Vet Blog

We all know that good nutrition is a key component of health, but deciding what to feed your dog is anything but easy. Owners have so many choices and hear so many strong opinions as to what is best that confusion frequently reigns. There is not one, correct answer to this question, but following some simple guidelines can certainly make the decision a lot easier.

Unless an owner is dedicated to preparing well-balanced meals from recipes designed by a veterinary nutritionist, feeding commercially prepared food is a wiser choice than is a home-cooked diet for dogs. It is deceptively difficult to prepare meals that contain the correct amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that pets require. Raw meats are best avoided because of the increased likelihood of salmonellosis and other food-borne diseases in dogs fed these diets.

Feed puppy food until your dog has reached its first birthday. Large breed puppies should eat food designed specifically for them to help prevent some types of musculoskeletal problems. The choice between dry, canned, and semi-moist foods is largely a matter of personal preference as all of these formulations can provide good nutrition to dogs.

Choosing between different brands is what seems to bewilder owners the most.Remember, no one food is the right choice for every individual, so even if your neighbor swears by brand “A,” this does not guarantee that it will work well for your dog. Keep in mind also that there is an element of “you get what you pay for” with dog food. At a minimum, make sure the food’s label states that it provides “complete and balanced nutrition” according to AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards. Look at the ingredient list. Better ingredients have names that sound like something you’d want to eat. For example, “chicken” is of higher quality than is “chicken byproduct meal.”

Finally, if your dog is eating a particular food and is thriving, stick with it. If, however, your dog does not seem to be doing well on a diet, even if it comes highly recommended, a switch might be in order.

Postby:
Jennifer Coates, DVM graduated with honors from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. In the years since, she has practiced veterinary medicine in Virginia, Wyoming, and Colorado and is the author of several short stories and books, including the Dictionary of Veterinary Terms, Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian.Dr. Coates lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, daughter, and a menagerie of pets.