Choosing Dog Food: Part One
So, you have a new puppy, or maybe an older dog you’ve rescued. Do you know what to feed them? Should you choose what the breeder was feeding; what the shelter was feeding; whatever your vet recommends? These are some basic guidelines to aid you in choosing the best food for your dog. All foods are not created equal!
The Options
There are pretty much 3 basic levels of dog food: Super Premium, Premium and Economy. While you may think you are saving money feeding a less expensive dog food, in reality it costs MORE. In order to meet the nutritional needs of your dog, you have to feed over 3 times the amount of an economy dog food than you would a super premium dog food.
Treats are important too! (This is a dog cannoli, not a human one.)
Common Products
Meat: The first ingredient should be a meat or meat meal (made from the meat of the animal, not the spare parts). It should NOT be meat byproduct- avoid foods that list any kind of “byproduct” as they are the waste parts of animals.
Corn: Corn is one of the most common fillers in dog foods, but it’s also one of the most common allergens in pets. While carbohydrates are an essential part of a good diet, corn can not be digested by our dogs, leading to more waste (more potty trips!) and less useful and healthy food for the body.
Soy: Also a common ingredient in dog food, but one of the most common allergens for dogs. Signs such as licking their feet and itching indicate that your dog is not tolerating something in their food; corn and soy are likely culprits.
Preservatives: Look for products that are preserved naturally using Vitamin C (ascorbate) or E (mixed tocopherols). Foods preserved with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), propyl gallate, propylene glycol (also used as a less-toxic version of automotive antifreeze), and ethoxyquin are all synthetic preservatives and are potential cancer-causing agents.
There are MANY great dog foods out there to choose from; we just want to help you prepare to read each label. Look for a food with ingredients that you would feel comfortable eating- it’s always a good sign if you know what each ingredient is without looking it up! You can bet your dog will feel the same way too.
These guidelines are the first steps to finding a good diet for your dog. In the future, we will discuss other food options, such as home-cooked and raw.
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August 9th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
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