Dog Owners Guide For Finding Quality Canine Food & Supplements

Owning a dog is a ton full of responsibility. Like humans, they have some needs that the owner should always provide to help them live a healthy and fulfilling life.

 

The most important responsibility a dog owner has is to provide proper care by giving their furry companion the best nutritional diet. However, it is not an easy task. Choosing the right food and supplement for your dog can be tricky.

 

To help you out on your search for the right food and supplement for your dogs, we compiled a few tips that you can use a guide.

Tips for Selecting Quality Food

As a dog owner, we only want what is best for our pets. There is no harm in being so picky when it comes to ensuring your dog’s health. However, mistakes when picking the right food and supplements can happen and are inevitable, especially for first-time dog owners.

 

Check the Ingredients

When purchasing food for your canine, make sure to always check the ingredients before buying it. However, the question remains: how would you know if the ingredients on dog food are A-grade?

 

What you need to do is make sure that the food is USDA-Certified for Human Consumption. Only look for dog foods that have USDA approval on the label. Do not settle for other labels that do not have this approval. This is the only way you can make sure you are giving quality food to your dogs.

 

Know what Nutrients your Dog Needs

Knowing what kind of nutrients your dog needs will help you decide which food you should buy. To know how much nutrients your dog needs, you must break down the percentage of nutrients in foods you’re considering.

 

In general, 75% of a dog’s diet should be made up of different vitamins and minerals, like iron, zinc, and calcium, among others. These vitamins and minerals can be found in fruits and vegetables added to the dog food.

 

18% to 22% of a dog’s diet should be made up of protein that they can get from meats used in dog food. Protein helps your dog’s muscle development and tissue repair, while also giving them healthy skin and hair.

 

On the other hand, fats help boost your dog’s energy. They need around 5% to 8% of fat in their diet to achieve the right amount of fats that they need for everyday activities. Dog food usually uses meat and grain to provide dogs with their daily fat needs.

 

Another thing to consider is your dog’s breed and age. Puppies of large breeds need to be given a fully grown dog’s food formula as large breeds need more nutrients in their diets than small breeds.

 

Also, puppies, compared to older dogs, need more calorie consumption. It would be best to prioritize your puppy’s diet by providing a higher calorie diet than older dogs. Puppies need this high-calorie intake to support their growth.

 

These nutrients are the ones you should consider when choosing your dog’s food. Do not forget to look at the label and check all the vital nutrients mentioned above. Ensure that the dog food you choose will provide the daily nutritional intake that your dog truly needs.

 

What to Avoid

The most obvious thing you should look out for in purchasing dog food is the price. Cheap ones usually contain low-quality ingredients. These dog foods have grain fillers, such as corn or wheat, which does not give your dog any nutritional value.

 

When checking the label, look at the first five ingredients listed on the back and make sure that there are little to no grains included. This is an indication that the dog food’s main ingredient is meat, which would be the best choice for your dog.

 

Do Not Fall for Marketing Tactics

Dog food companies will do their best to sell their products, including adding more enticing terminologies, such as “organic” or “human-grade,” and the likes. As per the U.S Department of Agriculture, these terms do not determine the quality of the product.

 

The term organic refers to the method and process of the ingredients being grown. Human-grade, on the other hand, is only used as a marketing strategy and nothing more. Do not fall for these words written on the packaging, especially if it is from an unknown manufacturer.

 

Price does not Matter

Expensive products do not always mean that the food you are buying is made of high-quality ingredients. Many brands offer quality products at a lower price. For years, several dog owners have trusted small dog food manufacturers because their products meet the necessary nutrients a dog needs.

 

The best thing to do is to familiarize the manufacturer, and the product itself never mind the cost. What matters most is the ingredients included in the dog food, whether cheap or expensive.

Tips on Selecting Quality Supplements

Aside from providing quality food, giving the proper supplements to your dog should also be prioritized. Just like us humans, our pets also need a balanced diet, which they can acquire from supplements added to their diet.

 

The supplements a dog needs depends on their age. Hence, you must consult a veterinarian before giving your dog any supplement. Giving supplements that are not fit according to their needs can be a waste of your money and, worse, pose a risk to your dog’s health.

 

Research is one of the best ways to become familiar with a certain product. Look for product reviews given by the customers who already tried and tested a product you’re considering. Customer feedback is the best way to know the product’s effectiveness, so companies often include customer’s feedback sections on their website.

Getting Advice from Other Dog Owners

You can talk to other dog owners through forums, groups, or sites like Dogloverspup.com for more tips on how to choose the best dog food and supplements for your fur babies. Having someone knowledgeable help you through your journey in keeping your dog healthy would ensure that your dog grows to be healthy and strong.

 

There are many experienced dog owners out there that you can reach out to whenever you need some advice. Whether it is about dog food and supplements or other topics and issues related to dog care, finding the right help can lead to a better life for you and your dog.

 

Takeaway

Providing quality food and supplement to your dog may affect their growth and performance. However, not everything in the market is good for your dog. Some can even pose a risk to their health and safety. Hence, spending time choosing the quality food and spending more time in searching for the perfect food and supplement is important. After all, dogs are part of our family and should be treated with the utmost love and care