5 tips to choose the right dog food

5 tips to choose the right dog food

Any loving and responsible pet parent would want their dog to eat the healthiest food. After all, a nutritious meal plan directly affects their mood, behavior, overall health, and longevity. However, if you’re looking for dog food, you might have realized that choosing one isn’t easy. There are a variety of options from numerous brands, all claiming to be the most nutritious dog food in the market. To help you narrow down your options, we have shared a few tips to pick the right food product for your dog. Read on to find out!

Consider your dog’s breed, weight, and age
The physical characteristics of dogs vary significantly from one breed to another. Accordingly, their nutritional requirements also change. For example, a German Shepherd needs a totally different set of nutrients to stay healthy and active than a Chihuahua. Similarly, overweight dogs’ meal plan is a lot different than that of underweight and ideal-weight dogs. Age also plays a vital role in determining a dog’s nutritional needs.

Verify nutritional requirements
When shopping for dog food, be sure to pick one that’s not overloaded with artificial ingredients like preservatives that can harm their health. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a voluntary organization that has laid down strict requirements to ensure that a product has all the essential macro and micronutrients for pets. So, you should only buy dog foods that are certified by AAFCO.

Check the labels and ingredients
Reading the ingredients list is crucial to selecting appropriate dog food. The best products have whole proteins, such as ground beef, diced chicken, or dried yeast, listed as their first ingredients. Keep in mind that dogs, unlike cats, are not strict carnivores. Though meat is generally the most vital component of their food regimen, grains, fruits, and vegetables also provide them with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. The best dog foods are packed with high-quality versions of meats and plant-based ingredients.

Freshness matters
Many dog foods are loaded with preservatives to make them last longer. These additives can lead to weight gain and diabetes, among other health problems. Typically, foods with shorter shelf lives are healthier, as they contain more nutrients and fewer additives. If you’re unable to find such readily available food products, consider getting a subscription to fresh dog food delivery services, like The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, and PetPlate.

Opt for top dog food brands
The many options available in the market can make it overwhelming to choose. Here are some of the most well-known and reliable brands you can turn to:

Hill’s Science Diet

They use natural ingredients to make their delicious products.

Royal Canin

Each formula is customized to deliver nutrition based on a dog’s health needs.

ORIJEN

Their products are made with the finest ingredients and are packed with protein.

Purina

Their ingredients are responsibly sourced, and the products are enriched with high-quality protein and nutrient-rich fats and oils.

Taste of the Wild

This brand offers budget-friendly dog foods with high-quality ingredients.

Blue Buffalo

Many of their product lines, like Blue Basics, Baby Blue, and Blue Freedom, are for puppies.

Wellness Pet Food

They specialize in food for smaller dog breeds, offering both wet and dry food options.

Nutro Natural Choice™
Nutro™ Natural Choice™ is a collection of dog food recipes by Nutro™. These are flavorful combos of both dry and wet food that constitute a complete meal. It is made with non-GMO ingredients like lamb, venison, chicken, brown rice, turkey, potato, and peas. Everything your pooch will love. They have a wide variety of recipes that you can select based on texture, life stage, breed size, and health needs.

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4 factors to remember while buying cat food

Buying cat food seems easy until you’re faced with tons of brands and different options to choose from. The question then is, what should you choose? Better yet, how do you choose? To make this process simpler, here are four pointers that will help you pick the right cat food for your beloved pet. Understand your cat’s nutritional needs Before you even get to the part of buying the cat food, you need to understand your cat's nutritional needs. These needs can vary from cat to cat. Once you’ve understood this, you can narrow down your choices for the kind and brand of food you want to buy. Typically, cats need proteins, taurine, vitamins, minerals, and tons of water. Make sure the kind of food that you are choosing fulfills these essential requirements. Read the label When you have to pick the right foods for your cat, you need to start by reading the label. The label of any cat food will provide you with all the nutritional information that you need. You can first start by looking for the source of protein. Ensure that they mention the source of the protein such as chicken, turkey, lamb, or beef rather than simply mentioning ‘meat’. You also need to check for sources of vitamins and minerals. The label will also contain information regarding the expiration of the product. Another thing that you must look out for when buying cat food is AAFCO’s approval. Look for ones with added health benefits Another great thing about cat food is that you can get tons of health benefits from one package. From foods that are tailored to give your cat a shiny coat to those that help promote digestive health, you can find them all. Foods that provide these additional benefits not only keep your cat healthy but also help them look and feel good. For a shiny coat, you can opt for foods that are rich in omega fatty acids. For promoting a healthy and optimized digestive tract, you can look for foods that have probiotics, such as chicory root. Cost is not everything Something that we all need to keep in mind is that the price does not necessarily mean everything when it comes to buying cat food. That being said, opting for cheap cat food without doing the proper research can do your cat more harm than good. Cheaper foods are typically filled with tons of fillers and can be harmful in the long run. This also does not mean that the more expensive, the better. Remember that it is up to you, the vet, and your cat to decide what works for them. If you’re still having trouble choosing the right cat food, here are some popular brands that you can try. Royal Canin Royal Canin is one of the most commonly recommended brands by vets for cat food. They sell over 100 different varieties formulated for cats of specific life stages and lifestyles. Royal Canin has both wet and dry food options with various textures and consistencies. IAMS IAMS is known to craft high-quality and nutritious food for cats of specific life stages and activity levels. They have a dry cat food selection called PROACTIVE HEALTH and their wet food is divided into three lines - PURRFECT DELIGHTS, PURRFECT DELICACIES, and PERFECT PORTIONS. GREENIES GREENIES is best known to manufacture Dental Treats for cats that help clean teeth and gums. They also freshen breath and are easy to digest. GREENIES come in chicken, tuna, and salmon flavor. While they are not substitutes for dental care, they help in keeping your feline’s mouth healthy between vet-visits. Natural Balance Pet Foods It is grain-free, contains high-quality sources of proteins, and is available in canned form. Whole Earth Farms It is available in multiple flavors, completely grain-free, and has high-quality ingredients. Wysong Geriatrx It is tailored for senior and aging cats. It is available in multiple sizes and flavors and is made from quality protein sources.

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