By Melissa Grasso
One of the biggest questions that I have encountered while working in the pet industry is
“what type of food should I feed to my dog?” Most dog owners choose to feed kibble for
many reasons, but the main reason being cost. First and foremost, make sure that your
dog’s food meets the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials)
standards!
One thing that you will want to look at when choosing the right kibble is your dog! What
breed, activity level, any types of allergies or sensitivities, and if there are any medical
problems that require a special diet. A higher quality dry dog food that contains the
appropriate ingredients for your dog’s life stage and breed is the best choice. If you are
unsure, check with your vet!
The six basic nutrients that your dog needs are water, proteins, fats,
carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins! With that being said, your dog should have
a well balanced meal, just as we would. Their meal should include high-quality
versions of meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits! When looking at the ingredients,
they are listed by order of weight. Each ingredient is weighed when it is added to the
batch of food, and ingredients such as fresh meat contain a lot of water, much of which
is lost during processing. This means that a dry diet that lists corn as the first ingredient
may be nutritionally superior to one listing meat first. Keep in mind that not every dog
has the same nutritional needs.
When it comes to feeding, it is important to select a low-calorie diet! Your dog's diet
should contain a relatively small number of calories per cup; ideally less than 350
calories. High-calorie foods mean even a few extra kibbles can really pack on the
pounds.
The differences between a premium food and budget food are not found on the nutrition
label; they are found in the quality and source of ingredients.The best advice you can
receive about feeding your dog is this: feed your dog the highest-quality food you can
afford! Select diets with real, recognizable, whole-food ingredients- If the majority of
listed ingredients is unfamiliar to you, find another kibble!
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