This is probably the most common question clients ask me. Between commercial dry food, B.A.R.F diets and home-cooked food, dog owners are generally left baffled on where to begin. Over the next few blogs, I will be exploring which options are best for your dog as well as your pocket.
Walking through the Pet Food aisle at your local supermarket can be quite daunting. With so many brands of pellets to choose from, most pet owners are unsure of what to look for. Unfortunately the commercial pet food industry has come under a lot of scrutiny for creating heavily processed, grain based pellets. These foods are high in Carbohydrates and calories and contain artificial colourants as well as preservatives.
What to look for when choosing pellets:
Protein:
Avoid pellets that use alfalfa, wheat gluten and soya protein. Instead choose pellets that use meat as their source of protein such as chicken or beef.
Grains:
Most pellets are made with grains even though dogs do not need them. Look for pellets that contain barley, brown rice or rolled oats.
Fats and Oils:
Look for omega fatty acids that originate from animals instead of plants as dogs digest these more efficiently.
Preservatives:
Choose brands that use natural preservatives such as vitamins E and C and avoid preservatives such as BHA, BHT or Ethoxyquin.
When selecting a brand of pellets, it is important to remember that what may work for another dog may not necessarily be ideal for your dog. Some dogs may thrive on a specific brand yet your dog doesn’t. When changing to a new brand of food, remember to do so gradually to avoid an upset tummy.
List of Recommended Food Brands:
- Hills (Science Plan)
- Eukanuba
- Montego
- Royal Canin
- Ultra Dog
- Vets Choice Premium