| If you are looking for dogs for sale, or even puppies | | | | If you are looking for dogs for sale, or even puppies |
| for sale, you should begin thinking about some other | | | | for sale, you should begin thinking about some other |
| details that come with taking care of a pet. One of | | | | details that come with taking care of a pet. One of |
| the major details is pet food. There are so many | | | | the major details is pet food. There are so many |
| kinds of dog food on the market today, which is | | | | kinds of dog food on the market today, which is |
| very convenient, but the selection leaves many | | | | very convenient, but the selection leaves many |
| owners confused about what is really best for their | | | | owners confused about what is really best for their |
| furry best friends. | | | | furry best friends. |
| The pet food industry has grown to enormous | | | | The pet food industry has grown to enormous |
| proportions, profiting over $25 billion dollars a year, | | | | proportions, profiting over $25 billion dollars a year, |
| and though many manufacturers may start out with | | | | and though many manufacturers may start out with |
| good intentions, the realities of profit and bottom | | | | good intentions, the realities of profit and bottom |
| lines often unfortunately begin to win out over quality | | | | lines often unfortunately begin to win out over quality |
| and concern for animals. Some manufactures are | | | | and concern for animals. Some manufactures are |
| owned by huge, multinational parent companies that | | | | owned by huge, multinational parent companies that |
| have little concern about quality, so it is important to | | | | have little concern about quality, so it is important to |
| do your research and find the perfect food. | | | | do your research and find the perfect food. |
| There are regulatory systems that create certain | | | | There are regulatory systems that create certain |
| restrictions for wording on labels and ingredients. For | | | | restrictions for wording on labels and ingredients. For |
| example, the Association of American Feed Control | | | | example, the Association of American Feed Control |
| Officials, or the AAFCO, sets the standards for what | | | | Officials, or the AAFCO, sets the standards for what |
| may be labeled "complete and balanced." Pet foods | | | | may be labeled "complete and balanced." Pet foods |
| may be certified in one of two ways. One is by | | | | may be certified in one of two ways. One is by |
| meeting the AAFCO's standards for content, and the | | | | meeting the AAFCO's standards for content, and the |
| other is by passing actual feeding research studies. | | | | other is by passing actual feeding research studies. |
| Research studies are often more reliable because the | | | | Research studies are often more reliable because the |
| actual effects on the animal have been tested, | | | | actual effects on the animal have been tested, |
| however, this may not always show the long term | | | | however, this may not always show the long term |
| affects of the food. | | | | affects of the food. |
| By becoming familiar with some of the "Label Rules" | | | | By becoming familiar with some of the "Label Rules" |
| for domestic dog food, you can better discern what | | | | for domestic dog food, you can better discern what |
| will be the right sustenance for your pup. For a | | | | will be the right sustenance for your pup. For a |
| product to actually claim to be "Beef Dog Food" or | | | | product to actually claim to be "Beef Dog Food" or |
| "Salmon Dog Food," the salmon or beef must make | | | | "Salmon Dog Food," the salmon or beef must make |
| up 95% of the ingredients. If there is a double main | | | | up 95% of the ingredients. If there is a double main |
| ingredient such as "Beef and Chicken," 95% must be | | | | ingredient such as "Beef and Chicken," 95% must be |
| beef and chicken, with the majority being beef, as it | | | | beef and chicken, with the majority being beef, as it |
| is listed first. If an extra descriptive term such as | | | | is listed first. If an extra descriptive term such as |
| "dinner" or "formula" is added to the label, the primary | | | | "dinner" or "formula" is added to the label, the primary |
| ingredient does not have to be the listed meat, such | | | | ingredient does not have to be the listed meat, such |
| as "Chicken formula for Large Breed Dogs." It must | | | | as "Chicken formula for Large Breed Dogs." It must |
| be 25% chicken. If a commercial food uses the word | | | | be 25% chicken. If a commercial food uses the word |
| "with," it only has to contain 3% of that product. For | | | | "with," it only has to contain 3% of that product. For |
| example, "Puppy Chow with Lamb" must only include | | | | example, "Puppy Chow with Lamb" must only include |
| 3% actual lamb, and a dog food that is labeled "lamb | | | | 3% actual lamb, and a dog food that is labeled "lamb |
| flavored" is not required to have any actual lamb. | | | | flavored" is not required to have any actual lamb. |
| Understanding some of these buzz words and doing | | | | Understanding some of these buzz words and doing |
| your research about the best kind of food for your | | | | your research about the best kind of food for your |
| particular breed should help you navigate to the | | | | particular breed should help you navigate to the |
| perfect food, and it never hurts to simply ask your | | | | perfect food, and it never hurts to simply ask your |
| Veterinarian. They will always be able to recommend | | | | Veterinarian. They will always be able to recommend |
| a great selection. Remember, this is the same food | | | | a great selection. Remember, this is the same food |
| your family dog will eat every day while you are | | | | your family dog will eat every day while you are |
| sitting down to steaks, seafood, or whatever. Treat | | | | sitting down to steaks, seafood, or whatever. Treat |
| your pet something nutritious and delicious. | | | | your pet something nutritious and delicious. |