We all love our pets and of course want the best for them.
With the number of pet food recalls in recent years a lot of people are starting to pay more attention to the ingredients, but still we are likely to let the quality slip when it comes to our pet's food.
According to Jillian Plaster, owner of
The Good Dog Food Company, the best thing you can do for your dog is provide a healthy and balanced diet made with high quality ingredients.
There are many options available to choose from so Plaster says it is important to educate yourself and take the time to read product labels.
Here are some of Plaster's helpful tips on how to choose the right food for your dog.
Look for animal proteins at the top of the ingredients list: Animal proteins are more of higher biological value to dogs than plant sourced proteins.
Avoid foods that contain meat by-products or poultry by-products: If you see an ingredient you would never eat yourself then you should look for another brand. If it's not good enough for you it's not good enough for your dog.
Look for whole vegetables, fruits, and grains: Fresh, unprocessed food ingredients contain wholesome nutrients such as vitamins, enzymes, and antioxidants. They are also less likely to have any impurities.
Avoid food with fillers, such as corn, or added sweeteners: Many pet food companies use cheap ingredients that are calorically dense but not very nutritious.
Organic ingredients, locally sourced ingredients: Both are better for our planet. Organic ingredients may be especially appropriate for dogs with cancer, chemical sensitivities, or other serious health problems.
Avoid foods with added preservatives, such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin
Only buy food from a store that specializes in all-natural pet food: Staff are generally very helpful and you can be confident that what you buy will be better than any of the brands available at mega pet store chains.
Dry food may not the healthiest diet for you dog: If you want to provide the very best, most natural diet for your dog, you'd feed a well-researched, home prepared diet comprised of fresh foods. A kibble diet is probably the least natural for dogs.
Did you also know wet food has many advantages over dry?
- Wet foods are beneficial to dogs with kidney ailments because of the high percentage of moisture (70-80 percent)
- Moisture can help a dog who is on a diet feel full faster.
- Preservatives are not added to canned or "pouched" foods. Their oxygen-free
packaging helps them retain their nutrient value longer.
- High quality wet foods contain far more animal protein than dry foods.
- Many dogs digest high-quality wet foods with fewer problems than dry foods.
- Wet foods with a high meat content are generally highly palatable, which help when feeding thin, sick, or picky dogs.
If you find you are still uncertain then a good place to seek help is at a specialty pet food store with a well-trained staff.
