What should I feed my dog? This is a question that most people worry about when buying their first dog, but it’s also one that requires some flexibility.
A dog’s diet should be nutritious and well balanced, as a poor diet could have a profound effect on your dog’s health and also be the cause of behavioral problems.
There is evidence to prove that giving children too many sugary foods and soft drinks can have a detrimental effect on their health and teeth. I myself remember becoming incredibly hyperactive as a child after drinking a can of sugary drink, and unfortunately this can have a similar effect on our dogs as well.
Also, foods loaded with substandard meat, dyes, and sugars can trigger undesirable behavior in your dog, so it’s important to be mindful of what you’re feeding your dog. A healthier diet could mean fewer trips to the vet, a longer life for your dog, and less strain on your wallet.
There are so many different types of dog food on offer and it’s getting harder and harder to know which one to choose. There are the big brands advertised on TV, the unusual ones you only hear about from friends and family, the ones for sale at your local pet store, and the recommendations of your dog’s vet.
As dogs go through many stages in their life, it is important that you buy food suitable for growth (puppies), adult maintenance, gestation/lactation and senior (senior dogs). Certain foods can be used throughout your dog’s life, but read all labels carefully. And last but not least, consider your pet’s lifestyle, any medical conditions he may have, and his environment.
Another question that is often asked is ‘Should I feed him dry or wet food?’ The simple answer is whatever works for you and your dog, but there are some basic principles we should all keep in mind when choosing food for our best friend, as these can also have a direct impact on health and behavior.
Now I want to make it clear that I do not claim to be an expert in dog care nor have I studied nutrition extensively. Only through caring for my own dog, Lucy, have I been forced to address concerns about her food intake and the effect certain foods had on her behavior.
I met Lucy at the Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue center. After a series of visits, I was allowed to adopt her. I have no idea how long she lived on the streets, but what I do know is that she is a terrible scavenger. Having to fend for herself for a period of time obviously had an impact on her behavior.
Lucy is in the unique position of being totally obsessed with food but extremely picky. The countless times I’ve lovingly prepared food, put her down and watched her walk around it before walking away and then sitting in the kitchen doorway with that ‘So what else do you have for me?’
I’ve always been good at leaving food for 5 minutes and then, if he hasn’t eaten it, take it away. I would invariably end up throwing most of it away. This used to frustrate me a lot as the food was high quality and £50 a bag!
I have always been good to Lucy in the sense that I have never given her table scraps or any ‘human’ food, but her persistence in waiting for something else (wasting time there) always got the better of her. Now I have found a meal that really excites him and that is always over in 30 seconds.
Years ago, dogs were fed wet food, which is basically food you’d get in a can or package. Today it is about feeding dry kibble or a combination of wet and dry food. Some people also feed their dogs a BARF diet, which stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. This is basically bones (uncooked), raw meat and vegetables, etc.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to remember when choosing dog food to read the ingredient label on the back of the package.
Ingredients are listed in order from largest to smallest. So, for example, if you see that the first ingredient on the list is wheat, then you know that the food is efficiently made up of wheat. Personally I don’t think dogs should eat wheat as some can develop allergies the same way humans do plus when would a dog choose a wheat dish over steak?
You really need to see a pure meat listed as the first ingredient, such as lamb, chicken, beef, white fish, or salmon. Avoid meat meal or meat by-products.
We often see ingredient lists that begin with meat meal or meat by-products. Now, meat or animal by-products are basically the parts of slaughtered animals that do not include meat. For example, lungs, intestines, brain, blood, and spleen, to name a few, and none of them are “human grade,” meaning they’re not fit for human consumption. Meat and bone meal is also a low-quality food with questionable sources. It is also fed to cattle and was once cited as being responsible for the spread of BSE!
Make sure that the food you choose for your dog does not contain sugar. Dogs do not need sugar in their food. The addition of sugar has been added solely to make the food more palatable, but it will do nothing for your dog other than possibly make him hyperactive, overweight and could promote problems in the future. Additives and preservatives are also prohibited.
Some brands like to add color to their food to make it look more appealing, again this does no good other than possibly making the dog overly active and may even be carcinogenic.
If we directly compare two different brands of dog food, we can see quite clearly how they differ. I won’t say what the markings are, but it will illustrate the points I’m making above. Remember that the first few ingredients make up the bulk of the meal and the percentages are also important.
If you look at the first two ingredients in the first list below, you’ll see that we have grain (top) versus boneless chicken (bottom); meat and animal by-products compared to dehydrated chicken and boneless salmon. Further down, you can see that the food at the top has added sugars and EC additives, while no sugars, additives or preservatives are mentioned in the list below. I know which one I would rather be feeding my dog.
Common Dog Food Brands
Cereals, meat and animal by-products (minimum 4% of fresh meat in soft and moist grain, minimum 4% of beef in natural and brown grain); vegetable protein extracts; Oils and fats; derivatives of vegetable origin (0.5% beet pulp in natural and brown grains); various sugars; minerals; vegetables (minimum 4% vegetables in green and yellow beans). With antioxidants, colored and preserved with CE additives.
premium dog food brands
boneless chicken (25%); dehydrated chicken (17%); boneless salmon (10%); dehydrated turkey (7%); dehydrated herring (7%); russet potato; skin; sweet potatoes; boneless turkey (3%); whole eggs (3%); chicken liver (2%; boneless lake whitefish (2%); boneless walleye (2%); alfalfa; pea fiber; chicken fat (2%); organic seaweed; pumpkin; chicory root; carrots; spinach ; turnip greens; apples; blueberries; blueberries; licorice root; angelica root; fenugreek; marigold flower; sweet fennel; mint leaves; chamomile; dandelion; summer scent and rosemary.
Now you may think the second is a bit of a stretch, but it’s about a happy middle ground and if you have any behavioral issues with your dog, such as hyperactivity, it may be worth looking at what’s in the food you’re feeding them.
In the same way that we humans look at what is in the food we eat, we should do the same with our dogs.
It’s always a good idea to try using the food of your choice for six to eight weeks to see how it affects your dog. Things to watch out for are a shiny coat and a healthy looking pet. If the dog is producing a large volume of feces or has diarrhea, he may have trouble digesting his food. If your dog has skin, ear, joint, or other problems, try another food to see if there’s a connection.
Obviously, the natural ingredients of meat, fish and vegetables are good and wheat, sugars, dyes and additives are bad. I’ve only scratched the surface here, but I hope I’ve given you a few things to think about and at least made you look at the food you’re feeding a little more carefully.
There is a great site you should take a look at that lists most of the different dog food brands available. Each of these is reviewed in turn and given a star rating from 1 to 6. Take a look at where your foods rank, and if you’re at the bottom, consider moving to a higher rated brand. . You may see a big difference in your dog’s behavior and therefore experience a smooth relationship.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
