Understanding Commercial Dog Food
Your dog's nutrition plays a serious role in their health. With all of the different types and grades of food out there, what do you feed your dog which will keep them healthy and disease free? Is it always best to feed your dog premium food? Do you really need to buy that more expensive food? Isn't it all the same? Can't you just pick up a bag of dog food at the local grocery store and call it good?
I'm sure you have heard all of the opinions on what the best food to feed your dog is. Here we are going to discuss commercial premium dog food vs. bargain brands.
It can be very tempting to buy a bargain brand bag of dog food in order to save some money. After all, premium food costs more and you get less. You still get mostly protein and little fat, which most bargain brands stay well within the AAFCO norms. This surely wouldn't hurt your dog right? Wrong!
The difference between premium brand dog foods vs. bargain brand dog food is much more than just price. It's the quality of ingredients. Premium dog food tends to have ingredients which are much more easily digestible and have greater nutrient value. This means you feed less and have less to scoop up in the backyard when your dog poops.
Bargain brand dog food is manufactured with cheaper products such as soy protein, meat and bone meal, and fillers.
These ingredients add bulk to the food so you have to feed more in order to obtain the right amount of nutrition for your dog. These foods usually have shapes, colors, and artificial flavors to enhance palatability. Your dog doesn't need this, and you end up spending much more to feed your dog than you would by feeding them a premium brand.
Any savings you might think you are getting by buying a bargain brand dog food gets eaten up by your dog because you have to feed them more. If you want your dog to have a healthy life and not end up going broke on dog food, I highly suggest you feed your dog a premium brand.
Nowadays, it's very easy to find out what is in the food you feed your dog. Health and safety regulations require that dog food manufacturers list the ingredients and nutritional value in the dog food they make.
In order to have a healthy dog, there are some basic components which need to be present for good nutrition. These are:
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Vitamins, minerals and fats
The ingredients on the container are listed in descending order by weight. In other words, each ingredient is listed in order by how much of the ingredient is actually in the product. So if a pure meat source like beef, chicken or lamb is at the top of the list, you know you are feeding your dog a protein rich food.
Commercially prepared pet foods come in three different forms. They are Kibble (dry food), Canned food (wet food), and Semi-moist (burger-type foods).
So which one do you feed your dog if they all claim to be nutritionally complete? Again, you need to think about and look at what is in the foods. You also should consider the age of your dog. Are they a puppy or an adult? Puppies need a growth formula food until they are at least a year old.
There are other considerations to keep in mind if your dog is an adult. Is your dog active or do they lay around all day? Are they a hunting dog or a sled dog? Is your dog overweight or healthy and in shape?
All of these factors need to be considered when you choose your dog's food. You should also take into account the availability and palatability of the dog food you purchase. For instance, kibble is the most cost effective, but is the least palatable. Canned food is quite palatable but doesn't provide the hard crunchiness that helps your dog's teeth and Gums.
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