What Are The Ingredients To Look For In a Good Dog Food?
If your dog is important to you, you’ll want to know how to feed him well to ensure he enjoys optimal health. 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. The best dog foods are a balance of important nutrients such as protein, carbohydrate and fat with vitamins and minerals included. Please note just because a dog food has “balanced” on the label, does not mean that the balance is right!
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?
Dogs and people have different nutritional needs which is why feeding a dog human food is a bad idea overall. 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). Carbs containing fiber are good for digestion and also to keep your dog regular.
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. The better brands of dog food may already contain omega 3 and 6, otherwise you can add them as a supplement.
Most good dog foods will contain the necessary vitamins and minerals in the right amounts. Make sure the brand you choose contains the minerals calcium, magnesium and phosphorus as well as the trace minerals iron, iodine, selenium and zinc – only needed in tiny amounts. It should also contain vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K.
In conclusion, selecting a good dog food does need a bit of research and may cost a bit more. This is easily offset by the money you’ll save in vet’s bills, not to mention being the owner of a happy healthy dog.
