Giving your dog a high-quality and a well-balanced diet is one of the best things you can do to keep your dog healthy. Nutritious balanced food will also enhance their immune system and keep their digestion on track. But when it comes to choosing the best dog food, the options seem never-ending and may become challenging for the dog owners. With the plethora of choices in today’s pet food market, how can you tell which food is best? It is necessary that you become proactive and choose the suitable diet for the dog before your pet becomes sick.
How To Choose Perfect Dog Food For your Dog?
Here, you will learn how to choose the ideal dog food for your furry baby.
#1 Consider the age, breed, activity, reproductive status and previous health history of your dog
Your dog’s overall health, physical characteristics, and behavior are important while choosing an appropriate dog food for them. Lactating mother and puppies dogs need more calories each day, while older pets require fewer. Also, highly active breeds require more calorie intake than less active breeds. Some brands offer foods based on individual breed, but most will only differentiate between the equations for small breed and the large breed. Always remember the amount of food and its type, when fed correctly will help to avoid health issues to your dog related to obesity.
#2 Nutritional Needs
The calories for your dog should not come from just one source of nutrient for instance only protein or only carbohydrates. It should be well balanced and planned. You can be assured that your dog is in a healthy condition if you can feel their ribs with the flat of your hand. But if your pet is heavier and it is noticeable enough, it is best that you cut their calorie intake and switch to a diet with lesser calories. Nutritional needs vary with each dog so it is best that you take your dog for a nutritional assessment to a veterinarian. Dogs can develop pancreatitis with high levels of fat in their diet and sometimes because of protein as well. Go for lower fat dry dog foods as an alternative.
#3 Measure Out
It is important to learn the quantity of food your dog takes and the number of calories it needs for a healthy stay. For, that case, use a measuring cup when you provide food for your dog. In that case, you will know and keep a track of your dog’s food intake level.
#4 Bacterial risks from raw dog food
It has been researched that the owners who feed their dogs raw food are at a higher risk of getting sick from diseases like Salmonella and other food-borne bacterial diseases. The stomach acid of a dog’s digestive system is much better than humans at dealing with bacteria. Therefore, your pet might not show signs of symptoms but can carry and spread the dangerous bacteria to their family without you even realizing it. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after serving food to your pet.
#5 Dog food vary with life stage
Choose dog food according to their nutritional needs and life stages. For the regular purpose of your adult furry friend, choose something that is complete and balanced for adult maintenance. There are also options for their growth and reproduction stages. Puppies also have different needs than senior dogs. So, choose it accordingly.
#6 Do homework on your dog’s food brand
Any renowned company that assures quality products will be happy to assist their customers. You can read about your pet’s food on the internet or directly talk to the brand’s customer relations department. A high-quality brand will help to ensure the best nutritional transfer to the body of pets. This process of study will help you to learn more about the manufacturer, quality and appropriate sourcing of ingredients. Read reviews of the users of similar brands also.
#7 More of whole grains and gluten
Whole grains are good for your pet but often you may not be able to afford their high price tags. Moreover, your pets can be allergic to grains. So if you are planning to shift to a grain-free diet, do consult the personal vet of your dog. Grains are an excellent source of carbohydrates. Dogs can easily metabolize these carbohydrates and use them as an energy source. So, these nutrients are essentially important for pets.
#8 Meat-based products
Even though dogs are omnivorous, they can only in extreme conditions be fed with vegetarian food. Meat or meat-based products are essential for the healthy growth of your pet. Pet food ingredients labeled by-products include highly digestible and nutritious organs, such as the liver and lungs.
#9 Avoid added sugar, artificial sweeteners, artificial color and preservatives
To ensure perfect dog nutrition and proper health conditions of them, one has to avoid feeding their pets with certain types of foods especially those foods prepared for people. Chocolate is harmful to dogs as it is difficult for them to digest the same and can cause vomiting and other damaging health conditions. Avoid giving your pets food that contain high levels of sugar or additives, which can result in their hyperactivity or bad behavior.
Frequent checking the weight of your dog will keep their health on track and you can make necessary changes as and when required. Obviously, first, they should be consulted with veterinaries. Frequent visit to the vet can also help in an early inspection of diseases or any health-related issues of your pet.
Keep your pet under observation. If you have taken the effort to do everything that is healthy and beneficial for your pet, it will definitely reflect on him or her. Their bright eyes, a shiny and smooth fur-coat, and arisen energetic level will let you confirm that you have chosen a good source of nutrition for your dog. Foods that suit our stomach can sometimes be toxic for your pets. Obviously, veterinarians for your pet can guide you to the best answers and solutions, but there are also other ways to evaluate a dog food brand and analyze whether it will be appropriate for your pet or not.
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