How to pick the best dog food for your dog
Food is something that both humans and dogs need to survive and thrive. The pet food industry in the UK alone is worth £3.2 billion, and there is so much to choose from, how do you make the right decision for you and your pup?
First, take into account what age your pooch is. Dogs at different life stages need different nutrients to help with growth and maintenance, for example, puppies need more proteins, fats and certain vitamins and minerals to help with growing big and strong! Senior dogs need more fiber for their gastrointestinal health and less calories.
Next take into account the dog’s breed. You can buy breed specific dog foods or look specifically for dog foods that specialise in small, medium, large or giant breeds. If the food is dry food, the kibble size will usually correspond to the size of your dog, so a giant breed specific food will have large kibble. The pet food bag will also have a general guide of how much to feed your dog depending on the weight and age!
Next would be if your dog is pregnant, lactating or sterelised. A pregnant or lactating bitch will need more protein and energy in their diet whilst a neutered pooch will need less calories in their diet.
Finally you’ll need to consider if your dog has any allergies. They may need to have a hypoallergenic diet which will be specified by your vet or you can avoid certain ingredients.
With all these considerations, it can still be hard to choose. Money is also a massive factor and even though they are generally cheaper, I would recommend avoiding store-own brands and really cheap dog food as they often contain a high amount of carbs and low quality ingredients.
Instead I recommend taking into account all of above and popping over to https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/
This website breaks down the nutritional rating of a specific brand and product of dog food, how much it is per day to feed your dog with that food and gives you all the information you need to know before you decide to buy it!
The foods I personally recommend are Barking Heads Little Big Foot, a food high in protein and designed for big pups like my Sasha, and Simpsons Premium 80/20 for my Queenie. In regards to wet food, I recommend using Forthglade, which is high in protein and makes the dry food more palatable!
You can always contact your vets in regards to more indepth information about your dogs specific needs. Make sure your pooch gets regular exercise, always has access to fresh water, and has dog safe treats occasionally!
Just a quick note that DDD is not sponsored by any of the companies recommended above! My pups just really love these products and I wanted to share my personal recommendations!