Content

• Steps
• Advice

You are the one who takes care of your dog and wants the best for your dog. Their health is largely determined by their food. However, there are so many food options, how do you choose the best for your dog? Here are some simple guidelines to help you decide what to feed your dog. While there are no “best” dog foods, there are certainly nutritionally better varieties.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Deciding what your dog needs to eat

1. 

   Remember your dog's age and activity level. Your dog's energy and nutritional needs are based on many factors, including: growth, performance, fertility, and age. Pet food is made for each period of their growth. An older puppy needs more calories than an older puppy. A pregnant or nursing dog also needs more calories than a dog that is strayed.

2. 

   
   
   Determine your dog's nutritional needs. You should consider your pet's caloric needs, but also remember that it is not calories from a single nutrient, such as protein or starches. For example, about 20-25% of calories protein is enough for a healthy dog ​​to grow and perform other activities.
   • If your dog stays healthy with signs like: you can see his waist and can easily feel the ribs with the palm of his hand, it means your dog is in good shape. . If your dog weighs more than it needs to, reduce calories by 10-25% within a month and reassess. If your dog seems too skinny, increase the calories by 10-25% and watch what happens. Maintain your calorie supply when the dog's desired condition has been achieved.
   • If you feed your dog too many calories, they will accumulate in the dog's body whether it's calories from fat, protein or starch.
   • Dogs can get pancreatitis with a diet too much fat (and sometimes too much protein). Fat is a concentrated form of energy. Dry, low-fat dog foods contain 6-8% fat, while a higher fat diet can contain up to 18% fat.

3. 

   
   
   Talk to your veterinarian about your dog's diet to see if he can advise you based on your dog's current health. If your dog is sick that could be affected by diet (eg: diabetes, kidney disease, pancreatitis, food allergies, etc.), your veterinarian will discuss options with you and develop Your dog's own diet plan.
   • Consult your veterinarian if you have concerns about chronic diarrhea or food allergies-related skin conditions. Dog diarrhea has many causes (eg: parasitic infections, bacterial infections), but food is certainly a major risk.
   • If the pet occasionally has loose stools and self-regulates within a day and remains active and eating normally then that is not a problem. However, pets with persistent episodes of diarrhea that fail to hold and / or show other signs of illness, such as lethargy and poor appetite, should be checked, and changes in diet may be the way to go. handle such cases. Chronic itchy skin that is not caused by seasonal changes may be associated with food allergies.
   • You will need the assistance of a veterinarian nutritionist with commercially available foods or food recipes.
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Part 2 of 2: Choosing nutritious dog food

1. 

   
   
   
   
   Do not believe in advertising. Remember that television, magazine and in-store marketing programs are aimed at people. Even the design of the packaging label or the food box is intended to invite people to choose and buy. Do not be fooled by cute and eye-catching advertisements. Do research for your dog's health.
   • Labels with marketing terms such as "premium", "natural", or "stylish" are easy to sell, but they are not specific concepts by the Food and Drug Administration or home. Producer of pet food for recognition.

2. 

   
   
   Decide between dry and canned foods. Feeding your dog canned food instead of dry food or vice versa is just a matter of choice and finances. Most dogs can use either of these, however, you may sometimes find that your dog is sensitive to a food. They can experience symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea, which shows that their intestines are not properly digesting the food.
   • Canned food is usually more expensive than dry food but contains about 75% water.

3. 

   
   
   In the US, make sure the food label is stamped with the American Feed Association (AAFCO) accreditation mark. Becoming an AAFCO member is voluntary, but it will provide instructions on recipes and the manufacturing of pet food. The recognized feed label provides the basis for assuring the customer that the feed meets the basic nutritional requirements for the animals listed on the package.

4. 

   Check the ingredient list on the sticker. Dogs are omnivores that can eat meat, grains and vegetables. However, you need to check that the first ingredient listed is meat, such as "chicken" or "beef" rather than "meat by-product" or "cooked meat". When you see the word "chicken" on the ingredient list, it means that the meat is mostly muscle tissue, but may include the animal breast or heart (or other organs).
   • Also, do some research to make sure that the first ingredient on the list is not whole grains or vegetables, unless you are feeding your dog on a diet for some reason.

5. 

   Compare ingredients between different foods. The ingredient list on the label is listed by their weight in the food's recipe. Ingredients that contain water, like meat, are often at the top of the list.
   • To compare dry food (10-12% moisture) and canned food (75% water), you need to consider the amount of moisture in the food if you want to determine the exact percentage of protein in the food. dog food. To calculate the “dry matter index” of the amount of protein in a dog food container, you need to remove water from the food by calculation. For example, if the food contains 12% protein and the can contains 75% water, divide 12% by 25%, and you get 48% protein. This content is relatively high. (You use 25% in the denominator to reflect the rest of the food remaining after 75% water is removed). This will help you compare different types of dog food, even though they are prepared according to different recipes.

6. 

   Check the label for an "ingredient analysis" method that tells you the amount of protein, fat and fiber in the food. The recommended amount of food for your pet is based on its weight, and can be found on most food packaging.
   • Of course, the manufacturer cannot accommodate the individual pet's needs, so please use this information as a basic guide and control the condition of the pet.
   • You won't find calories either on the packaging or on the case either, so call the company or check the information online.
   • Consult your veterinarian if you have any questions about your pet's weight and condition.

7. 

   Look for newly manufactured food packages. Once you have chosen a type of food, you need to make sure it is new. Check the expiry date on the package. Dry food is often sprayed with fat on the outside to increase its taste. Fat will go rancid after a period of exposure to light and air. Heat will increase the risk of going rancid.
   • You also need to check that the packaging is airtight and free of punctures before buying home.
   • Pet food stores often place the nearest food shelf on top or front to rotate inventory. They want to sell the nearest food first, which is understandable. Check if the product on the back or bottom of the shelf with a shelf life is still far away and pick them up if appropriate.
   • While it may seem like you will save money if you buy a 20kg food bag for a 5kg dog, it's better to choose a small bag to ensure freshness, unless you store the food wrapped in a cupboard. Insulation to prevent moisture and freezing. Be sure to label the food bag with the food's name, batch number (in case food is recalled), date of purchase and expiration date. Take only the portion you need to use one day before feeding to allow the food to thaw completely.

8. 

   Keep proper dog food. Keep the dog food in his or her bag in a sealed container (made of plastic or metal) in a cool and light-free place, such as a locker, cupboard, or even an insulated cupboard. Store leftover canned food tightly sealed in the refrigerator. Unused canned food should be stored in a cool dry place.
   • Dry dog ​​food is best used within 6 weeks of opening, with proper storage conditions.
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Advice

• If you like to feed your dog with home-cooked or raw food, it is imperative that you learn and use a recipe that you trust. An unbalanced diet can have an adverse effect on the dog's health or cause life-threatening illness. Raw diets require safe, appropriate food handling to avoid contamination with bacteria such as salmonella, listeria, E.coli, or other contaminants.
• There are many resources to help you find the best nutritional diet for your dog. Examples include The Whole Pet Diet by Andi Brown, Dr. Becker's Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats, by Beth Taylor, and Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs by Dr. Becker's Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats. by Lew Olson.
• Acana and Orijen are brands with strict health standards consumed in Canada. They are much better than the American brands but the prices are higher. In the US, you can also buy Taste of the Wild, which is very good but inexpensive dog food. They do not contain grains and gluten, as well as meat by-products. Check with your veterinarian to see if you can feed your dog that kind of food. Don't feed your dog wet food as often as it is not good for teeth and can cause stomach upset.