Content
- Types of dog food
- Types of dog food according to its characteristics
- What is the best dog food?
- Where to buy the best dog food
Good nutrition is essential for health of our dogs. There are several food options within our reach, although, due to its ease of use and conservation, the ration is the most widespread. However, there is so much variety on the market that it is not always easy to choose one.
So, in this PeritoAnimal article, we explain the keys to know how to choose the best dog food. You will see what types of dog food are and what aspects to consider to make the best choice. Good reading!
Types of dog food
you know the different types of dog food? In general, we know dog food as the food that is manufactured by subjecting the ingredients to an extrusion process in which they lose water and result in smaller or larger balls, also called grains, which can be kept in good condition for a long time. periods of time. But today we can also find feeds that, instead of pellets, form pellets, after a cold pressing process, less aggressive with nutrients than extruded.
However, there are other classifications for the feed. What interests us most when it comes to knowing what is the best dog food is the one referring to the quality of the ingredients used. Thus, the calls are distinguished natural and holistic feeds, which differ in that they do not contain artificial ingredients but rather raw materials of the highest quality, to the point of using meat suitable for human consumption. This will come from animals that live under certain conditions that guarantee their well-being and there are even organic feeds which are even more demanding with the origin of the raw materials and the absence of pesticides and any artificial additives.
Also, lately another type of dog food is becoming very popular, which are those rations that do not contain cereals. They are based on the fact that dogs do not digest these carbohydrates well and replace them with those from vegetables such as peas.
In this sense, it is also necessary to differentiate the specific rations for dogs with food allergies or intolerances. This type of dog food is usually brewed with a single protein and unusual ingredients, because for these disorders it is important to give the puppies food that has not been consumed before. For example, there are options for rations based on salmon or foal or duck meat accompanied by sweet potatoes or potatoes.
Also very important are all the types of food specially formulated for dogs that suffer from different diseases, such as kidney failure, liver failure, diabetes, mobility problems, heart problems, urinary problems, etc. In these cases, the feed is considered a fundamental part of the treatment, being more important, in this situation, its effectiveness in the list of ingredients.
Types of dog food according to its characteristics
There are also different types of dog food depending on the different characteristics of our four-legged friend, such as:
- your stage of life: there are specific rations for puppies, adults and elderly, sometimes differentiating older and very old puppies. We can also find rations valid for all ages.
- your activity: for very active or working dogs, as opposed to maintenance dogs.
- Your weight: there are some types of food for obese, overweight or to keep dogs at their ideal weight.
- Your size: the dimensions of the ration can be adapted to the size of the dog, having rations for mini, small, medium, large or very large dogs.
- your constitution: we can also find different types of food for more athletic sized puppies or, on the contrary, with more robust shapes.
- your race: there are special rations for puppies depending on their breed, with a different format or a composition adapted to their specific needs, such as the Boxer, the French Bulldog, the Golden, the Labrador, etc.
What is the best dog food?
We've already gone through some important points and, in this section, we'll delve into the ideal composition than what can be considered the best dog food. As carnivorous animals that you are, the first ingredient should be animal protein. That is, meat or fish. Therefore, when selecting a feed, in addition to making sure that it has the right variety for our dog's characteristics, we must also check the list of ingredients.
The problem is that Brazilian legislation[1] allows some components or processes are not specified as much as we would like. For example, we can find feeds made from animal by-products without knowing exactly what they contain. And even this composition can vary from one bag to another in white band rations, which are of inferior quality.
Anyway, to know the best dog food, it is essential that it has the first ingredient meat or fish, better dehydrated, because the one that is added fresh, during the extrusion process, will lose water, reaching the dog, in fact, approximately half of what is declared, unless otherwise indicated.
Of course, the feed that contains the highest percentage of meat will be better and the quality will increase according to the origin of this meat. As we've already said, not all information will be reflected in the ingredients list, but we can check the manufacturer's website or even get in touch with them to resolve our queries.
On the other hand, lately there is a trend among experts that the best dog food is the one produced without cereals. This is largely due to the fact that dogs are considered to be unable to digest them. But the truth is that many can be part of your diet, although always in a smaller proportion than meat.
The rest of the ingredients will vary greatly and we will be able to find vegetables like peas or lentils, vegetables like carrots or pumpkin, fruits like apples, as well as essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. The important thing is that we understand the composition, that is, that they are recognizable natural products and not long lists of artificial additives, such as dyes, that provide no nutritional benefit.
Finally, in addition to taking these recommendations into account, it's critical that you watch your dog. The pet food you choose should not only please him, but you should note that he is at your ideal weight, in good health, vital, its stools are compact, well-formed and with little odor and has a healthy and shiny coat.
All of these factors are indicative that the food you feed your dog is of good quality and good for his body. If, on the other hand, the stool is too soft or too hard, your smell is stronger than normal, your fur has no vitality, you have gained weight or lost weight, etc., you should check your diet and seek the veterinarian.
So, let's go over the main tips for knowing how to choose what is the best dog food:
- The main ingredient should be the animal protein (meat or fish), better dehydrated
- With little or no cereal
- Which have more natural products and less artificial additives
- essential fatty acids
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- It must be a food that your dog likes and that don't make him fat or thin for possible lack of nutrients
Where to buy the best dog food
Now that you know the best dog food, you certainly have an idea of where to find it. Know that the most expensive or best known brands are not always the best. There are even some brands that do not meet the parameters we have indicated and many of them have a excess cereal that make the dog need to consume more quantity, also eliminating more feces due to its worse use.
Therefore, a good tip is to request recommendations for choosing the best food for your dog with a veterinarian and professionals who work in pet shops who certainly understand well about the options available. Remember to always make a price comparison based on internet and physical store searches so you don't spend more than necessary.
In this article you learned about the different types of dog food and also how to choose the best dog food. So maybe it might be interesting to check out the following video where we show five foolproof tricks for dealing with a dog that doesn't want to eat feed:
If you want to read more articles similar to How to choose the best dog food?, we recommend that you enter our Balanced Diets section.