Being a fur parent is not all about owning a pet; it entails the commitment to take care of them. When bringing in a new dog, the most important decision you have to make is how to raise them healthily. And talking about dogs’ nutrition, food is the main requirement.
Finding dog food is not hard, but choosing the right one is difficult. Plus, with the array of options in the market, everyone claiming to be the best, makes deciding which to take can be frustrating. Truthfully, there is no such thing as “perfect dog food” because dogs are diverse and may need different nutritional needs from the other.
Despite the overwhelming options, a step to knowing the right one for your dog is narrowing down the selection by knowing the aspects to consider. Consider familiarizing yourself with the guide and listing the standards to be met. Once done, check out PETstock dog supplies online and in-store to compare dog supplies.
Table of Contents
Checklist: Things to Consider
There is no permanent dog food suitable for every dog. What may be the right one for your dog now may not be in the next few years as changes are made from time to time based on the following factors:
1. Age
Dogs’ nutritional needs vary at different phases in their lives. Feeding your dog a portion of food formulated for a certain stage in life can give them the nutrients they need for growth and support.
For instance, puppies have nutritional needs that are not the same as adult and senior dogs. In the cases of younger dogs, you have to feed them foods that sustain their need for growth and development, while adults and senior dogs mostly need foods to maintain health.
2. Size
Size does matter when finding the right food for your dogs. Small dogs generally need foods that are in the form of small bits to avoid accidents such as choking. Meanwhile, dogs known as large or giant breeds may need foods that help maintain healthy joints considering their size and volume.
3. Activity Level
Every dog has a level of activeness. Fewer calories are burned for house dogs, whose activities are usually occasional walks, than working or athlete dogs. It would be best to consider the activity level as it is ideal for giving them food that will help their weight management and maintain their body condition.
4. Wet or Dry Food
The distinction between wet and dry food is the level of water included. Knowing the difference between both types of foods does not only help in measuring your dog’s needs but also the expected expenses.
You need to know which consistency and moisture are needed for your dog’s food as it greatly impacts their dental health. As the term states, dry foods may be harder for your dog to chew and get stuck on their teeth, the same with wet foods.
Moreover, dry foods tend to be less expensive and have longer storage life than wet foods, but in return, wet foods tend to go off sooner due to higher amounts of fresh ingredients.
5. Specific Dietary Requirement
Deciding which food to give your dog also includes understanding your dog’s condition. Dogs with health issues tend to be picky and sensitive to what they eat, so considering which food you have to feed them must be formulated to sustain specific health needs.
Take Note!
Based on the listings, the factors to consider when choosing the suitable food for your dog are transitional and consider a stage of a dog’s life. It is vital to understand that staying with one dog food is unsuitable for your pet.
Experts suggest recording your dog’s diet every three to six months to consider which food to switch to. Not only does a sole food make your dog fed up, but it can also lead to allergies and diseases.
When the time comes when you have to switch your dog’s food, you must remember to have a careful transition. Do not change the food at once. Better to gradually add and mix the new food with the old one to make your dog slowly adapt and avoid digestive issues.
As a pet owner, you have absolute authority over which food to give your pet. But, aside from taking individual research on which food best suits your dog, consulting a veterinarian is essential as they know more than dog owners.
