Choosing Healthy Dog Foods

Today’s pet food market is larger than ever before and there are some very good choices. No longer is your dog food just about blanced meats, new diets include all kinds of vegetables and even fruit to help keep your dog healthy.

This can present a dilemma in choosing the healthiest food for your dog. Are generic or store brands suitable for a dog? What about familiar name brands like Purina, Alpo, or Eukebana? Are the pricier brands that advertise specially formulated ingredients like Science Diet, Nutro, or Natures Recipe. Do any of these really live up to their claims and are the pricier ones worth the extra money?

Dog Food Considerations

There are things you need to consider when choosing the right food for your dog. Different breeds have different nutritional needs and dogs of that are at different stages in their lives also have different needs.

Your Dog’s Age

A puppy will have different nutritional requirements than your adult dog while your senior dog will also have different requirements than your adult dogs. So you need to choose a food that is right for your dog’s age.

Your Dog’s Health

If your dog has a medical condition it may require a special diet. Diabetic dogs need a diet that is low in glucose foods and dogs with allergies may require certain foods as well.

Your Dog’s Size

Some dogs are overweight while others might be underweight. Some dogs get lots of exercise while others tend to prefer to lie around a lot. And then there are the different sizes - small, medium, and large dogs all have different food requirements.

Your Budget

Dog food can be expensive, but remember you generally “get what you pay for.” Low cost brands will lighten the burden on your wallet, but may not be the healthiest choice for your dog. Always buy the best dog food you can on your budget.