Your dog is an important part of your family so you’ll want to give him a diet that will keep him healthy. How do you find a good dog food for your dog and how do you tell which dog food ingredients may cause his health to suffer?

{Due to the vast number of dog foods available today, it would be hard to do a dog food comparison to find the best one There are so many different dog foods for sale today that it is virtually impossible to conduct a dog food comparison to find out which one is best}. The optimal diet for your dog depends on how active he is, his size, his age and what you can actually afford. A well balanced dog food contains the right proportions of proteins, fats and carbohydrates with the important vitamins and minerals. One thing to bear in mind – most dog food labels tell you their food is “balanced”, but that may not mean they are good quality!

What dog food ingredients to avoid.

Some cheaper dog food ingredients are merely “fillers” added only to bulk out the container to make you think to are getting value for your money. They have minimal nutritional value and should be avoided. Some examples of these are soy meal, cornmeal and wheat. Filler foods such as these can contribute to indigestion, poor immunity, a lackluster coat and other health problems.

Which ingredients should I look for in a balanced dog food?

A dog’s nutritional needs are different to a human’s. That’s why feeding a dog human food is not a good idea. Although both share the same basic food groups, dogs need nutrients in different amounts to humans. A dog requires more protein than a human and his digestive system can break down proteins very efficiently. Dog foods that are based on meat are superior to grain based foods.

Carbohydrates are necessary though for digestion and for the muscles to work efficiently. Good sources are oatmeal and rice (preferably brown). Some part of the carbohydrates should be in the form of fiber which keeps your dog regular and helps the digestive process.

Some fat is necessary to provide energy and for the absorption of vitamins. The best fats are omega 3 and omega 6 which keep your dog’s coat shiny as well as other health benefits. They may be included in some better brands of dog food, if not you can add them separately.

Vitamins and minerals are mainly added to dog food these days and should not need to be supplemented. Check the brand you buy has the following important vitamins and minerals included. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K are in most quality foods along with  the minerals calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Certain minerals such as iodine, iron zinc and selenium are called trace minerals as your dog only requires very small daily amounts of these.

So, choosing a good dog food does require a certain amount of research and maybe spending a little more money to get the best. However this will be offset in time by a saving on vet’s bills and by a happy and energetic dog.

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