Before the dog was domesticated, it naturally hunted and ate what was good for it. Today, our four-legged friends depend on us humans, which is why it is all the more important to look into the right food for our furry friends.
Inferior food can lead to long-term health consequences such as diarrhea or coat problems, which will be reflected in your vet bill sooner or later.
You can recognize good dog food by the fact that the ingredients are good and high-quality. However, do not be fooled by the manufacturers' catchy advertising slogans and read on to learn about important ingredients and quality features.
What should you look for in high-quality dog food?
An indication that it is good dog food is ingredients like muscle meat or high-quality protein sources such as eggs or liver.
Also pay attention to contents such as trace elements, vitamins, and the lowest possible carbohydrate content.
Gentle production of the food is also recommended to ensure that all important nutrients are retained.
If you are a true animal lover, also make sure that no animal testing was carried out for the food.
You are also welcome to experiment with different diets such as vegan or vegetarian. Always ensure that no artificial additives, colors, preservatives, or flavor enhancers have been added.
As a rule of thumb: High-quality dog food lists ingredients openly and does not hide them behind summaries like “meat”.
What should good dog food contain?
Regarding the ingredients of good dog food, there are some important components.
- a large proportion of meat usually serves as a protein source
- if grain is added, it should be buckwheat, amaranth, or millet
- fruit and vegetables can also be important ingredients
- high-quality oils and fats (e.g., salmon or sunflower oil)
- finally, the ratio of calcium to phosphorus is also important. A ratio of at least 1.2:1 is recommended here
Good to know: The more of a certain ingredient is contained, the further up it is listed. Find out more at tiere-online.de.
Why are the ingredients important?
Dogs primarily need a lot of protein because they move around a lot.
Grain, on the other hand, is less necessary. If you do feed it to your dog, pay attention to which grain it is. Some dog food contains soy, to which many four-legged friends are allergic.
In addition, the vitamin supply is also elementary, which is why fruit and vegetables are important ingredients. To be able to absorb these smoothly, a certain amount of oil should not be missing. This also ensures a shiny coat.
Beware of by-products
To avoid falling into the advertising trap of providers, you should know that ingredients are often formulated as appealingly as possible.
Because animal by-products often hide slaughterhouse waste, which does not count among the highest quality ingredients. Plant-based by-products such as peanut shells or awns should also only be present in very small quantities and not used as fillers.
How can you tell if the food is good for the dog?
If you want to know whether the food is really good for your four-legged friend, you can tell by the excrement. The better the food, the less waste. So, with one to two small piles of feces a day, you can assume that the food is easily digestible for your dog. Three to four looser piles, on the other hand, could be a sign that the food is rather poorly utilized.
The smell of the feces can also provide information about the quality of the food. If the food is good, the smell is usually much lower and more pleasant.
Dry or wet food?
The choice between dry or wet food depends individually on you and your dog. Some four-legged friends prefer fresh wet food, others are satisfied with dry food.
In terms of nutrient supply, both variants do not differ too much.
Only the water content differs depending on the type of food. Always make sure that your dog has enough to drink if it is fed dry food. Another option is to soak the dry food in a little water or broth.
But be careful: Avoid mixing dry and wet food in one meal, as both take different amounts of time to digest and can therefore lead to diarrhea.
