With so many different brands, labels, and even contradictory views on what constitutes good dog food floating around, it may be hard to understand how to choose dog food. Learning how to choose dog food doesn’t mean obtaining a degree in nutrition – just a basic understanding of a few factors that really matter. Let’s explore how to choose dog food.
Step 1: Make Sure the Nutritional Requirements Match the Life Stage
Here is the first step in learning how to choose dog food correctly:
- Puppy food contains more calories and proteins than others to ensure normal growth
- Adult food provides well-balanced nutrition for fully-grown dogs
- Senior food usually contains fewer calories and some joint-support elements
Keeping an adult dog on puppy food long-term leads to obesity.
Step 2: Think About Breed Size
Larger and especially giant breeds have different calcium/phosphorus balance than smaller ones. It is important especially for growing dogs. There are many high-quality dog foods that take this difference into consideration.
Step 3: Learn to Read the Ingredients Correctly
This step is a valuable piece of advice on how to choose dog food:
- Check whether the first items in the list are named sources of protein (e.g., chicken, lamb, fish)
- The food should not contain mostly protein of unclear origin (“meat by-products”)
- The presence of whole grains such as rice and oats is perfectly fine for most dogs
Step 4: Make Sure There Is a Certification
It is recommended to buy the food that satisfies AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards of nutritional value or is compliant with FSSAI requirements for Indian brands. They ensure the food you get is complete and balanced.
Step 5: Think About Your Dog’s Requirements
- For dogs with sensitive skin or allergies choose limited ingredient food
- For dogs with digestion issues grain-free and easily digested foods can be considered
- For active dogs a food high in protein/fat will be beneficial
Step 6: Compromise on Cost
Every dog does not require premium quality food, but low-quality food has too many fillers in it. The solution is to go for a compromise, i.e., a middle way between expensive and cheap AAFCO compliant food.
Combination of Homemade and Commercial Dog Food
Homemade food can easily be combined with commercial food provided the transition is gradual and you do not combine two foods that are high in the same ingredients like calcium or vitamin A.
Conclusion
How to choose dog food is a question of matching food to the dog’s life stage, size and needs, not following fashion trends. With a bit of understanding how to read labels, you can make a truly informed choice about your dog’s nutrition. To find more basics, you can refer to our puppy training guide.
In case your dog has any particular health condition, consult your veterinarian before selecting a dog food.
