Humans and animals, the four-legged pretty ones we can pet, have similar tendencies. They get moody, sick, crave for a companion, love their owners, and have good or bad food for their health. Just as we take care of our diet, scrutinize the number of nutrients in it, especially if we are sick or have intolerance – the wagging tails have a similar kind of need.
Contrary to the belief, dogs are very vulnerable to infections and ailments. It is our duty, as dog-owners to properly regulate their diet in terms of ingredients, and what to avoid. If your dog gets the habit of eating unhealthy, chances are that he/she may not bounce back as easily. A lot of bad food inside a dog’s body can even bring permanent damage to it.
Dos and Don’ts of Dog Food Buying Guide
Buying dog food is challenging for anyone who does not know where to begin. Pet-owners would never want their little buddy to die from a lot of “filler” food accumulated inside their bodies. So, you must be aware of the dos and don’ts before it ultimately costs you a precious life.
The Do’s:
Power-packed dog food, with lots of nutrients and high-grade ingredients, is obviously, the top-pick. As a start, you have to study the first ingredient when shopping for dog food. This is because if the food has meat as its first ingredient, it will largely be made up of meat and lesser amounts of other ingredients. Therefore, such meals are good for your puppy’s health.
The other option is to select the one with complete nutrients. This can be known by reading the AAFCO statement on the packet label. Foods with natural preservatives are harmless, but there are certain chemical preservatives to avoid which we will cover in the Don’ts.
Coming next to the packaging of food, the best possible kind is to have it canned or in raw-form. Canned dog-foods have minimal or nil preservatives which are excellent, but these are expensive to the wallet. However, they have lesser amounts of vitamins and thus, cannot make your dog’s teeth stronger, as compared to the dry dog-food.
The perfect choice is using raw food; frozen, packaged, or dehydrated. Besides being refreshingly natural, there are no doubts about the ingredients used for cooking it and will make your dog actively come to life in full.
The Don’ts:
Avoid getting “fillers” as the first ingredient of the dog-food. These include wheat, barley, corns, and whole grains. Since dog food is a mixture of everything blended into spoonfuls, you have to make sure your dog is getting good elements inside their bodies in every bite they take.
Chemical preservatives that are potentially harmful for regular ingestion are BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin. This is why dry dog foods are dubious because they have preservatives added to keep the food edible for days.
Therefore, being mindful of the dos and don’ts help you plan your dog’s diet in the best possible manner.
