| We love our dogs and we want the best for them. | | | | amount of nutrition that he could get in a smaller |
| We buy them expensive beds, toys, clothes(!?), and | | | | amount of premium dog food. In the end you may |
| other accessories. It seems that there is no end to | | | | find the economy brands cost more because you go |
| the lengths we will go to make our little friends' lives | | | | through the bags more quickly. |
| better. But how do we decide which food to feed | | | | Always compare the ingredients between the various |
| him? | | | | brands before making a choice. The ingredients are |
| To begin, there is not a single dog food that is right | | | | listed by weight. The first or second ingredient listed |
| for every dog. Many dog foods are well-formulated | | | | in a quality food should be meat, fish, egg, or some |
| and will be great for most dogs. However, those | | | | type of meat meal or fish meal. These ingredients all |
| same foods may not be so good for some dogs - | | | | have a high biological value. That means they have a |
| they may even cause gastrointestinal upset in some. | | | | high percentage of protein. |
| A good starting point in determining the appropriate | | | | The "Guaranteed Analysis" is a chart that lists the |
| food is your dog's stage of life. Puppies need higher | | | | percentages of various ingredients contained in that |
| amounts of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals for | | | | particular dog food. But keep in mind that the analysis |
| proper growth. If an adult dog eats a food | | | | does not take into account the amount of moisture |
| formulated for puppies he is likely to become | | | | in that food. Even dry dog foods have some |
| overweight. Senior dog foods are formulated in a | | | | moisture content. |
| way that makes it more easily digested. | | | | After careful consideration make a selection. If you |
| Dry dog food is usually recommended more often | | | | decide to switch from one dog food to another you |
| but some dogs prefer semi-moist or canned. Moist | | | | will need to allow time for the transition. A gradual |
| dog food is often recommended for dogs with | | | | change will assist your dog with the adjustment to |
| missing teeth or other dental problems. | | | | the new food choice. Plan the transition over a |
| Good nutrition is essential to good health. When | | | | course of about a week or a little longer depending |
| making decisions related to the food your dog eats | | | | on your dog's acceptance of the new food. |
| consider comparing nutritional labels. Some cheaper or | | | | Start by mixing three parts of the current or old dog |
| economy brands of dog food use inexpensive | | | | food brand to one part of the new. Feed that |
| ingredients, many of which are not easily digested, | | | | mixture for 2 - 3 days. If your dog does well with |
| which of course means they do not provide the best | | | | that you can then mix the foods half and half. Feed |
| nutrition for your dog. These foods may meet the | | | | the 50/50 mixture for two or three days, again |
| legal specifications but many have lower-grade | | | | depending on your dog's adjustment. You can then |
| proteins and lower energy values. | | | | switch to the three parts new - one part old mixture |
| In many cases the healthy nutrients may pass | | | | and then make the complete switch. |
| through the dog's digestive system without being | | | | By carefully selecting a quality food for your dog you |
| absorbed. This leads to another disadvantage of | | | | will enrich and lengthen his life. That means he will be |
| feeding your dog such lower quality food - your dog | | | | there to be your friend and companion longer - and |
| will need to eat more in order to get the same | | | | that makes all of us happier! |