Dog Food Tips ? How to Have a Happy, Healthy Dog

In order to choose the best dog food for your family dog, it involves knowledge about the breed as well as determining their age, activity levels and some basic dog nutrition. With the plethora of food choices available to you, choices can become quite complicated so these pieces of information are essential. In addition, you will discover different formulas for puppies, senior dogs and even special diet foods for dogs with certain health conditions.

Nutritional Requirements

It is important to talk with your dog’s breeder or veterinarian to determine the best diet for your pet. The average requirement for dog diets is 15-20% protein content and 5-8% fat content. However, this can change drastically, depending on your dog’s breed, age and activity level. For instance, a small Pomeranian may require far less protein and fat than a working dog like an Anatolian or Siberian Husky. In addition, some breeds may have an intolerance for high levels of certain minerals like zinc or copper.

Another factor to consider is quality of the ingredients in the dog food. One rule of thumb is to avoid excessive fillers like wheat and corn because they are not adding enough nutritional content for a healthy lifestyle. However, you do want to choose food that has human-grade ingredients as this indicates a higher quality for your pet.

An additional thing to consider is the age and health status of your pet. There are special formulas for puppies, adult dogs and even senior dogs that may not be as active. Other options to consider are those that enhance certain qualities in your dog such as food formulas for healthier skin, better joint health or a shiny coat. If your female dog is pregnant or nursing puppies, perhaps a food choice with a higher nutritional content such as more calcium, fat, vitamin B12 and protein is necessary.

Allergies and food intolerances are another consideration to keep in mind while shopping for your pet’s food. You will discover a number of brands that offer both wet and dry foods without certain ingredients as dogs, like humans, do experience food allergies and digestive issues.

Experiment

Sometimes, it may take experimenting with dry food, wet food or a combination of both to find the best diet for your dog. In addition, some dogs like eating in the morning only while others prefer the evening. More active dogs may require their daily food allowance be split into two servings to provide steady energy throughout their day.

Besides arming yourself with nutritional information about your dog’s breed and dietary requirements based on age and lifestyle, there are no steadfast rules in regards to dog food. Until you find the right combination, consider purchasing small cans or bags of food to avoid wasting money on something that you determine does not appeal to your pet.