When it comes to finding the best food for your dog, there is no room to skim on pricing and quality. Just as important as it is for you to eat healthy foods, it’s just as important for your dog! Not all dog food and snacks are created the same. This would obviously make sense as many of them can vary differently in prices. You will want to buy the brand names that use high quality meats and vitamins, while staying away from brands that user lower quality meat and by products. Using our guidelines should help you with choosing the best dog food for your pet.
Before we get to the top rated brands that are best for your dog, it’s important that we stress the importance of what process you will need to go through when choosing a food that is right for your dog.
The Issues of Selecting the Right Dog Food
Everyone wants their pet to be healthy, but it’s not always easy to spend a lot of money or take time to perform the necessary research on what’s really in your dog’s food. You know what brand you are feeding your dog, and you know what the food looks like, but if someone asked you about the ingredients, average portion size and processing methods of your dogs food, would you know? The truth is, most dog food companies share the same ingredient providers and manufacture products within the same facilities. With that said, it’s important to stress that not all dog foods are created the same, nor should they be. Different dog food is made for different types of dog; young, adult, senior, allergies and weight control. Selecting a high quality brand food for your dog, while also considering your dogs age, weight and specialized needs is extremely important during the food selection process.
Avoiding the Marketing and Commercial Hype
When you see a commercial on TV about your favorite place to go out for dinner, they may say they have the best food out there, but they probably never mention calories or the impact that food can have on your health. The same holds true for dog food and snacks, but sometimes we think even less about our dog’s health than our own. Whether marketing tactics are for child, families or even pets, the goal is the same… to make you buy their products. Here are some key points you should avoid when considering a dog food brand or item.- Nutritional Marketing Claims – Did you know that there is no scientific basis for the differences between “synthetic” vs. “natural” preservatives, yet so many brands and food continue to post this in their promotions and food labels? The same can be said about the word “organic”. Sure, the keywords here really grab the attention of the buyer, but in the end, the differences is minimal.
- Who’s Eating the Dog Food? – Just like marketers create fancy commercial and ad campaigns to sell food based off it’s looks, the same can be done for dog food. The dogs are not buying the food, and you are not eating it, so you should not base your dog food purchasing simply off of looks.
- Just a Snack or a Full Balanced Meal? – How many times of have looked at a food and it said “complete and balanced” or even “100% nutritious”? It’s words and slogans like these that make the customer want to buy the product, but should really only be used on items like dog snacks and treats. Most dog food is already balanced and nutritious, so this campaign advertising should not help in deciding what brand of dog food is right for your best friend.
Pet Food Recommendations
One of the best ways to find what the best food for your dog is, is to simply ask your veterinarian on your next visit. Your doctor should take into consider the age, weight and any other problems your day may have. You can then go to your favorite pet store and compare brands that match with your dog type.
Another benefit to consider when choosing a pet brand that is right for your dog, is to look for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) label on the box or packaging. Usually there will be wording that states “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (product name) provides complete and balanced nutrition for (gestation, lactation & growth or maintenance).”. Seeing this phrase on your packaging will show that this product meets the standards of AAFCO and is safe for your pet.
Also don’t forget, if price is an issue when it comes to select the right dog food, don’t put your dog’s health at risk. Instead, make sure you search around for the latest dog food coupons that are being released around the internet. Join the fan pages of dog food brands on sites like Twitter and Facebook, where they will usually post coupons and discounts to their dedicated followers.
