Having the right dog food is one of the most important things your dog needs in their daily routine for good health. However what makes dog food good? Professionals in the pet industry might tell you different things, especially if they’re makers of dog food, because many put products in their food that are not so great for dog health. If you’re in the market for dog food and you want to know the best of what the pet industry has to offer your pup in the way of kibble, look for these things on the label:
High-Quality, Digestible Animal Protein Sources
Most dogs are very athletic, very active creatures. They need a good source of easy-to-digest protein in all of their meals. There are many animal protein sources that are excellent for your dog food including:
- Buffalo
- Cow
- Fish
- Fowl
- Lamb
- Pork
- Venison
When you’re reading the labels for dog food, you want the animal protein to be one of the first ingredients if not the very first one listed for best results.
Whole Foods
Like humans, dogs benefit from whole foods like fruits and vegetables. When you’re looking at an ingredients list on dog food or you’re considering recipes of your own, you should be fully aware of the types of fruits and vegetables dogs can’t have as there are many that are not only bad for their health, but can also put them in danger. Some of the whole fruits and vegetables good for dog food include:
- Apples
- Beats
- Blueberries
- Garbanzo Beans
- Kelp
- Peas
- Pumpkin
- Zucchini
Healthy Fats
You might have heard it from fitness and nutrition professionals in regards to human nutrition: not all fats are bad. This is true for dogs to. When you’re creating or managing a healthy dog diet, look for dog food with healthy fats in the list. Some sources for good fats include:
- Canola Oil
- Fish Oils
- Flaxseed
What to Avoid in Dog Food
There are the three major things you should always keep in mind when you’re shopping around for healthy dog food for your pet. If there was anything else to look for in a good dog food, it would be to avoid grains in dog food as most cats and dogs are allergic to grain and having too much grain in their diet can cause stomach issues among other problems. Despite this, many dog food manufacturers put grain products in their food as fillers because grain is so cheap. Another thing to avoid would be animal byproducts snuck into your dog food.
By following these guidelines for healthy dog food, you’ll help your dog live a longer, happier, and healthier life.
