| When choosing a dog food for your best | | | | |
| friend, there are a number of considerations | | | | • Check the label for the AAFCO |
| to keep in mind. | | | | guarantee. The Association of American Feed |
| | | | Control Officials works to insure uniform |
| Here's 7 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Food | | | | standards for dog food nationwide. |
| for your dog | | | | |
| | | | • Check the expiration date. Some |
| • You should select a super premium or | | | | manufacturers make these dates hard to read, |
| holistic dog food that is nutrient rich and | | | | When in doubt ask the retailer to point out |
| has human grade ingredients. This means that | | | | the date to you. |
| the dog food is made up of food that is fit | | | | |
| for human consumption. Most dog food is not. | | | | • Consider making your own homemade dog |
| These dog food brands will include necessary | | | | food. This is an increasingly popular way |
| protein, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. | | | | assure a healthy and nutritious diet for your |
| They are also made without the toxins and | | | | dog. A couple of options for homemade dog |
| additives that can be harmful to your dog's | | | | food include: The Bones and Raw Food Diet |
| health. | | | | also known as BARF and vegetarian dog food |
| | | | diets. You can learn more about these diets |
| • Meat should be the first ingredient | | | | at |
| as this is the primary ingredient in the bag | | | | |
| or can. Meat by products, and other | | | | If you have any questions about the quality |
| nebulously described ingredients, when listed | | | | of your dog food you should consult with a |
| as a primary ingredient should be your cue to | | | | holistic veterinarian. Holistic vets are much |
| pass on this dog food. | | | | more in tune to the benefits of a natural and |
| | | | nutritious diet than many mainstream |
| • Secondary ingredients should be | | | | veterinarians who have had minimal training |
| vegetables and rice. Once again, be wary of | | | | in this area while in veterinary school |
| any by product, meal or odd sounding term. If | | | | |
| you don't know what it is, it's probably not | | | | This is not a jab at vets. Anyone who has |
| something you would want your dog to eat. | | | | dedicated their life to healing and saving |
| | | | animals deserves our support. It is simply an |
| • Preservatives such as BHA, butylated | | | | observation of which type of vet is the best |
| hydroxyanisole and BHT, butylated | | | | resource in the all important area of canine |
| hydroxytoluene are used some dog food | | | | nutrition and picking the best food for your |
| manufacturers including one that is a | | | | dog. |
| favorite of many veterinarians The problem | | | | |
| with these preservatives according to some | | | | My small 8 year old dog suddenly became ill |
| dog nutrition experts is that these chemicals | | | | and no vet could determine the cause. She |
| may be carcinogenic. Vitamin E & Vitamin C | | | | died after enduring 2 weeks of pain and |
| are natural preservatives and healthier for | | | | misery on Mother's Day morning. Her life |
| your dog. Vitamin C is also a powerful | | | | expectancy was 25 years. Don't let anything |
| antioxidant that fights the formation of free | | | | happen to your best friend. |
| radicals and the onset of cancer in dogs. | | | | |