How to choose the best dog food? This is probably the first question a dog owner asks himself to ensure his faithful companion’s health and vitality. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of our 5 basic rules to help you choose the right dog food.
1. The price, the first indicator of quality
To make the first selection without needing more precise information, the price of the product is a good start. Just like for humans, the more noble the ingredients used in the recipe, the more important the cost. Conversely, a very cheap reference will not suggest quality raw materials. Be careful; the price alone is not enough because expensive kibbles are not necessarily synonymous with high quality!
2. Kibbles well adapted to his needs
Kibbles must take into account the breed, the physiological or dietary needs, but also the lifestyle of your pet. Is it a puppy or a senior? Is it a small or large breed? Is it spayed or neutered? Is it slightly overweight? Does he have any health problems? Is it active or a couch potato?
All these criteria should allow you to make a second selection and to choose only the kibbles that suit him.
3. A high protein content
Prefer kibble references with good protein content, at least 25%. But be careful; if this criterion is important, you should differentiate between animal and vegetable proteins. Dogs are carnivores and therefore need proteins from animal sources such as meat, fish, or offal, which are much more interesting nutritionally speaking than proteins from vegetable sources.
Also, if the quantity is important, so is the quality. To know the quality, it is necessary to refer to the list of ingredients. Vague names such as “meat“, without further clarification, or “by-product” are not a guarantee of quality because it means that the ingredients can be substituted, while a label that shows transparency by specifying the precise nature of the meat commits to using only that meat.
4. A little carbohydrate
If the protein level is often indicated, this is not the case for the carbohydrate level, which is commonly referred to as sugars. In kibbles, they are provided with ingredients such as cereals, vegetables, legumes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. This carbohydrate content, which you can easily calculate, should be around 20%. Why should this be the case? Because the dog’s metabolism is not adapted to assimilate carbohydrates in large quantities. Also, this can have a long-term impact on his health.
5. With or without cereals?
Cereals are the primary source of carbohydrates, so the ideal choice is a cereal-free product if your dog can tolerate them or one with a reduced rate. You should also avoid kibbles, where cereals are placed at the top of the list of ingredients, which means that their content is important in the recipe. Finally, beware of references that have all the cereal ingredients broken down in the list because their presence is high when added together.
Clearly identified foods
The best quality dog food can be distinguished from inferior dog food by clearly identifying all the ingredients, right down to the animal or plant species used. For example, if your kibble contains “animal fat” without any additional information, you can be pretty sure it’s pork fat! A serious manufacturer will always mention where the fats he uses come from and will not hesitate to put them forward.
The same goes for ingredients such as “dehydrated meat protein” or “dehydrated animal protein” you don’t know what quality they are; they could come from anywhere and refer to anything. That’s why you need to look at what animal these proteins come from, or at least the majority of animals, and what country these proteins come from.
Looking for help?
Do You live in Victoria? Are you looking for pet food? Then look no further than Ecopet. The leading pet food manufacturer and suppliers in Australia provide high-quality, fresh, and healthy food, including raw meat and cooked rolls. So, what are you waiting for? Give them a call today and start feeding your pet Australian-made pet food.