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How To Choose the Best Dog Food

Good nutrition is essential to keeping dogs healthy. However, taking a broad topic like nutrition and narrowing it down to answer a question as specific as What food is best for my dog? can feel overwhelming.

When you break down the process of choosing the best dog food into more manageable steps, youll soon have an answer to the age-old question, What should I feed my dog?

Store-Bought vs. Homemade Dog Food

First, ask yourself if you have the time and energy to make your own dog food. Preparing healthy homemade dog food is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. Recipes found online or in books usually do not provide dogs with adequate nutrition, so its always safest to work with a veterinary nutritionist or a service that is run by veterinary nutritionists, like PetDiets.com or BalanceIt.com.

Its also best to avoid feeding raw foods to your dog, due to the increased risk of foodborne illnesses caused by potentially dangerous bacteria like salmonella, E. Coli, and Listeria; and parasites including Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma. These can affect both the dogs that eat raw foods and the people who handle contaminated items and are exposed to dogs that could be shedding disease-causing microbes.

Pet food manufacturers make many high-quality dog foods, and they arent all expensive. For most pet parents, feeding commercial dog food is the right choice.

Make Sure the Dog Food Meets AAFCO Guidelines

One of the benefits of purchasing commercial dog food is that reputable manufacturers follow guidelines put forward by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO guidelines determine much of what appears on a pet food label, including:

Nutritional Adequacy Statement

The easiest way to determine whether a dog food meets AAFCO guidelines is to look for the nutritional adequacy statement that will be printed on the label. Nutritional adequacy statements come in several forms but will usually read something like one of these two examples:

1. [Name of food] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for [life stage].

2. Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [name of food] provides complete and balanced nutrition for [life stage].

The three life stages for which AAFCO has developed standards are growth and reproduction; adult maintenance; and all life stages.

Consider Your Dogs Age

Its important to feed your dog a diet formulated for their life stage, as puppies and adult dogs have different nutritional needs.

Puppy Food

Dogs that are still growing require higher levels of protein, certain amino acids, fat, essential fatty acids, calcium, and phosphorus in comparison to adult dogs. Puppy-specific foods meet these needs.

Large-breed puppiesthose that are going to weigh 50 pounds or so when they are fully grownshould eat large-breed puppy food specifically designed to help them stay slim, and that also has tightly controlled levels of calcium and phosphorous. This can help reduce their risk of developing orthopedic diseases, such as hip dysplasia. If your pup is going to be big, look for puppy foods specifically labeled for large breeds.

Feed puppy food, not adult dog food, until your pup is done growing. This usually occurs around the following ages:

Adult Dog Food

Your veterinarian can help you decide when its time to switch from puppy food to adult dog food. Adult dog food tends to be a little lower in fat and protein than puppy food. Once a dog is done growing, they need less of these nutrients and any extra will simply be stored as fat.

Youll also find foods that say they are for all life stages, but this is essentially puppy food, as they meet the more rigorous nutritional requirements of puppies. Feeding puppy or all life stages food to an adult dog can increase their risk of becoming overweight or obese.

Sometimes there is a good reason to feed an adult dog the extra calories and protein found in puppy food or all life stages food (for example, if a dog is extremely active or has trouble maintaining their weight). But most healthy adult dogs should eat dog foods designed for adults.

Senior Dog Food

The AAFCO has no separate nutritional standards for senior dogs. In fact, specific nutrient guidelines for older pets havent been established.

Senior dog foods can be very different from each other, so its wise to do a little more research; look at the rest of the dog food label; and talk to your veterinarian for guidance.

Read the Label

Much of what appears on a dog food label is marketing. But if you look closely, you will find some good information, particularly in two locations: the guaranteed analysis and the ingredient list.

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis will tell you the minimum or maximum amounts of several important nutrients for dogs.

Protein is an expensive nutrient, so manufacturers will often look there first to cut costs. Find the protein percentage on the guaranteed analysis and compare it to the minimum levels recommended by the AAFCO: 22.5% for puppy food and 18% for adult dog food.

