Dogs are considered as man’s best friend, and as quoted by Roger Caras, “dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole”. Dogs are very good buddies, and are also very big help in performing some tasks for humans like hunting, herding, protection, assisting police military, and nowadays, assisting handicapped individuals. Dogs are very efficient companion thus, maintaining their good health is very important. To keep our dogs in good shape, different companies offer different types of dog food that provides the right nourishment for our buddies.
Domesticated forms of gray wolves are called dogs. Domestication of dogs happened 15,000 years ago and through the years various breeds of dogs were developed. Today, there are about a hundred of dog breeds, and in 2001; the estimated number of dogs around the world is 400 million. Among these 400 million dogs is the toy breed or toy dogs. This breed of dogs became popular for their physical features, like being small in size even as mature animals. These toy dogs are perfect for those people who have small yards and lives in the cities or apartments. There are also different dog breeds for different activities like dogs for sporting, non-sporting, working, and herding. Different dog breeds have different needs; as such owners must know what to be taken in consideration in selecting the right food for their pets.
One important thing to consider in choosing the best food for your dog is your dog’s age. Owners must keep in mind that food for puppies may not provide the needs of the adult’s dog, and that an adult’s dog food may not have all the nutrients needed of a puppy for its growth.
Healthy skin and coat, strong and well developed bones, bright clear eyes, firmer stools, defined muscle tone, quality of life and longevity, healthy teeth and gums, fewer trips to Vet clinic, no bad odor, fewer digestive problems, energy, vitality, fewer behavior problems and over all health, are some of the good signs that your pet is fed the right food. A healthy and well balance and nutritious dog food promotes your dog’s good health. However, if your dog shows a sluggish behavior, vomiting, bad breath, and has a dull coat and heavy shedding, you may be feeding your pet an inappropriate dog food. Dog fed with the inappropriate dog food is susceptible to cancers, weakened immune system, liver failure, putrid gas, diarrhea, epilepsy, ear infections, compromise heart and kidneys, stunted growth and weakened bones, bowel disease, diabetes, cystitis, cataracts, hypertension, build up in the eyes, arthritis, countless allergy, and other more.
Raw food, commercial food, or even homemade food is some of the types of dog food we may feed our dogs. The commercial dog food or store-bought dog foods also come in two forms, namely the dry form and the wet canned form. Pet owners must remember that in selecting the food for their pet, make sure to look on the labels of the product and make sure that it has all the nutrients needed to support your dog’s nourishment. One must not be lured with all the marketing tactics of other brands in buying your desired product.
Raw food is another option of food to feed your dogs. Those dog owners supporting raw feeding try to mimic the diet of animals living in the wild -which they think is the ideal diet -for their domesticated animals. On the other hand, detractors believe that consumption of raw meats increases the chances of their pets of having food-borne illnesses. Another option is to prepare the meal yourself. Homemade dog food is the best option for dog owners having conflicting views on the various dog foods available in the market. With homemade dog food, dog owners have the complete control of meals they served to their dogs -hence, making sure that they receive the nutrients they need.
Despite these various feeding options, one must always remember that what is at stake in choosing the dog food to feed your pets is your dogs’ health. So whether your Hundefutter -as they call dog food in German -is a commercial dog food like the Select Gold Hundefutter, raw food or homemade, so long as it meets your dog’s nutritional requirements, then it is the best food for your pet.
The author manages a veterinary clinic in Dresden, Germany. To make sure that his dog patients get the ideal care they should have, he only feeds them with the finest Hundefutter (dog food) proper for their age and class. He highly suggests Select Gold Hundefutter.