Thursday, December 1, 2011

Basic Tips On Buying Dog Food

By Rebecca Lane


Have you ever been concerned about the fact that your dog might not be eating the best food? Or, are you worried about some unsettling things you might have heard about the brand you usually buy?

Here is some information you might find useful, including ingredients that are found in dog food. Dog food is extremely important in ensuring that your dog gets a proper nutrition and stays healthy.

Some easy tips are:

Dog food should not contain the preservatives BHT or BHA since they can potentially be harmful to your pet.

Stay away from dog food that's made with by-products which are nothing else than human's leftovers. These products could contain feet, intestines and necks, among other parts.

Grains that are often difficult to digest like corn, wheat, gluten and soy, are often used as a protein source instead of meat. This is not healthy and in addition can cause allergies.

Are you ready to have fun yet?

The first 5 ingredients are a must-have to ensure good nutrition.

What is the origin of the protein source? Most experts agree that the primary source of protein should come from animals and not from grains. If the first five ingredients list two or more vegetable sources, the food might not be very nutritional.

Are grains good for your dog? Two or more grains listed in the first 5 ingredients means your food may have more vegetable protein than animal protein. Vegetable sources of protein are not as easily digestible, so they might not be very nutritional for your dog.

Are there any by-products contained in the food? By-products are not as nutritional for your dog, and some of them are harder to digest.

What are the fat sources? Not all fats are the same. We believe the primary fat source in dog food should be animal based because animal fats contain a profile of fatty acids that are easily metabolized and thus are generally more available to the body.

Choose food that lists "chicken meal" rather than "poultry meal", since the latter could contain different types of poultry.

You should always look for "chicken meal" among the ingredients. Chicken meat contains a good amount of moisture, but moisture is taken out of chicken meal, so you get more protein from 1 pound of food containing chicken meal than from a pound of food containing chicken. Since you get more protein, chicken meal is the ingredient you need to look for.

Bacteria cultures such as acidophilus are needed in the food to make it digestible. And finally, the food should contain vegetables and fiber to ensure a proper intake of vitamins also.




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