Choosing the right food for your pet can be daunting given the amount of options available. The answer is not a clear-cut one. The best food for your dog depends on life stage and any underlying medical conditions.
– The easiest way to ensure your dog is getting a complete and balanced diet is to look for the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) on the packaging or website.
– The next step is to consider life stage or medical conditions. For example if your dog is prone to bladder stones then the best diet for them is a diet formulated to control stones, while alternatively, a healthy large breed puppy’s best diet is one formulated for fast growing young dogs.
– Once you have established the above two points the next thing to consider is the ingredients. Ingredients listed on pet food bags are ordered from most to least by weight. This means that a high quality food will have a protein source listed within the first three ingredients. Foods with the protein source listed before fillers such as corn or rice are considered a higher quality food.
– Many pet owners prefer feeding home made meals or fresh meals. This is a great alternative to kibble as long as it is balanced and appropriate for your dogs life stage and any underlying medical conditions. If you are using a commercial fresh food ensure it has the AAFCO approved. If you are making a diet from scratch please consult a veterinary nutritionist to formulate a recipe to ensure your pets diet is balanced.
