7 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Food

When choosing a dog food for your best friend,cancer in dogs.
there are a number of considerations to keep in• Check the label for the AAFCO
mind.guarantee. The Association of American Feed
Here's 7 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog FoodControl Officials works to insure uniform
for your dogstandards for dog food nationwide.
• You should select a super premium or• Check the expiration date. Some
holistic dog food that is nutrient rich and hasmanufacturers make these dates hard to read,
human grade ingredients. This means that the dogWhen in doubt ask the retailer to point out the
food is made up of food that is fit for humandate to you.
consumption. Most dog food is not. These dog• Consider making your own homemade
food brands will include necessary protein,dog food. This is an increasingly popular way
vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. They are alsoassure a healthy and nutritious diet for your dog.
made without the toxins and additives that canA couple of options for homemade dog food
be harmful to your dog's health.include: The Bones and Raw Food Diet also known
• Meat should be the first ingredient asas BARF and vegetarian dog food diets. You can
this is the primary ingredient in the bag or can.learn more about these diets at
Meat by products, and other nebulously describedIf you have any questions about the quality of
ingredients, when listed as a primary ingredientyour dog food you should consult with a holistic
should be your cue to pass on this dog food.veterinarian. Holistic vets are much more in tune
• Secondary ingredients should beto the benefits of a natural and nutritious diet
vegetables and rice. Once again, be wary of anythan many mainstream veterinarians who have
by product, meal or odd sounding term. If youhad minimal training in this area while in veterinary
don't know what it is, it's probably not somethingschool
you would want your dog to eat.This is not a jab at vets. Anyone who has
• Preservatives such as BHA, butylateddedicated their life to healing and saving animals
hydroxyanisole and BHT, butylateddeserves our support. It is simply an observation
hydroxytoluene are used some dog foodof which type of vet is the best resource in the
manufacturers including one that is a favorite ofall important area of canine nutrition and picking
many veterinarians The problem with thesethe best food for your dog.
preservatives according to some dog nutritionMy small 8 year old dog suddenly became ill and
experts is that these chemicals may beno vet could determine the cause. She died after
carcinogenic. Vitamin E & Vitamin C are naturalenduring 2 weeks of pain and misery on Mother's
preservatives and healthier for your dog. VitaminDay morning. Her life expectancy was 25 years.
C is also a powerful antioxidant that fights theDon't let anything happen to your best friend.
formation of free radicals and the onset of