The choices in dog food can be overwhelming. There’s food for small dogs and large dogs, thin dogs and fat dogs, couch potatoes and active dogs, and even food specific to a breed (such as Best Breed Dog Food). But, if you want to insure the best nutrition for your dog, choosing dog food from the array of healthy foods available is the best course.

Up the Ante

Luckily, healthy dog foods are easy to find today. Or, you can try making your own food with healthy dog food recipes. If you choose to do this, consult with your vet and do some research. There is a lot of information online and in books such as “The Whole Pet Diet.” Some things to consider for buying or making are:

–  Look for natural and/or organic ingredients. A dog food package with “Natural” stamped on it means nothing – there are no regulations in place to define this. So sifting through the ingredients is vital.

–  Avoid corn, cornmeal, soy and wheat. These are difficult for dogs to digest and can cause allergies.

–  Instead, choose your grains from barley, rolled oats, millet, quinoa, and brown rice.

–  Depending on your dog’s ability to digest, check the digestibility of the protein source. For instance, fish is more digestible than muscle and organ meats.

–  Check digestibility of the carbohydrate source. Rice is at the top, followed by, in part, oats and yeast.

–  Avoid animal-by-products which may contain heads, feet, and other animal parts.

–  Avoid preservatives and additives – they have been shown to cause health problems in dogs.

–  Look for Vitamin E and C; they are natural, healthful preservatives.

–  Look for Omega-3; it is good for your dog’s coat.

–  Some dog owners prefer to look for “human-grade” food in their dog food. This simply means the food is purchased from human-grade food facilities.

    Read the entire article on healthy dog food here…

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