Do you still remember the day, you brought home this fluff ball with two brightly lit eyes that melted your heart? Well! He may have grown bigger since then and probably looks more handsome or beautiful and there’s one thing that you will never be able to deny: your dog loves you unconditionally
Dogs are not merely pets; they always end up being a part of the family. Hence, you need to take care of your dog just the way; you would take care of your family. One of the most important aspects is their diet. These days you can find hundreds of variety of dog food over the internet and in the super-market but the question is: are they healthy for your dog?
The diet and the amount of food intake will depend on the dog breed you have. If you have a German Shepherd or a Doberman then the intake of food will be more than what you would ideally give to a poodle. There is no particular type of food out there, which can be termed as the super-healthy food for dogs. When talking about dog food, you need to decide the intake keeping in mind several factors like:
Packaged Dog Food
These days, you will find packaged dog food everywhere but it doesn’t mean that they might be the best for your dog. Different pet food will contain different ingredients, and you need to check the list of ingredients because some of them might be potentially harmful for your dog. The most common danger to dogs is allergy and this can be caused by certain types of dog food.
Different types of pet food contain different ratios of various nutrients or macronutrients like fat, proteins, and carbohydrates. The amount of vitamin and minerals in each of these products will also vary although most of them will be well within the limit that is acceptable by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). You will need to take a decision on whether a particular dog food is deficient in the nutrients for your dog’s needs or not. Accordingly, you can purchase dog food.
Where to Start
If you have a dog or puppy recently then you can visit a vet to get him/her checked before proceeding to get a diet in place. If your dog is around 1 year old or even more than you probably have him/her on a diet. The important thing is that there is an approved list of food that your dog should eat on a regular basis and this will keep him/her healthy. The food that you buy should ideally have high -quality ingredients like vegetables, whole meats, fruits, and grains.
But before you buy any particular type of food, you need to assess his/her health. Make a note of any particular condition that might need veterinary care or even medications. Some conditions that you need to keep in mind include bad breath, itchy paws, tartar buildup, thinning of the coat, stinky ears, recurrent constipation or diarrhea, worms, or flea infestation, low energy, and even anti-social behavior.
These are certain areas that you will need to consider prior to buying dog food and it will help if you refer to a pet dietician and get a particular diet for your dog. The most important thing is how many times you feed your dog. He will wag his tail but it doesn’t mean that you start feeding them because it will do more harm than good. Take care of your dog just the way you will take care of your family!
