The most common question most dog owners ask from their veterinarians is regarding the type of food they will feed their pet dogs. As the market for dog foods provide a vast number of choices for pet owners, choosing which dog food is best for you four-legged friends is sometimes daunting. For help on this challenge, read on as we provide a list of guidelines you may ponder on when choosing which dog food you will have.
One of the first things to do when choosing the best dog is to ask friends and family about their experiences. The breeder you received your puppy from is an excellent source for determining which food is right for your new best friend. Also, you can also ask opinions from experts such as your veterinarian regarding the type of food that best suite the needs of your pet. Make sure that you inform them how much your budget is for them to consider the amount of the dog food they will be advising you.
Dogs’ ages or life stages are another consideration before buying a dog food. Depending on the dog’s age, its dog food must meet the nutritional requirements important at that specific stage. An adult dog may not need all the nutritional elements that are included on a puppy’s food as much as a puppy may not yet need all the ingredients contained in an adult dog’s food. Aside from their ages, dogs also differ in sizes. Hence, underweight dogs may need dog food that includes more nutritional ingredients while overweight dogs will need less of such.
Also, the dogs’ medical condition is another factor in the selection of the appropriate food we feed them. As some dogs may suffer from diabetes, allergies, cancer, etc., the type of food we give them must have ingredients that address those types of illnesses.
Yet, the most important criterion in the selection of your dog’s food is the dog’s breed. A number of dog foods are specially catered for specific dog breeds. Glucosamine and calcium rich foods, for example, are often catered to larger breed dogs like Labradors, German Shepherds, Irish Wolfhounds, and Great Danes. Another important criterion though, is your dog’s preference. Bear in mind that it does not always mean that two dogs of the same breed will have preference to the same type of food.
The first step when looking at dog food brands is to check the label. Food ingredients are listed in a way that the ones that are mostly found in the food are listed first. Avoid those that are filled with “food fillers” such as wheat and grain because they just make the dog feel that they are full when they really are not. Also, get past the bright colours, the cute pictures of puppies on the label or the flashy marketing messages, but resist those urges and check the boring label first.
Generally, as the abovementioned criteria suggests, the nutritional facts of the type of dog food that you are to select for your pet is the most important factor to consider. For the brands of dog food that may include all those aforementioned factors, you may try Hundefutter products manufactured by from Germany. An example of such product is the Royal Canin Hundefutter especially designed to meet the nutritional needs of you dog.
Finally, always remember that you are the boss. You want to give your dog the best time on earth, don’t you? When your dog is healthy and happy he will be your trusted companion for a much longer time.
Alexandra Sherbrooke is a pet lover who is a proud owner of a PitBull. She ensures that she feeds the healthiest dog food products or Hundefutter for her pet. Royal Canin Hundefutter is a regular part of her “to buy list” as she considers this dog food as the best in the market.