How to Avoid Selecting Bad Dog Food?
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All dog parents want the best food for their dogs, but that’s as not simple when economics and marketing get in the way of what’s helpful for them. Brands cannot be trusted since the packaging and commercials that use can be misleading. However, the ingredients listed offer a more truthful look at what’s actually present in your dog’s food.
The pet food industry is known for bogus labeling and scams; it’s full of controversial aspects, which is why as a pet owner, you should be vigilant when picking the best dog food. Listed below are 4 factors that should be taken into account that will help you steer clear of questionable dog food items.
1. Dog’s Specific Nutritional Needs
The place to start is finding out everything nutrition related that applies to your dog. For instance, if your dog is athletic then his nutritional needs will be higher than that of an average couch potato. Similarly, if your dog is allergic to certain foods or food ingredients, you will need to pick out items that are free of such components. Here are some of the many variables that can help you determine what types of foods your dog should and shouldn’t eat:
- Weight
- Breed
- Level of activity
- Health condition
- Age
Consult with your vet or an expert regarding the foods that will provide your dog with adequate nutrition levels as well as maintain his ideal weight.
2. Meat Meal and Meat are a no-no
Meat is healthy for dogs and should be a big part of your pet’s diet. However, if the foods you choose are labeled “meat meal”, “meat and bone meal”, or “meat”, know that your dog is getting the worst meat source he could in a processed food products. This is because the ingredients present in these foods are often leftovers with no guaranteed standard of quality. They can come from diseased or dead animals, from expired meat, or even include tumors – you never know.
Stay away from such dog foods as they can lead to several digestive complications for your canine companion, and only add nutrition-empty fillers that increase the percentage of protein in your canine’s food bag, but contribute little to the amount of usable protein.
In place of meat meals go for whole boneless chicken, lamb, turkey, salmon, beef, or meals comprising of these proteins. These produts contain good amounts of usable protein and more natural ingredients and are less processed.
3. Natural isn’t always healthy
Dog foods that are labeled as “natural” tend will sound healthy and desirable, but in reality it can be misleading. Natural ingredients are anything that is derived from a plant or animal. Needless to say, natural ingredients are not automatically healthy ingredients. For instance, meat sourced from a diseased animal is still natural, but nowhere near healthy. Dog owners need to understand that claims like these are only a marketing gimmick. Instead of giving into these deceiving promises, go for foods that consist of high-quality ingredients.
There is no set of rules present that must be met for a company to label a food as “premium”. There is no guarantee that foods that are advertised as “premium” or any other variation of “premium” are in better than any other food item out there.
In reality, the term is often used to dupe customers. So instead of splurging money on “premium” food, take a thorough look at the ingredients and see whether they are nutritionally balanced.