| We all love our dogs and want to give them | | | | there are essentially two types of dry dog |
| the best life has to offer. But with so many | | | | food on the market: premium dog food and |
| variations of dog food in the market, it | | | | economy dog food. A smart owner will avoid |
| isn't always easy to identify the best food | | | | purchasing the economy food, which is made |
| for our dog. Who can possibly feel confident | | | | from lower grade ingredients (for example, |
| when so many brands trumpet buzzwords that | | | | economy dog food will often substitute cheap |
| hit the human aisles not long ago, such as | | | | corn for the more expensive meat byproducts). |
| "rich in antioxidants," "highly digestible," | | | | The "end" result, as it were, is that your |
| "Omega-3 fatty acids" and "Ultra Premium | | | | dog can't absorb many nutrients but simply |
| Formula"?What we can do, though, is to | | | | passes the food through his body. So in |
| conduct a simple dog food comparison to | | | | addition to enjoying less nutrition, your dog |
| determine which foods best fit our dog's | | | | will produce larger stools -- and you might |
| requirements and our personal schedule. | | | | find yourself with more frequent vet |
| After all, some foods offer much greater | | | | bills.Other Popular Contenders: Canned, |
| convenience than the more natural, less | | | | Semi-Moist and More |
| processed types of food which may require | | | | |
| freezing, thawing, cooking and | | | | Other categories of dog food include the |
| preparation.Convenience aside, the best food | | | | semi-moist type and canned food. Many owners |
| to give your dog depends not on the brand or | | | | like to mix in some canned food with dry |
| the style, but rather on your dog's age and | | | | food, to potentially cover more nutritional |
| any special requirements he might have. For | | | | bases without taking too big a hit to the |
| example, older dogs require food containing a | | | | pocketbook.Semi-moist food is attractively |
| careful balance of protein, fat and fiber. | | | | convenient to owners, and dogs love it. |
| Most commercial dog food companies address | | | | Unfortunately, it may cause dental problems |
| this need with offerings such as senior dog | | | | in the mid-term and worse in the long term, |
| food, containing about 18 % protein, and food | | | | because semi-moist food is loaded with corn |
| for dogs diagnosed with renal failure, | | | | syrup and other sugars, which dogs just |
| containing about 14% protein.Dare to Compare | | | | aren't designed to process.Recently, more |
| Dry Dog Food | | | | natural, "premium" dog food has been |
| | | | introduced to the market, in which higher |
| The vast majority of dog owners go for dry | | | | quantities of quality, nutritious ingredients |
| dog food. Between the supermarket and | | | | are used to manufacture the food -- often |
| specialty pet stores, owners enjoy many | | | | human-grade, in fact. Since vegetables, |
| brands to choose from. Dry dog food consists | | | | fruits, real meat and quality grains are used |
| of kibble typically made from one primary | | | | as the primary protein source in the |
| ingredient such as chicken, beef or lamb. | | | | highest-quality dog foods, these foods are a |
| More specifically, the main ingredient is | | | | fast route to healthy skin and beautiful fur. |
| usually a meat byproduct that's been | | | | For the most part, they contain no |
| processed, dried and sold in packs or bags | | | | artificial coloring and preservatives, but |
| for easy dispensing. Needless to say, meat | | | | are chock-full of vitamins and minerals |
| byproducts are far cheaper than meat, so this | | | | instead.Although this food costs more, you |
| type of dog food is not only easy to store, | | | | can feed your dog less of it, because it's |
| it's much less expensive than other | | | | more nutritionally dense. So in terms of both |
| types.Hard kibble comes with some advantages. | | | | convenience and nutrition, a premium, natural |
| For example, it gives your dog's mouth some | | | | dog food is one of the best choices available |
| exercise, and kibble's less likely to | | | | to your dog, whether off-the-shelf or |
| contribute to plaque than softer foods.When | | | | purchased online. |
| comparing brands, it helps to remember that | | | | |