Talk Tuesday-How Do I Choose the Best Dog Food?

Picking a dog food can be a daunting task, especially with all of the brands and options out there. Luckily, there is a way to make it a bit easier. When choosing your dog's food, there are certain things you need to look out for to find the right food for your dog. Ask yourself the following 5 questions and you should be at least one giant step closer to finding the perfect food of your dog. 

1. How old is your dog? 

Your dog's age will be the first question to figure out when choosing your dog's food as many foods are made specifically for puppies, adults, or senior dogs. A puppy specific formula will have everything you need to support proper growth and health of your dog as an adult. Puppies often require a food with higher energy levels, whereas an adult dog might get a little overweight on this same type of food. Adult dogs usually require a "maintenance" stage. This means you want the dog to stay where it is; not too underweight, not too overweight. A basic "All Life Stages" dog food often works quite well for the average adult dog. Senior dog food will have added nutrients that will help support your pup's health as he slows down a bit. Look for a food with glucosamine and chondroitin to support your senior's hips and joints. Senior dogs are often less active, so a lower fat percentage is often found in senior dog foods as well. 

2. What is the breed and size of your dog?

Your dog's breed and adult size will also help determine what kind of food will be best to feed. If you have a large breed dog, oftentimes a dog that is 50lbs or more as an adult, a large breed food will have the best calcium:phosphorus ratio to support your dog's larger and longer bones. It is best to feed a large breed puppy formula and then transition your dog to a large breed adult formula around 12-15 months of age to best support their large structure. 

Small breed dog food is often made with smaller kibble pieces to accommodate tiny mouths. Oftentimes, small breeds are prone to dental issues and these foods will be able to help with that as well. Certain foods have specific kibble shapes to manually scrape the teeth as your dog chews. Other foods will have enzymes to soften the tartar and plaque on the teeth. 

3. Does your dog have any health factors to consider?

Just like people, some dogs have dietary restrictions or other health issues that may require them to have a specific diet. Check out a few common health issues below.

Obesity - A dog that is prone to obesity may benefit from a weight management formula. Weight management formulas often have a lower fat percentage than other formulas. They also often have a higher level of protein and fiber. A higher quality food may also help with these issues, as a higher quality food tends to have more digestible protein than a lower-quality food. A protein that is more highly digestible means the animal will have to eat less to get what they need from the food. Oftentimes, a cut back on treats will help as well, though your dog may not agree with this solution.

Joint Issues - Joint issues are more common in large breed dogs, but can also occur in other breeds and senior dogs as well. A food with added glucosamine and chondroitin can help alleviate some of these issues. Glucosamine and chondroitin are both naturally found in your dog's joints, and a food with these supplemented can help support joint health and reduce joint pain. 

Allergies - A dog with allergies to certain proteins may require a certain kind of food. Most dogs allergic to a protein will be okay with eating a food with different meat proteins. For example, a dog allergic to chicken protein will often have no issues eating a red-meat formula or a fish formula. Sometimes, a hypoallergenic or limited ingredient diet may be needed for a dog with several food allergies. Formulas with hydrolyzed proteins have proteins that have been made indetectable to the immune system, making them perfect for a dog with allergies as well.

If your dog has a history of illnesses like pancreatitis or diabetes, talk to your vet about your dog's specific nutritional requirements. Oftentimes, a food that is low in carbohydrates (for diabetes) or fat (for pancreatitis) can be fed to dogs with these health concerns. 

4. How active is your dog?

Much like life stage or size, activity level is a deciding factor when it comes to the formula you feed your dog. A dog that is less active will require a food that has less calories. These types of formulas are often lower in fat but higher in fiber, making the dog eat less but still have the feeling of fullness. Sometimes, a weight management formula is even needed for these dogs. A dog that is highly active will require a food with more calories, giving your dog more energy and preventing them from becoming overweight. A high-activity dog will need higher proteins to supply the much-needed amino acids to your dog's muscles. A diet with higher fat levels can often help a high energy dog. Addition of fish oils can also be beneficial.

5.  What is your budget and how much time/money do you want to invest in your dog's diet?

Your budget is a huge factor when considering a food for your dog. Oftentimes, a suitable kibble that is in your budget can be found with a bit of research and your answers to the questions above. Many dog owners will opt to feed a raw diet, but this does not fit every lifestyle. A raw diet will require much more money and time invested in order to do it properly. A kibble diet will require less time and investment. Both diets are completely suitable to feed to a dog with a little bit of time put in to finding the right one for you. 

We hope you enjoyed this blog, and we invite you to join Jen on instagram every Tuesday at 10am for our Talk Tuesday discussions.

Author - Paige Kennedy B.Sc. M.Sc.

After graduating from the University of Guelph with a B.Sc. in Animal Biosciences and an M.Sc. in Animal Nutrition, I really found my passion for learning as much as possible about our non-human friends. My experience ranges from hobby breeding and pet keeping to scientific research in the agricultural industry. At home, I’ve cared for cats, rats, hamsters, mice, freshwater aquariums, geckos...and even an axolotl! My job of researching pet care will never end and I hope to share it with all of our Amelia readers.