What Is the Best Dog Food

Many dog lovers ask the question, "What is the best dog food for my dog?" Watch virtually any dog food commercial and you'll see a spokesperson claim the particular product he or she is hawking is "the best", but is there a true answer to that question?

See LTK's top 10 list of dog foods...

The truth about the question "What is the best dog food for my dog?" doesn't lie in the name brand as much as it does in the ingredients. There are people who swear by a particular brand of dog food claiming it is that very food that keeps their pet healthy and beautiful. Others, however, subscribe to the belief that dog food is dog food, and it really doesn't matter which brand you buy. Still other pet owners turn to alternative methods, such as the "raw diet" or homemade food for their dogs. Is there really one right answer? The following points might help you answer this question and eliminate some of the doubts you have about the food you are giving your pet.

• If you need to give your dog a supplement, you probably need to change dog food brands. The food you buy should be all your dog needs if it is a quality dog food.
• It can be dangerous to supplement a dog food that already provides all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your dog needs. So, don't automatically fall for a pet supply store owner's suggestion that your dog needs a supplement. Too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing!
• Keep in mind that even adding table food to your dog's diet can upset the nutritional balance of the dog food he eats.
• Do feed your dog the same quality dog food throughout the year, not just during breeding or hunting season or during pregnancy and lactation. Some people focus on feeding dogs better food only when they are most active or only when they are pregnant or nursing puppies, and that just doesn't make sense!
• Don't subscribe to the philosophy that "more is better". Even when you feed your dog quality food, you still need to pay attention to the amount of food he eats. Some detractors of high quality pet food mistakenly point out that it's the quality of the food that makes dogs gain weight. What they should be looking at instead is the amount of food the dog is eating.

For more pet owners, choosing a dog food often begins with deciding what type of food they want to feed their dogs. Whether you choose to use commercial dog food, make your own dog food, or try the raw dog food diet, there are several considerations to keep in mind.

If you choose to give your dog commercial dog food, you need to get into the habit of reading labels. Choose foods which contain at least 30 percent protein, 18 percent fat and contain omega fatty acids, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. The meat ingredient should be the first ingredient you see on the list, and you shouldn't see any food coloring. Unfortunately, most of the well-known dog foods are filled with "filler" ingredients that really don't offer any nutritional value. The following dog foods aren't so well-known, but they are often recognized as exceptional commercial dog foods.

• Canidae is an all-natural, holistic dog food that typically has more than 50 percent protein. You won't find any additives either as the meat used in the food is hormone-free.
• Solid Gold is another dog food that uses all natural ingredients.

If making your dog's food is the route you want to take, search online for some good dog food recipes, such as meat and vegetable based soups, stews and casseroles. You'll need to be organized and carefully plan out your dog's nutritional and caloric needs, as well as learn which foods to avoid. For some great recipes, check out LTK's Dog Food Recipes article, as well as Healthy Pet Food and I Love Dogs.

The idea of feeding your dog raw dog food may not seem like a healthy idea, but there is a growing group of raw dog food diet followers who swear by this feeding plan. Feeding a dog raw food subscribes to the premise of "back to nature". Wild dogs survived by eating raw food, which of course is all-natural. You can actually prepare the raw food yourself or check out Steve's Real Food to purchase packaged raw dog food.

If you have any more questions, discuss dog food choices with your veterinarian. He or she should be able to help you plan out a diet for your dog that keeps him healthy and happy.

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