Dog Food

How to Choose Quality Dog Food

When searching for quality dog food it is vital that you read the label
and have the knowledge to understand and interpret the information
you find. When reading the label, look for the first fat or oil that is
listed. All items placed above the first fat source are considered to be
the main ingredients along with the first fat source. The other items
shown on the label are typically added to the dog food for flavor, as
preservatives, to aid in the processing of the food or for health
benefits such as minerals or vitamins.

It is important that you check the ingredients for their nutritional value.
However, due to the names the manufacturers use for food items it can
be somewhat difficult to analyze the usefulness of the food
substances. It is difficult to know what quality grade of food items they
are placing in the foods as well as the quantity of the ingredients. 

Surf Manufacturer's Websites

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) does not
allow dog food manufacturers to place information on the labels
regarding the quality of the food substances. It is important to read
the information that is available on the websites of the various pet
food companies and carefully read the information they provide about
the quality of the ingredients they use in their products.

Protein

Protein is the most vital substance in your dog's diet and you want to
make sure the food you serve your pet uses quality sources of protein.
Quality dog foods usually have a meat meal listed as the first
ingredient on the label or a meat with the second ingredient being a
meat meal substance. Meat by-products are not high quality protein
sources. If the label mentions a specific type of meat meal, such as
chicken meal this type of protein source is not inferior to whole meats.
Avoid products that do not mention the specific animal the meat
source comes from.

Regarding fats look for chicken fat, herring oil canola oil, sunflower oil,
flax oil and other fat sources with specific names. See if the quality fats
such as Omega three and Omega six are on the label. Avoid dog foods
that contain nonspecific items such as animal fat, poultry fat, vegetable
oil and other nonspecific fat sources. 

Look for whole grains which may also be categorized as meal or
ground and also look for fresh vegetables. Avoid products that are
filled with too much grain fragments and flour. Also the quality dog foods
are typically preserved with natural substances such as vitamins. When
looking for quality food products that will keep your dog healthy make
sure you examine the label and read information provided at the
websites of the dog food manufacturers.