Choosing healthy food is complicated enough for people. For dogs, it can be even more confusing. How do you even navigate confusing pet food labels? What does “100% nutrition” even mean? Here’s a guide to help you pick the best food for your best friend.
Read Dog Food Labels
Dogs need the same kinds of nutrients that humans do, but the labels on dog food are much different than the nutritional labels on human food.
When you read the label on your dog food, you should look for the moisture content. If a dry dog food has 10% moisture, that means you have 90% dry matter. You will divide the percentage of crude protein, fat, fiber, and carbohydrates by the percentage of dry matter to find the real amounts of each nutrient.
Compare your findings to the tips below to select a healthy dog food for your pet.
Calories
Choosing the right amount of calories will keep your dog at a healthy weight. Larger dogs will need more calories than smaller ones. In general, small dogs that weigh less than 20 pounds should get 40 calories per pound. Larger dogs need 30 calories per pound.
Some dogs need different amounts of calories, though. Puppies need a more calorie-rich diet to support their growth. Active dogs also need more. Older dogs (dogs that have reached half of their life expectancy) need fewer calories, and overweight dogs should have their calories restricted.
The calories in your dog’s food will come from protein, fats, fiber, and carbohydrates.
Protein
A dog’s closest relative is a wolf, so it’s not surprising that healthy dog food needs plenty of protein. However, simply feeding your dog meat is not enough. Different dogs need different amounts of protein throughout their lives.
Most dog food contains around 25% crude protein, which is good enough for most dogs. A healthy adult dog only needs around 18% of their calories to come from protein. Puppies, though, need around 28% protein to help them grow, and their moms need the same amount to keep up with milk production. Dogs who are more active need higher amounts of protein, too.
Check the ingredients list for the type of proteins in the dog food to make sure your dog is getting the amino acids it needs. Meat, poultry, and fish and their by-products contain the best nutritional value. Meat and bone meal contain less nutritional value.
Fats and Oils
Fats and oils are an important component to a healthy dog’s diet. Dogs need essential fatty acids, especially linoleic, alpha-linoleic, and arachidonic acids.
A healthy adult dog’s diet should contain around 10-15% fat. Puppies and lactating dogs need a little more at around 17%, and highly-active dogs need even more than that.
Too little fat can cause skin problems and lackluster coats. Too much, though, and you put your dog at risk for digestive issues and weight problems.
Fiber
Fiber doesn’t give your dog energy, but it will help their digestion. Because fiber isn’t considered essential for dogs, there isn’t a recommended level.
Pets who have constipation or diarrhea issues may need more fiber in their diet. Older or overweight dogs may also be put on a high-fiber diet. Look for ingredients that come from plant sources like carrots, peas, and green beans. Starchy fibers may provide too many carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates
Just like in human diets, carbs are a bit controversial for dogs. In the wild, canines do eat a few carbohydrates, but they receive most of their energy from protein. However, carbohydrate energy is cheaper to produce than protein-based foods, so many dog foods are over 30% carbs.
For the most part, soluble carbs won’t harm your dog. Some dogs, though, such as dogs with diabetes or overweight dogs, should be put on a reduced-carb diet. Finding a food that is richer in protein, fiber, and fats will reduce the amount of carbs.
Vitamins and Minerals
It’s important to make sure that your dog’s food contains all of the vitamins and minerals it needs. Giving supplements that aren’t recommended by your vet can cause health problems. Too much calcium, for example, can cause bone problems. Too much iron can reduce the absorption of phosphorus.
The vitamins and minerals your dog needs are the same as what people need, just in different amounts. Macro-minerals dogs need are calcium, sodium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. They need iodine, iron, selenium, copper, zinc, and manganese in smaller amounts.
Dogs also need vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well B-12 to support healthy growth. A healthy dog food will contain all of these vitamins and minerals. Meat by-products like liver are a great source of these. Cooked eggs can also be added to your dog’s diet not only to support a healthy coat, but also to provide vitamins and protein.
Special Needs
Dog owners know that no two dogs are alike. There are many special cases when a dog might need a special diet. You should talk to your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s food or if you notice weight gain, weight loss, digestive problems, lethargy, or dull coats, noses, and eyes.
Remember: a healthy dog is a happy dog!