How to know which is the healthiest dog food?

Trying to decide which is the healthiest dog food for your pooch is a bit of a minefield.The first thing to bear in mind is that the best choice for your dog ultimately depends on his individual needs. Puppies require a different balance of nutrients to ageing dogs, and those with special conditions like diabetes or arthritis may benefit from a change in diet or additional supplements.

The best way to learn about the different diets available and the ideal choice for your pet is to speak with your veterinarian. You vet knows your dog’s entire health history. He or she will be able to give you the best advice as to which dog food will meet your dog’s individual needs.

The brand and formula that you select will change as your dog ages. Selecting the healthiest dog food needs to be an issue that you revisit regularly. As your dog ages and as his health needs change, you’ll need to change his diet to meet his nutritional needs.

For example if you adopt a puppy, he’ll need a special diets while his body growing, a new diet when he hits adulthood and a change in his nutrition when he becomes a senior dog.

For more detailed information on the healthiest dog food, be sure to read our in-depth review of the best dog food brand. It includes picks for the best dry kibble, canned dog food, holistic and organic foods and the best choice for puppies.

How to Know Which is the Healthiest Dog Food?

You need to tailor your dog’s diet to four main things: his age, his activity levels, his ideal weight and any health conditions he may have. But for all dogs, there are some standard things to look for, and that’s where we’re here to help!

Reading the Label

Dog food manufacturers are required to label ingredients in descending order. The first ingredient on the list is the one in highest proportion. As a general rule, you want this first ingredient to be an animal protein.

Watch out for labels with lots of ingredients though. For example a label might read: beef, ground whole grain corn, corn meal, soybean meal, ground wholegrain wheat, etc.

Although each separate ingredient is guaranteed to be less than the beef, the total of the filler ingredients might add up to more.

Ideally you want to choose a food with protein and good carbohydrates like vegetable sources in the first three or four ingredients on the list. Some things you should be looking for on the dog food label are:

Animal Protein

You want to choose a dog food high in protein from meat, as dogs would naturally choose. Look for chicken, turkey, beef, lamb and other quality protein sources. Protein provides essential amino acids, and every protein source varies in its availability – how easily it can be broken down and the amino acids utilized by your dog’s body.

Some proteins are healthier than others. Egg is the most biologically available, while common dog food ingredients like meat meal and bone meal have far less nutritional value than the meat itself.

An adult dog requires about 18% protein from their food intake, so roughly a fifth of all they eat should be a good source of animal protein.

Fruit and Vegetable Carbohydrates

Look for complex carbohydrate ingredients like sweet potatoes, squash, peas, pumpkin, beetroot and berries. Try to avoid foods with a high proportion of grains like wheat and corn in the first ingredients on the label. These are simpler carbohydrates and are higher in calories.

Video: How to know what dog food is best for your puppy

Good Fats

Not all fat is bad! A small amount of fat from sources like fish oils will provide omegas 3 and 6 which help keep your dog’s joints and eyes healthy, especially as they age. These good fats will also give him a glossy coat a healthy skin.

Adult dogs need about 10 – 15% of their food to be comprised of fats.

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