You treat your dog just like any other member of your family, right? Naturally, you would be inquisitive about the best dog food available online to address its hunger pangs. Whether you purchase branded kibble or any other type of dog food, it makes sense to ensure that they remain active and healthy. This would eventually enhance their lifeline.
However, there’s no single answer to what constitutes the healthiest dog food. Depending on the size, breed, age, and activity level of your pet, you need to decide the right food. Ultimately, you might find the task daunting enough. Once you get the right dog food recommended by your veterinarian, you can procure the same from one of the reputed sites.
Things to look out for in healthy food for dogs
- Accreditation
To assure the quality of dog food, make sure that it carries proper accreditation. Organizations such as AAFCO stringently assess the quality of dog food. In case the manufacturers adhere to the industry standards, they obtain the accreditation. While the specific nutritional content for your pet might differ, make sure to purchase an accredited product.
- List of ingredients
It’s easy to customize dog food as per the list of ingredients. Firstly, look out for animal protein sources in the packaged dog food that you purchase online. The specific nutritional need varies from one pet to another. Therefore, you have the provision of getting these products customized.
Whole meat contains a high amount of water. However, it might be ideal for many pets, depending on their needs. On the other hand, dry dog food doesn’t contain water. In these items, you won’t find too much of a meat content. Under no situation should you compromise with the protein content in meat.
- Healthy items
Your pet might require some specific food to support its joints, coat, and skin. Based on these requirements, you need to procure branded dog food containing DHA and EPA, among other omega-3 fatty acids. These items usually come from marine-oriented oils. Besides, the veterinarian might recommend some specific food to your pet, that includes yeast, prebiotics, and probiotics. These ingredients strengthen the GI track of puppies, that are often immature. In senior dogs, these components enhance the immunity of the body.
- Caloric value
Dog owners need to be strategic while choosing the number of calories that their pet food should contain. Increasing the caloric value in pet food might lead to obesity, as the extra calories add to fat. So, you need to check the calorie content on the label and accordingly choose the dog food. Of course, this value would be different across different dog breeds. Based on the recommendation of the veterinarian, you need to customize your pet food.
For instance, larger breeds and working dogs would need a higher number of calories. On the other hand, idle dogs or the ones without much activity level wouldn’t need the same amount of energy. It is crucial to give the right amount of energy to your pet.
- Feeding trials
Look out for high-quality dog food that has proven to be beneficial after undergoing the feeding trials. Conducting food trials involves additional expenses. It’s logical to purchase dog food from brands that have passed this test. This assures the nutritional adequacy that would benefit your pet. Ultimately, your pet would benefit from a digestible, palatable, and healthy diet.
Based on the five parameters we discussed in this article, you can choose the best dog food for your pet. Make sure to get the right food recommended by the veterinarian at the outset. Next, you can narrow down the options while purchasing the package from one of the online stores.