You can do this directly for dry foods, but youll need to convert to a dry-matter basis if youre looking at wet dog food. Better dog and puppy foods will contain significantly more protein than the AAFCO minimum, often 25%35%.

Ingredient List

The ingredient list on a dog food label tells you where all the nutrients it provides come from. The list is ordered from the ingredient present in the largest amount, based on weight, to the one present in the smallest amount.

Dont get too bogged down in the detailsjust make sure the first few ingredients are healthy sources of protein and carbohydrates, including (but not limited to!) meat and fish; meat and fish meals (which are a more concentrated source of nutrients); grains; and potatoes.

Better dog and puppy foods will contain significantly more protein than the AAFCO minimum, often 25%35%.

Make Your Decision and Watch How Your Dog Responds

By now you probably have several good options for your dogs food, so its time to look at some practical considerations. Pick a food within your budget that you can easily purchase. Does your dog have favorite flavors or textures? Dont ignore them! Even the best food wont benefit pups if they dont eat it.

Whenever you are switching dog foods, do so slowlyover a week or so. Gradually mix increasing amounts of the new food with decreasing amounts of the old food. This gives your dog a chance to get used to the new food and decreases the chances they will refuse the new food or get an upset stomach.

Feed the new food to your dog for a month or so, then assess how they are responding to it. Do they have:

If so, youve found a good diet for your dog.

Talk to Your Vet

Involve your veterinarian in your decision; this is even more important if your dog has medical problems. But even if your pup is healthy, their doctor is in the best position to make specific dog food recommendations.

Featured Image:Su Arslanoglu/E+ via Getty Images

WRITTEN BY

Jennifer Coates, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Jennifer Coates is an accomplished veterinarian, writer, editor, and consultant with years of experience in the fields of veterinary...

How to Choose the Best Dog Food

In an ideal world, all dog food would be created equal. Instead, dog owners are presented with an overwhelming array of options, all claiming to be the best dog food on the market. Wading through these choices to find a dog food brand that is healthy, affordable, and appealing to your pet is often frustrating. Weve compiled expert advice to help you narrow down your options.

What Makes a Dog Food Good?

Most people feed their dogs dry kibble or canned wet food. These processed foods might not be appealing to us, but they contain all of the nutrients dogs need to stay healthy. Quality commercial dog foods are highly regulated and have undergone rigorous testing by veterinary specialists. So what exactly is in these dog foods?

Dogs, unlike cats, are not strict carnivores. While meat makes up the majority of their diet, domestic dogs can also derive nutrients from grains, fruits, and vegetables. These non-meat foods are not simply fillers, but can be a valuable source of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A good dog food will contain meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits. The best dog foods contain high-quality versions of these ingredients that are appropriate for your dogs digestive system.

Dog Food Nutrition

The best dog food for your canine companion should meet his nutritional needs. While most commercial dog food brands are specially formulated with at least the minimum nutritional requirements for dogs, it is important to remember that not every dog has exactly the same nutritional needs.

Dogs require a wide range of nutrients in different quantities over the course of their lives. The nutritional needs of a puppy are different from an adult dog, which is why it is a good idea to feed a puppy formula or an all life stages food to your young dog. If you are unsure about the differences in nutritional requirements between puppies and adults, the Merck Veterinary Manual lists the recommended nutrients for dogs, along with the recommended amount by weight and age. Large breed dogs and puppies have different nutritional requirements than small breed dogs and puppies.

