Is the way to your dog’s heart through his stomach? Yeah, we think so. “What are the best foods to feed my dog?” is a question we get a lot. There are so many dog foods on the market, how can you know which diet is best for your puppy? A dog’s nutritional needs are complex. Their age, medical conditions, and activity levels will all determine the dog food that’s right for them. In this article, we’ll cover the best dog foods on the market to feed your dog.
What exactly do dogs eat, anyway?
Your friend’s dog is fed a vet-recommended, all-kibble diet. But is that right for your dog? What may be healthy for one person’s puppy may be entirely wrong for yours. While we can give you some advice in regards to the best foods to feed your dog, you really want to consult with your vet, too.
The thing is, dogs are mostly carnivorous animals, but they do have some omnivorous dietary needs. A carnivore is an animal that eats only meat, while an omnivore is an animal that can eat a variety of foods. While you may be able to feed your dog an all-kibble diet, you might also want to consider adding some raw or cooked meat, fish, rice, and vegetables to your dog’s food dish.
What are the best human foods to feed my dog?
If you’re going to feed your dog meat, always choose meat that you would eat yourself. Non-human grade meat could have preservatives in it that aren’t good for your dog’s health. Also, be sure to practice good food hygiene. You don’t want you or your dog to get salmonella or another food-borne bacterial infection. Most importantly, speak to your vet about feeding your dog meat. Veterinary nutritionists can formulate a diet and guidelines that are balanced for your dog’s age or any medical conditions they may have.
- Boiled chicken or lamb is suitable for most dogs.
- Do not feed your dog cooked bones, marinades, or onion sauces that can make them sick.
- Dogs can safely eat tinned tuna, sardines, and salmon canned in water. Check for any bones before giving it to the dog.
If your dog needs to gain some weight or can benefit from more calories, you can bulk up their food with raw, grated carrots or a bit of cooked pumpkin. This is a great way to give your dog some much-needed fiber to keep their bowels healthy.
Are bones healthy foods to give your dog?
It depends. One or two bones per week are safe to give your dog. Chewing bones can keep their teeth strong, healthy, and free of plaque. You just want to be careful your dog isn’t eating the whole bone. It can give them constipation.
How big should the bone be? Make sure that it is big enough that the dog can’t swallow it whole. And always feed the dog raw bones, because cooked bones are weak and will splinter.
How can you choose the best kibble or canned food to feed your dog?
Remember how we said that dogs mainly eat meat, but are technically omnivores? High-quality dog foods you find at the supermarket contain grains, vegetables, and fruit, not just meat. These aren’t just filler, either. These ingredients offer your dog the nutrition he needs – vitamins and minerals he can’t get from meat alone. Commercial dog foods have been through rigorous tests and are highly regulated. The best commercial dog foods contain high-quality versions of fruits, grains, and vegetables.
What are some common myths about dog food you should know about?
A lot of people mistakenly believe that commercial dog foods containing animal by-products aren’t suitable for dogs. Or that kibble or canned food that’s grain-free is ideal for your dog’s diet. But grains are actually an essential part of any dog’s diet unless they have a specific allergy to grains. Animal by-products aren’t necessarily harmful either. Organ meats are good for dogs, and these are labeled as animal by-products.
The Best Dog Foods to Feed Your Dog
- Dr. Tim’s Dry Dog Food is grain-inclusive and formulated for dogs of all ages. This dog food is best for adult dogs or small to medium-sized breed puppies.
- Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry is one of the best dog foods for adult dogs and puppies that can’t handle grains.
- Annamaet Ultra Dry Dog Food is a versatile dry kibble, good for adults and puppies of all sizes and breeds. This dog food is grain-inclusive, with brown rice and millet listed as ingredients.
- Canidae Grain-Free Pure Dry Dog Food lists salmon as the main ingredient and is considered a maintenance dog food for adult dogs.
- Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food is another maintenance dog food for adult dogs. Unlike Canidae maintenance dog food, Wellness Complete is grain inclusive. Your dog will enjoy munching on oatmeal, barley, and brown rice in this kibble.
What about the best wet dog food for your pet?
Is your dog a picky eater? It’s often easier to get picky dogs to eat canned or wet dog food than dry kibble. Canned dog food is a little bit pricier than dry kibble, but it can help stimulate your dog’s appetite. Wet dog foods usually contain the same ingredients as their dry counterparts. But they have different quantities of those same ingredients. Often, you’ll find a higher amount of meat, animal by-products, and textured proteins in canned dog food. Shelf-life is also longer for canned foods than dry kibble, but once opened, you need to refrigerate it.
The best canned or wet dog food to feed your pet depends on her life stage, dietary needs, and breed. But keep in mind that the healthiest wet dog foods will always list lean protein, or meat, as the first ingredient. Talk to your vet first before deciding on which canned dog food to give your pet.
Does your dog have special dietary needs? If you’re looking for a pet sitter in Cranberry, Cranberry Pet Care LLC offers customized dog sitting and dog walking services for our valued customers. Please contact Cranberry Pet Care today to learn more about what we can do to keep your dog or puppy happy and healthy while you’re away.