With so many options on the shelf in the pet food aisle, it’s hard to know what food to buy your dog. Sometimes it feels like ‘any old one will do, right?’ But you can ensure that you are taking care of your dog by knowing a few key things about reading the labels.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (aafco.org) and Canine Nutrition Expert Subcommittee set intake recommendations for an array of proteins, fat, minerals, fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. They serve as nutritional guidelines for both growing puppies and mature dogs.
Still, you should ask breeders, or dog professionals what they have to say about feeding your particular dog. Every breed is different and has its own unique needs. A Pomeranian won’t need as much as a Labrador! Not every dog needs the same proportion of nutritional components either
You know what they say about too much of a good thing… Did you know dog foods today face the problem of overnutrition? It used to be that certain dog foods weren’t delivering proper nutrition, leaving dogs inexplicably unhealthy. Now your dog food might simply have too much packed in it. Both can be harmful to your pet.
Any “complete and balanced” labeled dog food had to meet AAFCO guidelines in order to be sold as such. This could have been accomplished in one of two ways: a nutrient profile, broken down and evaluated, or a feeding trial. AAFCO also regulates that dog food is manufactured in safe and sanitary conditions then labeled truthfully. AAFCO’s seal is definitely one thing you can look for when deciding on dog food.
Most professionals recommend feeding your dog a combination of wet and dry foods. Supplement three-quarters high quality dry food with a quarter meat-rich wet, they say. Whole meat and meat meal, potatoes, real vegetables, and whole grains, like barley and rice, are beacons of goodness on a label, while corn, wheat, soy, glutens and meat byproducts might make you think twice about quality. Be wary of the preservatives BHT, BHA and ethoxyquin. Tocopherol and ascorbate (vitamins E and C) make for natural, healthier preservatives.
Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst, who suggests dogs eat 2% of their body weight per day, supports a raw foods diet for dogs. It simulates the diet of a dog living in the wild…a whole fish is a delicious treat, or a whole raw chicken with some carrots. (Note: When a dogs chews a bone it should be raw, because cooked bones can splinter and lacerate the dogs’ stomach.) Food prepared for this diet is available freeze-dried, frozen, canned, and dry, so it’s not like you need to put a raw chicken on a plate for your canine friend every day. (Check it out at barfworld.com.)
Ultimately, whatever you choose has to be approved by your dog. If something doesn’t sit right, you’ll be left with an antsy dog scratching at the front door. When that happens be prepared with biodegradable dog poop bags, dog waste bags, poop bags like those available at www.911savebeans.com.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (aafco.org) and Canine Nutrition Expert Subcommittee set intake recommendations for an array of proteins, fat, minerals, fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. They serve as nutritional guidelines for both growing puppies and mature dogs.
Still, you should ask breeders, or dog professionals what they have to say about feeding your particular dog. Every breed is different and has its own unique needs. A Pomeranian won’t need as much as a Labrador! Not every dog needs the same proportion of nutritional components either
You know what they say about too much of a good thing… Did you know dog foods today face the problem of overnutrition? It used to be that certain dog foods weren’t delivering proper nutrition, leaving dogs inexplicably unhealthy. Now your dog food might simply have too much packed in it. Both can be harmful to your pet.
Any “complete and balanced” labeled dog food had to meet AAFCO guidelines in order to be sold as such. This could have been accomplished in one of two ways: a nutrient profile, broken down and evaluated, or a feeding trial. AAFCO also regulates that dog food is manufactured in safe and sanitary conditions then labeled truthfully. AAFCO’s seal is definitely one thing you can look for when deciding on dog food.
Most professionals recommend feeding your dog a combination of wet and dry foods. Supplement three-quarters high quality dry food with a quarter meat-rich wet, they say. Whole meat and meat meal, potatoes, real vegetables, and whole grains, like barley and rice, are beacons of goodness on a label, while corn, wheat, soy, glutens and meat byproducts might make you think twice about quality. Be wary of the preservatives BHT, BHA and ethoxyquin. Tocopherol and ascorbate (vitamins E and C) make for natural, healthier preservatives.
Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst, who suggests dogs eat 2% of their body weight per day, supports a raw foods diet for dogs. It simulates the diet of a dog living in the wild…a whole fish is a delicious treat, or a whole raw chicken with some carrots. (Note: When a dogs chews a bone it should be raw, because cooked bones can splinter and lacerate the dogs’ stomach.) Food prepared for this diet is available freeze-dried, frozen, canned, and dry, so it’s not like you need to put a raw chicken on a plate for your canine friend every day. (Check it out at barfworld.com.)
Ultimately, whatever you choose has to be approved by your dog. If something doesn’t sit right, you’ll be left with an antsy dog scratching at the front door. When that happens be prepared with biodegradable dog poop bags, dog waste bags, poop bags like those available at www.911savebeans.com.
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