Dogs are really like people. They can live a healthy life only while eating a variety of food, like meat, vegetables, and grains. But also, they need moderately-sized and balanced food, that’s why it’s important to know the needs of your dog.
The feeding depends on three main factors:
- AgeIdeal
- weight
- Activity level
Dog food labels usually provide the guidance on portion size, but your vet may know much better, because he can estimate the real condition of the dog. Also, it’s for fair useful, because veterinarian can recommend you the special food that can protect your dog against diseases.
The vet will calculate how many calories your dog needs every day. The most dog labels don’t provide such information. Mostly, veterinarians recommend feeding your dog twice a day, if it’s an adult one. Puppies need to eat more often, because their metabolism is faster and they need to fuel their growth.
Now it’s time to describe the process of dog food selecting. The food your pet eats mostly depends on its eating habits and lifestyle, but the taste is not the main thing you should pay your attention. First, check the package label for the statement of the nutritional adequacy. It should state that the food meets nutrient profiles, established by the AAFCO (the Association of American Food Control).
In addition, every dog food is divided into three types: for adult dogs, for puppies and for all life stages. If you’re an owner of the adult and quite inactive dog, don’t buy the food for all life stages. It usually contains extra nutrients needed for growth.
If you don’t believe in dry and wet labeled feeding, you can provide the homemade feeding. In this case make sure, that your pet gets the full mix of protein, minerals, fats and vitamins. It’s quite difficult, and for the first time, you should consult with the nutritionist; he’ll prepare a healthy diet for your dog.
If you, at least, decided to feed your dog with a labeled food and don’t know is it good for your pet, or not, watch the condition of its body and coat. If your dog has a glossy coat, it’s full of energy and it simply likes this food, the food is suitable for your pet.
But how to choose the best food at once, when you’re holding two packs in your hands in the shop, or simply look at all the variety of brands in the supermarket?
1.First, remember that the normal ratio for dogs consists of 50% meat, 50% vegetables, grain-free, wheat-free, and without cheap fillers. 2.Look at the ingredient list and ensure that the protein sources are high. The first three ingredients listed on the label must be different kinds of meat: chicken, lamb, venison, etc. 3.Watch out when you see grains among the ingredients. They can be used as a cheap filler to boost the food’s protein percentage. They shouldn’t take the starting positions in the list. 4.Avoid the food with non-natural preservatives like BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin. 5.Choose he premium brand instead of economy brand. The cheapest ingredients are rarely healthy.***
About the author: The article was written by the active blog writer, Paul Smith. Paul is a dog-lover and he’s experienced in taking care of them. He owns two dogs – the coated retriever and poodle, so he can freely speak about different dog breeds. If you’d like to see more works from Paul, use this link: best essay writing services Also, you can ask Paul different questions about your pets on Google +
