How to Choose Dog Food

Choosing the best dog food can be a daunting task. There's dry dog food, canned dog food and frozen dog food. There are name brand dog foods, store brand dog foods and prescription dog foods. There is dog food for kidney health, dog food for weight issues, dog food for skin issues, dog food for puppies, dog food for adults, dog food for seniors. No wonder you are so confused about what is the best dog food for your companion!

Just like for humans, there are MANY choices available for your dog's food. And, just like our food choices, there are good choices and there are bad choices. Ultimately, making bad choices in pet food will lead to health issues in the future. Having a base of understanding about dogs, their nutritional needs and the basics of dog food is a good place to start.

To be quite honest, if you own a dog, you are responsible for choosing a healthy diet for him. So become educated. Be a responsible owner.

FACT: Dogs are mainly carnivores and require MEAT, BONES and FATS.

YOUR CHOICE: What should be in your dog's food? Meat, bones and fats!

FACT: Dogs have a short digestive tract that struggles to digest carbohydrates.

YOUR CHOICE: What should be in your dog's food? NOT a lot of carbohydrates or at least highly digestible carbohydrates.

FACT: Excess carbs are converted to sugar in your dog's system and sugar feeds yeast in your dog's body. This leads to yeast issues like goopy ears and stinky skin.

YOUR CHOICE: What should be in your dog's food? NOT excessive amounts of carbohydrates that can be converted to sugar and feed yeast.

Which is Better?

Dog Food Ingredient List #1: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Rice, Cracked Pearled Barley, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Egg Product, Beet Pulp, Flaxseed, Natural Chicken Flavor, Fish Meal

Notice that chicken, chicken meal, egg product and fish meal are all contained in this list, with chicken and chicken meal being first.

Dog Food Ingredient List #2: Whole Grain Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Soybean Mill Run.

This would be a grain based diet containing more grains/carbohydrates than meat.  

FUN FACT: This ingredient list is actually taken from a WEIGHT LOSS dog food! However, on this type of diet, your dog will be plump and hungry all the time.

Of course, the better dog food choice would be #1.

FACT: Many pet foods are heat processed which destroys delicate nutrients like vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, direct fed microbials and enzymes. ADD these things into your dog's meaty food with natural supplements ! So the best choice is the meatiest choice!

BECOME A LABEL READER! Your dog relies on you to make decisions about his food, and ultimately, for his happiness!

How to feed the best?
Step 1: Start with a meaty dog food or our Dog Food Recipes.
Step 2: Add in the delicate nutrients and digestive enzymes by adding Dinovite for Dogs and  LickOchops Omega Fatty Acid Supplement or SuperOmega Fish Oil if your dog is itchy.
Step 3: Give this combination a full 90 days. Be CONSISTENT and observant! Your dog's body will benefit from the above steps, don't give up or quit.
Step 4: If at any time in this process you have questions, please contact us via EMAIL or by PHONE, Monday-Friday 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. EST, 859-428-1000.

*All information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the expert advice of a veterinarian or veterinary practitioner.