian dog food diets.

What’s in Your Dog’s Food?

If you have any questions about the quality of your dog food you should consult with a holistic veterinarian. Holistic vets are much more in tune to the benefits of a natural and nutritious diet than many mainstream veterinarians who have had minimal training in this area while in veterinary school

This is not a jab at vets.  Anyone who has dedicated their life to healing and saving animals deserves our support. It is simply an observation of which type of vet is the best resource in the all-important area of canine nutrition and picking the best food for your dog.