| Have you ever taken the time to check out the label | | | | possibly giving your dog "mystery meat" to eat! It's a |
| on your dog's food package? Most foods will contain | | | | good idea to search the labels of other brands to |
| ingredients that you struggle to name, much less | | | | find one that includes a good source of meat as the |
| understand what they are. You may be shocked to | | | | first ingredient. This is proof that the main ingredient |
| find out that many commercial brands of dog food | | | | in the food is protein-based, which is the main priority |
| aren't offering the "top quality" food that they would | | | | for a dog. |
| lead their customers to believe. We're going to talk | | | | Other ingredients that provide important nutritional |
| about many of the things you should look out for | | | | value to every dog's diet are: carbohydrates, fats, |
| when it comes to choosing dog a good dog food | | | | vitamins, minerals, and water. Carbohydrates are |
| brand. | | | | primarily used for energy, but dogs do not require a |
| There is one ingredient in particular that you should | | | | great deal of them to be healthy. A high-protein, |
| be especially wary about. Dogs are carnivores and | | | | low-carb diet is usually best for canines. As for fats, |
| require a lot of protein in their diet-which should | | | | there are two types: animal fat (saturated) and |
| largely be gained from meat. Some dog food | | | | vegetable (polyunsaturated), and your dog needs a |
| companies have found a cheap way around providing | | | | good balance of both. Vitamins and minerals are |
| quality sources of protein, which we bitterly refer to | | | | imperative to your dog's health, however nearly half |
| as "mystery meat." We do so, because the sources | | | | of them are lost in the process of creating dry dog |
| of this meat are unspecified (the label will simply read | | | | food. You may want to ask your vet about |
| "meat," rather than "beef," "lamb," or "chicken"). The | | | | administering a vitamin & mineral supplement to |
| source of this meat is often road kill or cats and | | | | your dog's diet. Water is, of course, a vital aspect of |
| dogs which have been euthanized at an animal shelter | | | | a dog's diet. Make sure to always have clean, fresh |
| or vet's office. This is definitely not what many of us | | | | water available to your dog at all times. |
| would consider a "premium source of protein," huh? | | | | For more information, you are encouraged to visit |
| Check out your dog's food label-does it name a | | | | Dog Food for Life. |
| specific source of meat? If not, you are quite | | | | |