Dog food 101

Dog food comes in a dizzying selection of commercially prepared formulas and flavors... and while that`s great news for Fido, it can be very confusing for you!

Feeding a healthy, balanced diet is one of the most important things you cando to make sure that your puppy, or dog, stays strong and healthy.

To make sure that you`re feeding Fido the best formula for his age, size, breed and activity level you`ll need to spend a little time on research...

... and understand both what he needs - and what those confusing dog food labels and packaging are really saying!

This page will help you negotiate the dog food `minefield` and get it right.

Use these `quick links` to jump to what you`re interested in or simply scroll down to get access to all the information:

• Commercial dog food - the `big picture`
• Dry dog food v canned
• Customized diets
• How much to feed your dog

By the time you`re finished reading, you`ll be armed with all the information you need to make the right choice of food for your pet.

Commercially Prepared Dog Food - The Big Picture

Good nutrition will help a dog reach it`s full potential both physically and mentally.

It fights diseases, minimizes allergies,prevents obesity and overall helps your pooch to live a longer,healthier and happier life.

With all this at stake, doesn`t it make sense to be careful when choosing the dog food that your pet is going to eat?

Commercial dog food manufacturerswho want to produce food that provides `a complete and balanced diet`have to make sure their foods meet one of two basic standards - theadult dog food standard or the puppy food standard.

These standards are set by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

If a dog food says it is suitable `for all life stages` it is required to meet the puppy food standard, which is the tougher of the two.

When choosing the brand or type of food to give your little one, all the hype and advertising slogans on those bags, cans and pouches can make it seem a little (or even a LOT) confusing.

Dog food advertising is designed to appeal to HUMANS - because we`re the ones paying for it - and what`s on the outside of the bag doesn`t necessarily reflect what`s on the inside!

To make it a bit easier to decide which dog food/s are right for your particular puppy or dog, I`ve tried to simplify the whole process a little bit.

Here`s what to look for...

`A complete and balanced diet`

Only manufacturers who adhere to the AAFCO standards are allowed to use this wording.

If you see this on a bag/can of dog food:

`Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of dog food) provides complete and balanced nutrition for (specific life stage eg. `puppy` or `adult`)`

It means that food has been evaluated through feeding trials to make sure that it provides adequate nutritional levels which require no supplementation.

If you see this:

`(Name of dog food) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for (specific life stage eg. `puppy` or `adult`).`

It means that certain tests have been done (such as chemical anaylsis & nutrient calculations) to make sure it meets AAFCO requirements.

BUT this is not the same level of evaluation and testing as the first statement and there are no guarantees that the food in question has been tested for nutritional value.

Tricky huh?

Video: Ingredients in Grocery Dog Food : Dog Care 101

Balanced Nutritional Ingredients

Any dog food formula contains a number of different ingredients and food groups, in specific ratios.

Some ingredients are vital, others are beneficial or desirable, others are things you simply don`t want to see in your dogs` diet.

Also, depending on the age, size, breed and general health of your puppy the correct balance of nutrients, and specific ingredients, will vary.

The higher on the list an ingredient appears the greater the percentage of it is in the food.

Protein

A well-balanced dog food should contain a good source of high-quality protein (which provides essential amino acids) as one of the first ingredients.

Protein is needed for growth, development and a healthy immune system.

Chicken and lamb products are the most popular sources of protein. This can be `whole chicken`, `whole lamb`.

`Chicken meal` or `lamb meal` etc. is also okay, but make sure the type of meat is specified, `meat meal` is not a premium ingredient.

A lot of other protein sources are also available including beef, turkey, duck, salmon, bison and more.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates supply Fido with the energy he needs to get through his day.

They also contain fiber which converts to glucose in his body.

Good sources of carbohydrates include most grains, fruits and vegetables.

Fats

Fat is a valuable source of energy and is also needed to keep your puppy/dogs` coat and skin healthy.

Video: Raw Dog Food 101

In commercial dog food formulas these may be found in muscle meats, or as animal fat or vegetable oils.

Again, a specified source of animal fat such as `chicken fat` is good, the more generalized `animal fat` is not.

Vitamins & Minerals

These are vital to your pets` health and it`s important that they`re supplied in the right quantities and in the correct ratio.

An AAFCO approved food will contain exactly what your pup/dog needs if he is generally healthy and has no specific health issues.

If he has special needs or has a health condition then your veterinarian may recommend additional supplements.

Check out the `Report Card` for dozens of popular and premium dog foods on the market too.

Video: Homemade 101: Cooked or Raw Meat - Which is Better for Homemade Dog Food?

The dog food market today is becoming more and more diverse and the number and variety of specialty formulas are increasing.

All-natural, organic, hypo-allergenic, grain-free, vegetarian... there are a LOT of different choices.

This is great news for dogs, because the quality of the food they eat is SO important.