The choice of dog food by owners can have a big impact on a pet’s health, behavior, and overall well-being.
A dog deserves nothing but the healthiest lifestyle. To keep it healthy and well-fed, it is important to consider whether ingredients in its dog food might be more harmful than beneficial.
Requirements of Good Quality Dog Food
The most important ingredient in every quality dog food is meat. To avoid any adverse reactions from a pet, be sure to check if the food given has grains such as corn, soy or wheat. These three types of crops are most likely to induce an allergic reaction in pets. The meat to grain ratio of the dog food is the first sign of quality, the more meat content, the better the nutrition. The optimal solution is to avoid dry food altogether and feed a dog mostly wet food.
Identifying Poor Quality Dog Food
Low-quality dog food often contains a high amount of preservatives and grains.
Here are 5 ingredients that should always be avoided when selecting the right food for a dog:
1. Artificial colors are often used by manufacturers to make dog food look more appealing. Some of these chemicals can have a negative effect on a pet’s health. According to PawDiet,[1] they don’t provide any nourishment or positive effect.
2. Unknown by-products are very concerning, due to their inconsistent nature. What they contain is unsure and nerve wracking. The Spruce Pets [2] suggests selecting dog food with little to no food by-products.
3. Carbohydrates are not a normal part of a canine’s diet since their bodies aren’t equipped to digest them. Moreover, some dogs can have an allergy to grain.
4. Plant proteins can cause a dog to have obesity and may result in negative effects on their digestive tract if eaten in excess. The optimal way to avoid these issues is to give said dog a source of protein that comes from natural meats, instead of grain or other produce.
5. Carrageenan comes from processed seaweed and is used to thicken the content in many dog food brands. This chemical is something that should certainly be avoided when feeding a dog, as it can cause many health complications ranging from inflammation to ulcers or other digestive issues.
If a dog is having an allergic response to dog food, they may demonstrate a wide variety of symptoms, including:
– Dry, Flaky Skin
– Hair Loss
– Bumps, a Rash, or Inflammation of the Skin
– Chronic Infections in the Ears
– Obsessive Licking or Chewing of Limbs
– Stomach Upset and Diarrhea
If any of these signs of allergic responses are noticed, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately.
The Right Way to Lower Expenses on Dog Food
Nutritious, low-expense dog food can be rare to find. Keeping searches limited to only local pet stores may just result in a frustrating purchasing experience, because said stores cannot be relied on to consistently carry all of the top brands. Instead, it is recommended that all searches start online and from home. Not only will a wider variety of pet food be found but researching ingredients will be made much easier.
A veterinarian must know what ingredients and brands of food are great for a dog’s health and what ingredients have previously caused allergic reactions or weight gain. Therefore, by searching for dog food that contains the particular ingredients that a dog needs, the right brand will be found faster.
Moreover, online searches allow for greater control over a household budget. When showing up in the local pet store, a pet owner might get stuck paying for whatever brands they are displaying. Knowing what most manufacturers sell for dogs online, there will be the option to purchase from the manufacturer directly or to check out how much a particular type of dog food is at different locations. As long all of the ingredients in a dog’s diet are nutritious and safe for the animal, it should be easy to find solutions that make both a dog and a wallet happy.
As with any purchase, it’s always a good idea to keep up to date on the latest information and research around dog food. It is also important to compare around 3 or 4 different options before making a final choice. A balance of price, taste, and ingredients is the target.
A person should always consult with a vet when choosing the healthiest type of food for a precious pet. The next step is to use the help of the internet and search for different producers, brands and customer reviews. After learning about dog food making methods, ingredients, and company reputation, an informed decision can be made that will keep a dog happy and healthy. After selecting the top brand of dog food for a pet’s needs, it is wise to look for different prices online. Purchasing bulk amounts of dog food online can improve both time and money spent while providing the most nutritious diet for a puppy!
And its always good to remember, a healthy dog is a happy dog!
References
[1] PawDiet. “Artificial Food Dyes in Dog and Cat Food.” https://www.pawdiet.com/articles/artificial-food-dyes-in-dog-and-cat-food/
[2] DogFoodAdvisor. “The Truth About Animal By-Products in Dog Food.” https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/choosing-dog-food/animal-by-products/
[3] Wag! “Grain Allergies in Dogs.” https://wagwalking.com/condition/grain-allergies
