| In a time when more and more pet owners are | | | | tract infections. Of course, dry dog food always |
| concerned about what they're feeding their pets, | | | | contains some quantity of grain. However, choose a |
| finding a nutritious dog food can be pretty | | | | nutritious dog food that includes grain further down |
| complicated. Lots of products on the market claim to | | | | the list and uses ingredients like brown rice, barley, |
| offer complete and balanced nutrition for your pet, | | | | oats, or other easy to digest choices. Some foods |
| but in many cases, this is just a marketing term used | | | | also include potatoes. |
| to sell the product. Unfortunately, such labeling | | | | The bulk of any nutritious dog food should come |
| doesn't mean that every food is equally good for | | | | from animal sources, since dogs are naturally meat |
| your dog, rather that the percentages of protein, | | | | eaters. Avoid cheap filler ingredients like meals and by |
| fiber, fat, and moisture meet the minimum standards. | | | | products, which can come from already stripped |
| While any food your feed your dog should have this | | | | animal carcasses. Also, if you see a generic term such |
| kind of labeling, that's not all there is when it comes | | | | as 'poultry', 'fish', or 'meat', avoid that food in favor |
| to nutritious dog food. When you decide what the | | | | of one that names the type of meat used. Whole, |
| best food is, you have to start with the label. | | | | named meats are the most desirable, and should |
| First, rule out the least expensive brands in the store. | | | | come first on the list of most nutritious dog foods. |
| It's not that you have to break the bank to buy a | | | | Colorants and other additives are also problematic. |
| good dog food, but that cheap foods use cheap | | | | They're in many different dog food brands, but |
| ingredients. The lowest cost dog foods on the | | | | they're only there to make the product appeal more |
| market will use a lot of fillers and low quality | | | | to the human who's buying the food. Look for a |
| ingredients, making them a lower value, even though | | | | food that includes as few preservatives, artificial |
| they don't cost a lot per bag. A nutritious dog food | | | | flavoring agents and coloring agents as possible. |
| will be more expensive than a grocery store brand in | | | | These chemicals can cause allergic reactions in some |
| most cases. | | | | dogs, and are undesirable in a nutritious dog food. |
| Secondly, pet owners need to learn to read pet food | | | | While there are good foods out there, you might |
| labels. Avoid foods that have a lot of corn, soy, or | | | | have to do some research to find them. However, if |
| wheat, especially if they're high on the ingredients list. | | | | you care about your dog's health, it'll be worth it in |
| These are very cheap sources of plant protein, which | | | | the end. A nutritious dog food will make your dog |
| are hard to digest for dogs. They've been linked to a | | | | happier, feel better, and live longer. |
| number of health problems, like colitis and urinary | | | | |