October 6th, 2010 by Jenny

You should always look carefully into the food that you intend to feed your dog before buying it. Inappropriate pet food can cause sickness and even death. You need to understand dogs’nutritional needs in general, the specific needs of your dog’s breed, plus any specific wellness issues or risks of your own animal. There are many products on the market today claiming to be good, healthy food for your pet, but you can’t always trust the salesmen.

For instance, Hills Science dog food, as you can infer from its name, is marketed specifically as a scientifically formulated, nourishing dog food that has been researched and produced with your dog in mind. However, many dog owners report cases of dogs vomiting regularly after beginning to eat Hills Science Diet, and some pets have had strong allergic reactions to some of the ingredients. For that matter, none of the first five ingredients are particularly healthy for dogs. Dogs don’t naturally eat corn, the first ingredient, nor soybean oil or beet pulp, and animal fat and chicken by-products are not things you’d feed your children, so why would you want to feed them to your beloved puppy?

One of the things important to take into account is the relative amounts of meat, grain and vegetables in the food. Canidae dog food has a respectable meat content, although it may not be as high as it once was. Meat “meals” are the best form of meat to look for in your dog food, rather than by-products and non-human-grade proteins. You should avoid food with high cereal contents, and all grains are not created equal. Look for whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal rather than corn, soybean or wheat products. Merrick dog food is also a good option. It contains quite a variety of vegetables, though it’s meat content is somewhat lacking. On top of looking at the types of food in your dog’s diet, you should consider other factors. Many people are now switching to dog foods that are entirely grain free. Others buy organic formulas that are pesticide-free and are also more environmentally responsible.

But don’t just listen to me. Do your own research on the internet and speak to a trusted vet. Look for trustworthy sources from which to get your information, just as you should when researching any topic. Yes, it’s good to look at the manufacturers’ websites, but you need information that is unbiased to go from. Check out websites created for dog owners by dog owners, or reputable organizations pages ending in .org.