Like you, your dog needs sufficient nutrients to meet energy needs and maintain and repair body tissues. Unfortunately, many dog owners are ignorant of this. As a result, they feed their dogs unhealthy meals and expect them to be as healthy and vibrant as a horse. Some even feed their dogs meals that are dangerous to their health, resulting in numerous disorders and a frequent trip to the vet.
To ensure you are feeding your dog the right meals, we’ve put together a list of things to consider when choosing or shopping for dog food. This list will ensure that you choose dog foods that contribute positively to your dog’s overall health and wellbeing.
1.Study the Ingredients
How do you shop for dog food?
Do you stroll through the “dog food section” in the grocery store and fill your cart with whatever dog food piques your interest? Or do you study the ingredients carefully before tossing the food into your shopping cart?
When shopping for dog food, it’s important you pay attention to the ingredients and not the appearance. Keep an eye out for dog foods containing whole ingredients like vegetables, fresh meats, fruits, and grains.
Ensure that the ingredient has a clear protein source. For example, meat-based items should be included in the first three ingredients. You should also target meals with healthy fats like flax oil, canola oil, and salmon oil, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and Ignore foods with too many preservatives and empty fillers like soy and wheat.
2. Your Dog Breed
You shouldn’t feed your Siberian husky a certain diet because your neighbor who owns a chow chow adopts a similar diet. Different dog breeds call for different diets, just as dogs of different ages require a different diet.
So, before you shop for dog food, ensure you research your dog’s breed to determine the type of food you should be looking for. For example, if you own an active dog like a husky, go for a mix of commercial dog food and raw food. While if your dog is a chow chow, consider feeding it meat or plant-based foods. You can also consider yak chews for dogs — it’s ideal for all dogs and comes with high protein.
3.Consider Your Dog’s Weight and Activity Level
While trying to ensure that your dog gets the right nutrients, you should also try to ensure you don’t overfeed or underfeed your dog.
To do that, you need to determine your dog’s weight. With that, you should know how much you’ll need to feed it.
In addition to your dog’s weight, you should also note its activity level. Active dogs like Dalmatians, Russell Terrier, Siberian husky, and Golden Retriever require more calories than passive dogs. Ensure you match their feeding with their energy level and size to prevent malnutrition and dog obesity
4.Try Out Samples
How do you tell if a certain formula is good for your pet? You’ll need to try out samples.
Fortunately, some companies offer samples or refund guarantees to ensure that the dog food is ok for your pet.
You should try out different food samples to determine which is good for your furry friend. Your dog may be allergic to the beef in that dog food or might dislike a certain ingredient.
Aren’t sure what your dog is allergic to? After feeding it with a certain formula, look for signs like excessive licking, vomiting, diarrhea or anything that requires a visit to the vet.
Conclusion
Your dog gets nutrients from the food you provide it. Providing your dog with healthy meals daily will ensure that it gets the right amount of nutrients needed to stay healthy. However, failing to do so may result in frequent visits to the vet,
