A balanced diet is key to keep your furry friend healthy and happy. At first, it might be tricky to find the best dog food for your puppy as there are so many available options on the market. And your choice should be based on many factors such as age, activity level, and breed of your pet. Feeding your dog with good quality foods might be expensive, though, but is it worth it? Of course! A better diet will positively influence their condition and eliminate the risk of serious illnesses in the future. You can avoid additional veterinarian bills by simply taking greater care of your dog’s meals.
There are six main factors we should take into consideration while choosing the most suitable dog food. We’ve prepared an easy to follow guide to help you make the right choice. Continue reading to find out more.
Dog’s Age
The dietary requirements of any animal depend on their age. This means that you have to look for food that will fulfill your dog’s nutritional needs adjusted to their age. In that way, you can be sure that all the minerals and vitamins essential for your pet will be included in their diet. For example, it is strongly advised to serve high protein foods to puppies as it supports muscle growth and the psychical development of your dog.
You don’t need to test everything and spend endless amounts of money on your pet’s snacks. Read reviews instead – it surely won’t be as effective as making a purchase but in-depth research will broaden your perspective on some dog food companies. You can start your search here: https://mysweetpuppy.net/simply-nourish-dog-food.
Activity Level
Pets who are consistently active will burn much more calories during the day than an at-home pet who only goes on walks. Athletic dogs need to have a lot of protein included in their diets to build and maintain their muscles. 25% of your dog’s meal should include protein, preferably of meat origin. If your dog is not too active, you might want to feed your furry fellow with food for weight management to keep them in shape and avoid health issues that could be caused by obesity.
The Breed
Some dogs need extra nutrition to reduce the risk of certain illnesses typical for the breed. For instance, Golden Retrievers can develop a serious joint disease if their diet contains too much calcium and too many calories. It means that dog food designed for this breed will have lowered numbers of certain minerals. Still, in most cases, foods for certain breeds might be more of a marketing trick than a necessity in your dog’s diet. That’s why it’s important to be well-informed and stay in touch with your vet.
Food Formula
Depending on your dog’s preferences, age, and dental health, you will have to choose between dry and wet foods. For example, soft snacks would be great for older dogs who might have problems with digestion and chewing. On the other hand, dry food is a pretty good option for puppies to soothe the itchiness while teething; it also supports healthy teeth of all adult dogs.
Size of a Pet
You can find many foods adjusted to dog sizes on the market. Is there any difference between them? Yes! When it comes to large breeds, they might benefit from dog food made with glucosamine, which supports joint health. Smaller furry friends might like kibble in small sizes so that it is easier to chew it.
Health Issues
Food has healing powers. For your dog, make sure to include ingredients that would support their immunity system to fight infections and diseases. It is also important to emphasize that you cannot replace medications with kibble. A balanced diet should fuel your furry friend’s body to give him enough energy in fighting the illness, but you can’t cure everything with good food.
In some cases, you might want to improve not only your pet’s meals but also the eating discipline as it can support digestion. For example, you can schedule ‘eating hours,’ with 2-3 hours breaks between the meals. Keep in mind that before making any major changes in your pet’s diet, you should contact the vet.
The Bottom Line
There are many factors to consider before buying food for your dog. It might take some time, research, and vet’s suggestions to create a perfectly balanced diet for your furry friend. You definitely want to invest in good quality food products and work on the discipline to implement healthy habits that will ultimately make your dog happy.
Search for ingredients that would support your puppy’s overall health and slowly implement them into their diet after consulting with the vet. It can be overwhelming at first but once you see your puppy untroubled, playing with their beloved ball in perfect health condition, you will know it was worth it.