Dog Information on Feeding and Pet Food Labels
There is a strange, little known fact about pet nutrition that many pet owners are not aware of. It is that your vet may not be the best source of dog information particularly for nutrition. Veterinary schools’ nutrition courses tend to be rather short and incomplete, and pet food companies tend to push their products on vets and patients rather aggresively.
The best thing for a pet owner to do is to learn what their dog needs in terms of nutrition from reliable dog information. This article will discuss, in order, the most important pieces of dog information that every pet owner should know when it comes to feeding their beloved four-legged friends.
As carnivorous animals, dogs eat meat in the wild and their food as pets should always contain a good quality, meat-based source of protein. In the ingredients listing of your dog food, look for a named meat source, like beef or turkey, rather an a generic “meat”. More than one of these should be listed in the first five ingredients on the list. Animal by-product, is another story and should be avoided, as it can contain meat from dying and diseased animals.
Some amount of carbohydrates is required in a balanced canine diet, and rice, potatoes and many vegetables are good sources of these. However, dogs do not need grains like corn, wheat gluten and these may cause more problems than they are worth. Allergies and obesity are often attributed to corn and wheat products in dog food.
Labels like premium and human grade may not mean much, as these labels are not highly regulated. Organic food should be raised without any chemical products and genetic modification, and eating these foods means we introduce fewer harmful chemicals into our bodies. Organic dog food should offer our pets the same benefits.
Raw feeding is also becoming more popular among pet owners who want to replicate their dogs natural diet in the wild. A wealth of dog information can be found about raw diets, which can also be more cost-effective for the pet owner. There is also the option of home made dog food, which, while more time consuming, is also cheaper than commercial food, and a good way to know exactly what your favorite pooch is eating.
Your vet is not always the best source of dog information and as a good pet owner, you may want to take matters into your own hands and learn to read pet food labels. Organic dog foods are beneficial but can be expensive. Raw feeding and home made dog food are the best ways to ensure that your dog gets the best nutrition you can provide, though these may be labor intensive.
- Melinda Smith