| We all love our dogs and want to give them the best | | | | the market: premium food and economy food. A |
| life has to offer. But with so many variations of dog | | | | smart owner will avoid purchasing the economy |
| food in the market, it isn't always easy to identify | | | | version, which is made from lower grade ingredients |
| the best food for our dog. Who can possibly feel | | | | (for example, economy dog food will often substitute |
| confident when so many brands trumpet buzzwords | | | | cheap corn for the more expensive meat |
| that hit the human aisles not long ago, such as "rich in | | | | byproducts). The "end" result, as it were, is that your |
| antioxidants," "highly digestible," "Omega-3 fatty | | | | dog can't absorb many nutrients but simply passes |
| acids" and "Ultra Premium Formula"? | | | | the food through his body. So in addition to enjoying |
| What we can do, though, is to conduct a simple dog | | | | less nutrition, your dog will produce larger stools -- |
| food comparison to determine which foods best fit | | | | and you might find yourself with more frequent vet |
| our dog's requirements and our personal schedule. | | | | bills. |
| After all, some foods offer much greater | | | | Other Popular Contenders: Canned, Semi-Moist and |
| convenience than the more natural, less processed | | | | More |
| types which may require freezing, thawing, cooking | | | | Other categories of dog food include the semi-moist |
| and preparation. | | | | type and canned food. Many owners like to mix in |
| Convenience aside, the best food to give your dog | | | | some canned food with dry food, to potentially |
| depends not on the brand or the style, but rather on | | | | cover more nutritional bases without taking too big a |
| your dog's age and any special requirements he might | | | | hit to the pocketbook. |
| have. For example, older dogs require food containing | | | | Semi-moist food is attractively convenient to owners, |
| a careful balance of protein, fat and fiber. Most | | | | and dogs love it. Unfortunately, it may cause dental |
| commercial pet food companies address this need | | | | problems in the mid-term and worse in the long term, |
| with offerings such as senior dog food, containing | | | | because semi-moist food is loaded with corn syrup |
| about 18 % protein, and food for dogs diagnosed | | | | and other sugars, which dogs just aren't designed to |
| with renal failure, containing about 14% protein. | | | | process. |
| Dare to Compare Dry Dog Food | | | | Recently, more natural, "premium" dog food has been |
| The vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog | | | | introduced to the market, in which higher quantities |
| food. Between the supermarket and specialty pet | | | | of quality, nutritious ingredients are used to |
| stores, owners enjoy many brands to choose from. | | | | manufacture the food -- often human-grade, in fact. |
| Dry food consists of kibble typically made from one | | | | Since vegetables, fruits, real meat and quality grains |
| primary ingredient such as chicken, beef or lamb. | | | | are used as the primary protein source in the |
| More specifically, the main ingredient is usually a meat | | | | highest-quality dog foods, these foods are a fast |
| byproduct that's been processed, dried and sold in | | | | route to healthy skin and beautiful fur. For the most |
| packs or bags for easy dispensing. Needless to say, | | | | part, they contain no artificial coloring and |
| meat byproducts are far cheaper than meat, so this | | | | preservatives, but are chock-full of vitamins and |
| type of dog food is not only easy to store, it's much | | | | minerals instead. |
| less expensive than other types. | | | | Although this food costs more, you can feed your |
| Hard kibble comes with some advantages. For | | | | dog less of it, because it's more nutritionally dense. |
| example, it gives your dog's mouth some exercise, | | | | So in terms of both convenience and nutrition, a |
| and kibble's somewhat less likely to contribute to | | | | premium, natural dog food is one of the best choices |
| plaque than softer foods. | | | | available to your dog, whether off-the-shelf or |
| When comparing brands, it helps to remember that | | | | purchased online. |
| there are essentially two types of dry dog food on | | | | |