A Checklist for Choosing Right Dog Food

Every pet owner wishes that his/her dog have a healthy life. For this purpose it becomes extremely important that the dog owner feed his canine with the right kind of dog food. Choosing healthy dog food for your pet is more important than you actually think it is. Though many people think that looking out for healthy dog food can be a tedious task, this is not really the case. A few considerations and you shall be making the right decision as regards dog food.

Don’t get enticed by marketing gimmicks
There are several dog foods available in the market that labels themselves as ‘premium’, ‘choice’ or ‘select’. However these are just marketing gimmicks meant to lure the customer. Not every dog food imprinted with ‘premium’ on the cover contains premium contents. Do not give into these flashy phrases and take the plunge only when you are well sure about the product.

Understand the nutritional requirements of your dog
Not all dogs eat alike. The nutritional requirement of dogs varies from one to another. For instance a smaller dog requires more of carbohydrates, while grown up dogs need more of vitamins and minerals. Understand the nutritional needs of your dog and go in for a dog food that meets the givens. Ideally a dog requires 0% meat, 50% veggies, and only about 10% grain or other carbohydrate.

Check the list of ingredients
This is something that you must do if you really want to choose dog food that is healthy. If the first five ingredients of the product include meat by-product, meat by-product meal, chicken by-product, poultry by-product, chicken by-product meal, poultry by-product meal, or meat and bone meal, it is strictly advised that you do not go in for such dog food.

Watch out for preservatives
Most dog foods have preservatives that can be harmful for your dog’s health. At times, these preservatives may serve as cancer causing agents with your dog. Some of these agents include BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin. Vitamin A and vitamin C work as great preservatives, so choosing dog food with these preservatives is a healthier option.

Ask for APHIS certification
You should always look for APJHIS certification in dig food. If a dog food carries this certification, you have full assurance that all the ingredients are human grade. While most companies may make claims that their dog food is human grade, but it is only a few ingredients in these products that are human grade and rest are not.

Homemade is the best
If you are really looking for something healthy to feed your dog then homemade food is the best option. Dishing out a meal for your dog isn’t that difficult. And there is no harm in making a little effort if your dog stays healthy.

 
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