A Dog's Dinner: Is Your Pooches Food Providing The Right Nutrition?
Friday, May 18, 2018
Your dog needs proper nutrition for it to remain healthy. That is why you need to choose the best dog food brand that will meet the nutritional needs of your dog. Remember that dogs have different nutritional needs. The kind of food that your dog eats depends on its breed, age, health condition and weight. Some dogs have allergic reactions to certain foods. Given the many dog food brands in the market, it can be confusing choosing the best. Here are tips that will help you to choose the best food brand for your dog.
1. Assess your dog’s needs
Dogs have different nutritional needs based on factors such as age, reproduction and activity level. For instance, a puppy needs more calories than does an older dog. Choose the brand of food that has the recommended calories suitable for your dog. Note that the calories should not come from a single source such as from carbohydrates only or proteins only. It should be from different sources.
2. Consult with your vet
Vets are well-versed with the good brands in the market. Considering that your vet knows your dog in terms of its weight, allergies, breed, and age, he/she is in a better position to recommend the best brand suitable for it.For instance, if your dog has developed problems due to the diet such as food allergy, kidney disease or diabetes, your vet can advise you on the best food brands suitable based on the health of the dog.
3. Check out reputable sources
Research online for advice from veterinarians and dog experts about the best dog food brands. You can also check out reviews from other customers to know which brand will be suitable for your dog based on other people’s experiences. You can consult the many uk dog food reviews available online.
4. Check the labels
The contents of dog food are indicated on the label of the packaging. Check different brands to find out which has the nutrients that you are looking for. Check the list of ingredients given on the package. A good brand will have meat as its first ingredient such as beef or chicken, an indication that it has muscle tissue of the meat. However, if the label has ‘meat meal’ or ‘meat by product’, then the brand is not suitable for your dog. Also, a good brand does not have the first ingredient as vegetable, tuber or grain. Although a dog is omnivores and it can eat vegetables and grains, its diet should have proteins as its main ingredient. The label should also have a proximate analysis that indicates the amounts of fats, proteins and fiber present in the food. The labels indicate the kind of nutrients present. Go for brands that use terms that are recognized by FDA. Do not choose brands that have vague terms such as ‘natural’, ‘premium’ or ‘gourmet’ which are only suitable for selling the food but are not definitive of what is inside.
5. Compare brands
Once you identify brands that have the kind of food your dog needs, then compare the brands so you can choose the best. Compare the actual percentage of the nutrients such as proteins found in each brand and choose the one that has nutrients that meets your dog’s needs.
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