Dogs have been by our side for millennia and there is no pet that is more beloved by its owners than the family dog. We will do anything we can to make sure that our dogs are in good health, live a happy life, and don’t want for anything.
Just like people, a dog’s diet has a major impact on its physical, mental, and emotional health, and so feeding your dog correctly entails far more than just opening the same old can of generic dog food.
Dogs need a varied and nutritious diet to keep healthy and to ensure that mealtimes are always exciting. You may also wish to add a supplement like Ultimate Pet Nutrition onto your dog's food to boost its nutritional value and help your dog lead a healthy, happy, life for many years to come.
If you are considering making changes to your dog’s mealtimes but don’t know where to start, here is what to look for in excellent dog food.
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1. High-Quality Nutrition
Dogs are just the same as people and dog food that is made from nutritious ingredients is going to be far better for your dog’s health and energy.
Previously, dog foods were made from the by-products of human food production or from agricultural waste.
These days, however, the best dog foods are specially formulated under the guidance of veterinary scientists and nutritionists to ensure that they contain everything which your dog needs to stay healthy, happy, and able to play with you all day.
Avoid dog foods that contain a lot of additives, preservatives, and e-numbers as these are just as bad in dog food as they are in our food. Instead, look for a natural dog food made up of a mix of meat, vegetables, fruit, and seeds, such as Nature's Blend.
2. No Allergy Inducing Ingredients
We all know that there is a wide range of foods that people are allergic to, but a great number of dog owners don’t realize that there are also various foods that can cause an allergic reaction in dogs.
One of the most common food allergies which many dogs suffer from is an allergy to wheat.
If your dog has this problem then make sure you don’t feed it food which contains wheat but you should also consider choosing dog foods that don't contain legumes (learn more) as these can cause their own issues.
Legumes are often used as a wheat substitute. Legumes are foods like beans and peas and if unprocessed can cause heart disease in dogs.
As you cannot be sure how the legumes in canned dog food were cooked, it is best to avoid them altogether.
3. Delicious Flavors
Despite what many people wrongly believe, dogs will not just eat anything that you put in front of them. Dog’s taste buds and sense of smell are very sensitive so it is really important that you choose great tasting food for your dog.
As with our own food, it is often the cheapest food which is the lowest quality and least tasty.
This does not mean that you have to break the bank going all out on the most expensive gourmet dog food on the market; it just means that you should not automatically just buy the cheapest option but your dog will probably not thank you for it.
Generally speaking, the food with the best ingredients will have the best flavor so follow tips 1 and 2 in this guide and you won’t go far wrong.
4. Good Price
Having said all that, the cost is clearly going to be a consideration for most dog owners when choosing food for their pets.
Dogs are very expensive pets anyway but if you always buy the most expensive food and treats then the costs can seriously start to add up.
In order to find the right balance between the quality and taste of the dog food and its price, it is always worth looking at online reviews to find out what other dog owners think is the best value for money food.
Dog owners love to support each other and share tips so just go on any of the dog forums and see what people recommend.
Dogs are so similar to people and that is perhaps why they are our most beloved pets.
Despite common misconceptions, dogs are just as discerning when it comes to their food as we are, and in order to maintain their good health and keep them cheerful, it is really important to give your dog the right food.
Follow this guide and you will be sure to have a happy dog every mealtime.