How To Choose The Best Dog Food
Picking the right food for your dog is so important but can seem daunting at the amount of options available. With hundreds of dog food brands on the market, how do you choose the best dog food? In this blog post I will be walking through basic dog nutrition, ways to help narrow down your dog food search and most importantly, ways to know if your dog food isn’t working!
As you’re reading, know that what works for one dog, might not work for another. Every dog is different and has different nutritional needs.
To start, ask yourself these three important questions:
- How old is my dog?
Puppies, adults, and senior dogs all have different nutritional needs. Most dog food brands have food designed for all stages of life and can be easily identified on the bag.
2. What breed is my dog?
Knowing your dog’s breed, even if mixed, helps identify the type of food it should be on. Is your dog small, medium, or large? Are they high energy or are they more relaxed? Dog food brands have food designed to fit their activity levels, size and sometimes even breed specific.
- Does my dog have any health issues?
Does your dog have skin or stomach sensitivity or perhaps a different health issue? Most dog food brands have options available to tailor to your dog’s specific needs.
Understanding Dog Nutrition
A healthy diet for your dog consists of a good balance of meats, fruits, vegetables and grains. These four ingredients provide good vitamins and minerals for your dog! The American Kennel Club has a great article that goes into detail on dog nutrition for large and small breed dogs, how to read a dog food label and more. Click here to read!
If you would like even more detailed information about dog nutrition, check out Merck’s Veterinary Manual.
Want to see my dog Diesel’s favorite healthy dog treats? Click here to read my blog post about my favorite dog treat brand, Spot Farms!
Ways To Narrow Down Your Dog Food Search:
1. Consult Your Veterinarian
Speaking with your vet from the beginning is a great start! From doing their examinations they will know if your dog has a sensitive stomach or sensitive skin and needs a special diet or if there is a certain health issue that a particular brand works to improve, etc.
Veterinarians will recommend certain brands to try and some to stay away from based on studies or things they have learned. This can save you time on research and money on food you didn’t need to buy.
P.S. Want even more fun dog content? Right click any of my recent posts below to open in a new tab to read after this post!
2. Ask Your Breeder Or Rescue What Food They’re Currently On
Whether you find a dog through a breeder or a rescue, both can provide valuable information regarding feeding.
Breeders typically tend to favor a particular brand of food that has worked well for their line and breed over time. When you purchase the dog they will share that information with you so that you can already have that food ready in advance for your dog’s arrival.
When you adopt a dog from a rescue, they too will also have their dogs on a certain type of food. Most shelters don’t have the means to have very high-end food, but that isn’t a bad thing. Knowing what type of food they are already on helps you to know what to initially buy. Whether you keep them on it or gradually switch them over to something different will be a decision based on personal preference and veterinarian recommendation.
*IMPORTANT NOTE*
Just because you buy an expensive bag of dog food DOES NOT mean it will be good for your dog. Don’t get wrapped up in the numbers but instead what works best for your dog.
Signs That Your Dog Food Isn’t Working
The quickest way to know if the food your dog is on isn’t working is by their stool. If your dog’s food is doing it’s job, then their stool should be hard and solid. If your dog is frequently experiencing very soft stool or even diarrhea, this could be a sign that your dog’s food isn’t sitting well with their stomach.
Be sure to call your vet if this is happening because there is always a chance that it is not food related and they will be able to make sure you rule out any other possible factors.
I hope this blog post was helpful and resourceful as you start to look for the best dog food brand for your happy pup! Was this post helpful? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!
Photography: Kate Kelley Collection