3 Tips For Choosing The Right Dog Food

You want your dogs to live a long, healthy life, and that begins with feeding them the right food from a company like Scrappys Corner. Instead of just grabbing the first bag you see on the shelf, do your research and learn what food is best for your pup.

Know What Food Allergies Your Dog Has

To start with, figure out if your dog has any food allergies. These are among the most common types of allergies a dog can experience. You typically know your dog has allergies if it tends to get itchy after eating certain types of food. This might require some time to figure out exactly what the dog is allergic to, since it can be to wheat, eggs, diary, or soy. Some dogs are also allergic to grains like corn, or certain types of animal fat, such as from beef, lamb, or poultry. A vet can give your dog an allergy test to narrow it down a little more for you.

Read the Ingredients

Once you know what your dog is allergic to, you can then choose the right food based on its ingredients. You are not only ensuring the food doesn't have any of the dog's allergens, but that it has real meat and vegetables, not byproducts. Meat byproducts often contain various parts of an animal, such as udders, stomachs, and brains. Byproducts are unnecessary filler for a healthy dog food. When reading the ingredients list, look for meat or the primary vegetable in the first entry. The ingredients list is typically ordered by the highest concentration, so if chicken is the first ingredient, it is heaviest in chicken.  Avoid ingredients that sound like chemicals, preservatives, or something you can't pronounce.

Consider Your Dogs' Special Needs

Your dog might have some special needs aside from just food allergies or food preferences. You also want to consider their other needs and look for labels that are appropriate. For example, if you have a puppy, it needs to eat puppy food. Many dog brands separate their food based on the age of the dog, so don't get adult food for a growing puppy that has unique nutrient requirements. The same goes for a dog that is a senior and needs certain types of nutrients. Some other needs include a dog that needs vegetarian food or getting food for all life stages, which is good if you have multiple dogs of different ages.