Dog Food Myths and Misinformation

There are plenty of dog food myths and misinformation about dog nutrition on the Internet. You can sort through it by following one simple rule: check your sources. Many well-meaning individuals make claims about dog nutrition without backing them up with scientific evidence. As you do research, always check to see if the information is supported by a credible source, like a veterinarian, canine nutritionist, or scientific study. It never hurts to be skeptical, either. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Many people have questions about grain-inclusive orgrain-free dog food, pea-free dog food, or dog foods containing animal byproducts. If your dog has been diagnosed with a food allergy caused by grains, you may choose a grain-free diet under the guidance of your veterinarian. For most dogs, grains are actually a source of wholesome nutrients. Quality animal byproducts are also nutritious. These include organ meats and entrails, which often contain more nutrients than the muscle meat consumed by humans. Regulated byproducts do not include hooves, hair, floor sweepings, intestinal contents, or manure. As with any pet-related inquiry, feel free to discuss your concerns about your dogs food with your veterinarian.

How to Read a Dog Food Label

One way to decipher a good dog food from a bad dog food is to read the label. This is easier said than done, as labels can be hard to read, both due to the small print and just plain awkwardness of handling big bags of dog food in the store! But labels can also be misleading, as the Merck Veterinary Manual explains. Dog food labels are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to tell you eight key pieces of information, and individual states may also have their own labeling requirements:

• Product name
• Net weight of the product
• Name and address of the manufacturer
• Guaranteed analysis
• List of ingredients
• Intended animal species (i.e. dog or cat)
• Statement of nutritional adequacy
• Feeding guidelines

Product Name

The product name alone tells you a lot about whats inside the can or bag. The term beef means that beef must make up at least 70 percent of the entire product. The terms beef dinner, beef entre, or beef platter, on the other hand, only require that beef makes up at least 10 percent of the entire product. With beef only requires that 3 percent of the total product be beef, and beef flavor simply implies that there is enough beef in the product to flavor it (less than 3 percent). The same holds true for other named ingredients like chicken.

Ingredients

The ingredient list on a dog food label will not tell you the quality of the ingredients or where they came from, and some manufacturers split up the ingredients to make the distribution more equal. For instance, different types of corn, such as flaked corn, ground corn, or kibbled corn, can be listed separately. This bumps corn down on the list of ingredients, even though the actual content of corn in the food is high. Meat is another tricky ingredient. Whole meats contain a large percentage of water weight, which means that the overall percentage of meat after processing is lower than it appears. Meat meal, on the other hand, sounds less appealing to people, but actually contains more meat than whole meats, as there is no water weight to throw off the calculation.

While the ingredient list might not tell you the quality of the ingredients, it does tell you what is in the food. This is especially important for dogs with special dietary needs or allergies and is also useful for owners who wish to feed their dogs specific sources of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates.

Complete and Balanced Dog Foods

One of the first things you should look for on a dog food label is the statement (Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. This isnt just an advertising slogan. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has strict requirements to make sure that a product is in fact complete and balanced for dogs (or cats). Complete and balanced diets must contain the minimum amount of all of the nutrients necessary for dogs, which is also indicated in the guaranteed analysis. This analysis gives the minimum amount of crude protein and fat, along with the maximum amounts of water and crude fiber. The analysis does not, however, give the exact amount of these components, which means there is room for considerable variation. The manufacturers average nutrient profile is often a better tool for evaluating a product.

You can always contact the dog food company directly to get more information about its product. A reputable company that has your dogs interests at heart should be happy to answer your questions and in many cases will give you more information than what is available on the website or product label. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association has a helpful sheet with questions you can ask a company representative.

Best Dog Food for Small and Large Breeds

Small breed dogs and large breed dogs have different nutritional needs. Large breed dogs are more prone to musculoskeletal problems than smaller breeds, and so they often require large-breed dog food with different balances of certain nutrients to promote musculoskeletal health, especially as puppies. Small breed dogs, on the other hand, can choke on large-sized kibble and have their own nutritional requirements that can be accommodated with a small-breed dog food. Research your dogs breed to find out if there are any additional nutritional requirements you should be aware of.

