Choosing the Right Dog Food

There are a number of important factors to keep in mind before settling on a dog food. Nutritional needs vary between dogs. Consider your dog’s breed, age, activity level, and health condition.

When choosing the right dog food for your pet, we offer a wide variety of forms; such as Dry Dog Food, Canned Dog Food and Natural / Organic Dog Food
Dry dog food is popular among owners because the small bits of kibble can conveniently be placed in a bowl for the dog to eat during the day. The dry texture guarantees easy cleanup in case of spills, and they are usually well balanced with protein and other essential ingredients. Make sure to read the labels when shopping for a dry food; like all products, some come with more high quality ingredients than others. Here are some tips to help with reading labels.

No Preservatives, Artificial Colors or Flavors – Try to avoid buying foods that contain preservatives or other additives because they can be harmful to your dog’s health after extended periods of time. Pass on any labels that contain the phrase: “chemical additives as a source of flavor.”

Color – Color can be a tell-tale factor in deciding the quality of the food. Most natural dog foods come in a variety of soft earth tones; other colors could be caused by chemicals that have been added.

Type of Meat – The first ingredient listed on the label is the primary ingredient in the food. Try to select a food that has a meat listed first; these are usually the higher quality foods. The most common meats featured in dog foods are chicken, liver, beef and lamb. Steer clear of labels that list the main ingredient as “meat by-product.”

Raw dog foods are sometimes claimed by veterinarians to be the healthiest selection for your dog. Most raw dog foods contain all-natural and unprocessed ingredients. Remember, these foods are not all meat, however, the primary product should be. They are balanced with other ingredients for added nutritional values. Look for a ratio of 40% meat, 30% fiber and 30% starch.

No matter what route you decide to take with your dog’s diet, be sure to consult your veterinarian to ensure that he is getting a complete and balanced diet.