Dogs are the most common pets one finds around himself. This is because they have proven themselves to be the most loyal and best domestic pets. They are even touted as “man’s best friend”. All the dog pet owners would agree to this and would relate to the fact of how dogs become a part of their family.
After some time, they even stop seeming like a different animal species and starting to be treated as a human family member. But they require equal care and attention too. One way of showing them that is through good food. Check out the following unbiased dog food review on the factors that one should consider while buying the correct food for your dog:
Contents
Nutrition
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Nutrition is the primary requirement of every food product. Much like a human, dogs have the same nutritional requirements from their meals like carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Proteins are the most important nutrition for dogs, so always opt for meat-based meals. But make sure to choose the correct type of meat. Meat meal is better than whole meat as the later contains a lot of water in it by weight, thereby reducing the quantity of meat in it. Fats are also an important nutritional factor for dogs, especially in winters, as more fat reserve helps keep their body warm. But remember not to overdo anything. Overfeeding is not recommended.
Ingredients
Always check the label of the product before buying any dog food. Check for the types and kind of ingredients that the manufacturer has used for making the product. Use of preservatives has increased manifolds these days. Chemicals ingredients affect these little creatures very harshly. Try to use products which use natural preservatives such as tocopherol (Vitamin E) and its derivatives or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). These natural preservatives are not only safer than the chemical ones, but they also boost the immune system of your dog due to their vitamin properties.
Dog’s Age
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The daily requirements of calorie intake for every dog greatly depend on its age. Small puppies require a higher number of calories as compared to adult dogs as the former are in their growing stage and are generally more active than the latter. They need higher amounts of proteins and carbohydrates to match their daily body needs. As your dog becomes old, its daily calorie requirement reduces. Not reducing their calorie count at this stage would make them overweight. Besides, lower amounts of protein and more amounts of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and calcium rich food should be fed to them to maintain their bone density and coat quality.
Breed size
The sizes of the dogs are varied for different breeds, which also make their food requirements different from each other. Small sized breeds of dogs are found to have a better metabolic system as compared to large sized breeds. This means that the small breeds can digest or metabolize their food faster and thus require more number of meals rich in all types of nutrients. On the contrary large breeds require heavier meals and more protein intake. The weight of your dog must be monitored and maintained constantly so as to avoid medical problems like diabetes and arthritis.
Wet or Dry
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Feeding your dog wet or dry food is generally a choice you dog makes itself. Every dog has a different preference, some like wet food while others like dry. However, it is always recommended to keep switching and not stick to one kind of food, since both have their own advantages. Wet food keep your dog hydrates if its water intake is low while dry foods are known to have higher nutrient contents than wet food. So the best choice would be to keep shuffling according to your dog’s mood and taste.
Food Allergy
It is advisable to get your dog tested for any food allergy before trying anything new on him. The most common food allergy found in dogs is associated with certain carbohydrates. In such cases, wheat, barley, soy, beans, rice, oats and corns maybe better substitutes to the grain your dog is allergic to. You may also check some grain-free meals available in the market now-a-days.
Conclusion
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So, while going for dog food shopping, keep the above points in mind so that your little family member can be nourished and taken care of properly. Give you dog a tasty and relishing food treat!
