We all love our precious pooch and want them to be as healthy as possible, we would threat if we knew the diet we were giving them was causing them pain, health conditions and weight gain wouldn’t we? But many owners tend to buy a brand they are familiar with, or a cheap dog food that’s conveniently in their local supermarket, rather than pick a brand because it is the best dog food that’s healthy. So how do you choose and switch to a dog food that is healthy for your dog?
Dog Food That’s Healthy
There are several factors involved in selecting a dog food that is healthy which I will discuss in a minute, but first of all how would you know if your dog is suffering from poor diet at the moment?
A dog with poor health likely due to their diet will have digestive issues, often flatulence, bloating, vomiting, and bad breath. In addition to that they will likely have dry skin conditions, as well as a dull coat, lack of energy and weak immune system. If this describes your dog, and you’ve visit a vet who can’t find anything wrong with them then it’s highly likely that the dog food you give them is either of very poor quality, or it contains foods that your dog is allergic to or intolerant towards.
Identifying a High Quality Dog Food
How can you know the difference between a low quality and a high quality dog food. Well for starters the old adage of “you get what you pay for” applies as much to dog food as it does to our own food. Buy cheap and the food will be packed with cheap ingredients which often include potato, grains, rice, cheap meat cuts, and starchy vegetables. While these do provide the nutrients your dog needs, just like humans they need the right mix of quality ingredients to flourish. Dogs need food high in protein rather than carbohydrates, and more expensive meats such as red meats, fish and game are better for digs because they have higher protein levels plus essential vitamins, minerals and oils.
Dogs digestive systems struggle with carbohydrates and also carbohydrates encourage dogs to feel hungrier quicker, so they eat more, gaining weight.
Excluding Foods Your Dog is Intolerant To
The most common foods that create an intolerance or allergic reaction in dogs are wheat gluten, corn, chicken, soy and potatoes. Look in the ingredients lists of most common dog foods brands and you will likely find these are some of the main ingredients. Hypoallergenic dog foods eliminate these foods which most dogs are intolerant of, and replace them with healthier better quality alternatives, especially high protein meats.
By eliminating these allergens you will likely find that your dog’s health improves greatly, and combine that with switching to a higher quality dog food which has a higher mix of proteins you will find that your dog will start to enjoy eating again, and many of the health problems they had will clear up.
