There are
hundreds of types of dog food on the market today. They have a broad
range of prices with the most expensive being labeled “Premium Dog
Food”. Is premium dog food really any better than regular dog food? Is
it worth it to spend the extra money?
The answer to that question is the same as the answer to all the great
questions of the world – “it depends”. While you can usually count on
premium dog food being better than cheap dog food, there's still lots of
differences between various brands of premium dog food.
You Are What You Eat!
Dogs are carnivores - they need meat to thrive. It's true that you can
feed a dog a vegetarian diet, but her entire digestive system is
designed to extract nutrients from meat. When looking for a
good-quality premium dog food, make sure that meat is the first
ingredient.
Don't be fooled, though. Some manufacturers are deceptive in their
labeling practices. Ingredients are listed by weight, so even though
meat may be the first ingredient, if the second and third and fourth
ingredients are some kind of wheat product there's probably more grain
than meat in your “premium” dog food.
When looking at premium dog food labels, see if there is any mention of
meeting AAFCO standards. The Association of American Feed Control
Officials Incorporated has a set of guidelines for nutritional qualities
of pet foods. A premium dog food can be labeled "complete and
balanced" if it meets the requirements of the AAFCO. Most researchers
regard these requirements as a bare minimum for maintaining the health
of a cat or dog, but it's a good start.
Most pet foods are highly processed and contain a number of ingredients
that are unfit for human consumption. Even though the label may say
“Premium Dog Food” it is no guarantee that the food is going to maintain
your dog's health. Pet food manufacturers are allowed to include meat
from diseased animals which may contain residues of antibiotics and
other drugs. Moldy grain products could also be used in pet foods.
Needless to say, these kind of substandard ingredients are not good for
your dog! All kinds of diseases and chronic conditions such as bladder
and kidney stones, skin disease, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease
can be linked to pet food ingredients. Be careful when choosing a
premium dog food!
What is the dog lover to do? When buying a premium dog food look for
the AAFCO guarantee. It should be based on “feeding tests” or “feeding
protocols” rather than “nutrient profiles”. Avoid dog food that has
“byproduct meal” or “meat and bone meal” as these are the cheapest
sources of protein.
Make sure that there is a specific type of meat as the first ingredient.
The label should read “lamb” or “beef” rather than a generic term
“meat”. Avoid premium dog food that uses byproducts as the only source
of animal protein.
If you buy a bag of dry premium dog, when you bring the food home open
the bag and have a sniff. If you detect a rancid smell you should
return the bag immediately for a refund or exchange. Keep the food
stored in a cool, dry location to minimize food spoilage. If you buy
canned food, it's better to remove it from the can and keep it stored in
a glass container in the refrigerator.
I hope this article was able to offer you some insight and information on premium dog food...