There’s a lot of information and even misinformation about dog food. Your vet is a valuable resource to help you tailor your pet’s diet to fit their needs and your budget.
Look for a nutritional adequacy statement on the food label to ensure it’s complete and balanced for your doggo’s life stage. Also, watch for whole proteins like chicken, beef, or lamb.
Read the Label
Dogs tend to eat almost anything they come across, but choosing the right food that suits their health and is affordable is essential. You can consult your veterinarian to determine your furry friend’s dietary requirements or try Dr. Marty’s Nature Blend.
When choosing dog food, read the labels carefully. Look for a guaranteed analysis. The guaranteed analysis provides the minimum nutrient levels for dogs at a particular life stage, as indicated by an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement.
Check the Sources
Many economic dog foods use low-quality ingredients to cut costs. They may skimp on protein and substitute it with cheap fillers like corn.
Look for high-quality meat sources like beef, poultry, and fish and wholesome carbohydrates like whole grains. Avoid fillers like peanut shells and vegetable fiber that add nothing to the food and can cause digestive upset. Also, watch out for artificial preservatives.
Know Your Dog’s Needs
Every dog’s nutritional requirements are unique. Avoid feeding a one-size-fits-all diet, such as highly processed kibble.
Look for whole proteins listed first on the ingredients list. Chicken flavor or meat by-products may seem less desirable, but they are nutritious and wholesome alternatives to more expensive muscle meat.
Choose a food that is gently cooked and made in a kitchen that is open to the public and under pet parents’ watchful eye. This type of kitchen adheres to a higher operating standard than private commercial plants.
Check the Calories
When shopping for dog food, it’s essential to read the label. It can help you avoid unhealthy, filler-laden foods and choose the proper diet for your pet.
Look for named animal proteins, not generic meat meals or byproducts (heads, feet, tails). Also, ensure the guaranteed analysis lists healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. You want these fats to help your pet’s skin, coat, and joints.
Look for Whole Proteins
Animal-based proteins are essential to a dog’s health. Look for meats like beef, chicken, lamb, or salmon, and be wary of ingredients that list poultry byproducts or generic “meat byproducts,” which can include less savory parts like feet, beaks, and organs.
Avoid protein sources that have been dehydrated (like meat meals) and those made with corn gluten meal or wheat gluten. These ingredients have low biological value and can contain much unusable protein.
Look for Whole Vegetables and Fruit
Good dog food should contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. Keeping our bones and teeth strong requires calcium and phosphorus. Additionally, potassium is essential for healthy muscle function. It’s best to use simple, easy-to-understand language and keep the sentences short and focused. Magnesium supports nerve transmission and protein production. Iron promotes red blood cell formation.
Whole fruits provide natural sugars along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Legumes are another vital source of protein and carbohydrates. Tubers like sweet potatoes offer a complex source of energy.
Check for Preservatives
A good vet knows your dog and can advise you on diet needs based on breed, age, weight, and allergies. Avoid foods that use meat meal or byproducts as protein sources; these are low quality.
Look for food labeled “complete and balanced” by AAFCO to ensure it contains all the nutrients required for your pet’s life stage in proper ratios. Consider canned or wet foods to elevate hydration levels.
Check for Natural Flavors
Fats get a bad rap but are essential energy sources for all those zoomies and ball-chasing activities our dogs love. The key is to make sure they’re coming from highly digestible quality sources.
Skip foods with fillers and preservatives, which can irritate your pup’s digestive tract. Similarly, avoid overly processed proteins that add unnecessary sugars and chemicals to the diet.
Check for Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Despite notions to the contrary, raw proteins can often contain bacteria and other harmful microorganisms to dogs. For this reason, we recommend choosing a food that uses only cooked proteins.
Additionally, it is essential to look for foods that provide a variety of nutritional ingredients, such as grains, vegetables, and fruits. These foods can help dogs get crucial vitamins and nutrients.
Check for Vitamins and Minerals
Dogs require diverse vitamins and minerals to maintain good health. These nutrients help keep their skin, coat, immune system, and cells in good shape.
Look for natural fats, like animal and seed oils, instead of unhealthy processed fats. Also, check how much fiber is in the food — not too high or too low. Our fresh foods feature the proper amounts of fiber based on your dog’s needs.