Best Dog Food for Puppies

The nutritional needs of dogs vary throughout their life. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs, and senior dogs have their own nutritional considerations. Most dog food companies carry specially formulated puppy foods for each stage of a dogs life, making it easier to narrow down your choices. If you are concerned about which is the best dog food for your dogs life stage, consult your veterinarian to see what stage food is appropriate for your dog.

Your puppy requires a different nutrient balance than an adult dog. This is especially true for large breeds. Feeding a large breed puppy food can help, as their growth needs to be monitored carefully to prevent bone and joint problems. Other puppies do well on both puppy food and food labeled for all life stages. The best food for your puppy depends on your puppys size and breed. Always consult your veterinarian for recommendations on puppy feeding, and advice on how to switch puppies to adult dog food.

Best Dog Food for Senior Dogs

Senior dogs, usually considered 7+, vary in their individual nutritional needs. Younger senior dogs may struggle with being overweight and older senior dogs may struggle with being underweight, which is why there is such a variety.

Choosing the best senior dog food may come down to what your dog finds palatable. Many older dogs prefer wet food while others may need their food warmed up to enhance the aromas. Ultimately, your vet can help choose the best dog food for an older pet.

Best Food for Dogs With Special Dietary Needs

Allergies, sensitive stomachs, and dietary restrictions affect dogs, as well as people. Feeding dogs with special dietary needs can be tricky. Your best course of action is to consult your veterinarian for advice about the dog food that best helps with their condition.

Best Dry Dog Food

The most widely available and affordable dog food is dry dog food. Dry dog food does not require refrigeration, which is its main advantage over wet dog food, as it contains approximately 90 percent dry matter and 10 percent water. This makes it easy to store. Dry dog food is made by combining and cooking ingredients like meat and grains. This process converts the starches in the food into an easily digested form, while also destroying toxins and flash sterilizing the ingredients. There are many different varieties of dry dog food on the shelves. The best dry food for your dog depends on your dogs dietary needs. In general, a higher quality dry dog food that contains the appropriate ingredients for your dogs life stage and breed is the best choice, but talk to your vet or veterinary nutritionist about the healthiest choice for your pet.

Best Wet Dog Food

Wet dog food, or canned dog food, is a perfectly viable alternative to dry dog food. While generally slightly more expensive, wet dog food is more palatable than dry food and can help stimulate the appetite of picky eaters. Wet dog food contains many of the same ingredients as dry dog food, but not in the same quantities. Wet food contains higher amounts of fresh meat, poultry, fish, and animal byproducts, along with more textured proteins derived from grains. Canned dog food has a long shelf life, however it must be refrigerated once opened. The best wet food for your dog, just as with dry dog food, depends on your dogs life stage, breed, and any special dietary needs or allergies. Talk to your vet about the wet dog food that he recommends for your pet.

How Much Should I Feed My Dog?

Dog obesity is a growing concern in the veterinary community and has been linked to many health problems in dogs. Luckily for our pets, we are usually more disciplined about controlling their diets than we are about controlling our own. Knowing how much to feed your dog and what healthy dog weight looks like can be tricky. Many owners accidentally overfeed their pets, which is why it is important to take your dog in for regular checkups and to talk with your vet about appropriate portions. The guidelines on the back of the bag are just that guidelines. Some dogs may require more than the recommended amount, whereas others require much less. Activity level, time of year, nursing, illness, and more factors can all impact how much a dog needs to eat. Dog people will often advise that you should feed the dog thats in front of you instead of strictly adhering to dog food serving size guidelines that may or may not be exactly what your dog needs.

Choosing the Best Dog Food

The best dog food for your dog is ultimately up to you to decide. As an owner, you are the one who sees your dog on a regular basis. If your dog produces firm, healthy stool, is active and fit, and has a healthy appetite, then your dog food is probably working just fine.

Your veterinarian is a valuable resource to you during this process. They know more about pet nutrition than the average owner, and they also have access to research and resources that owners do not have. Your vet can help you narrow down your options and should be more than happy to help you find the answers to your questions about your dogs food.