Dog Food Basics

One of the questions at my job I get asked more than any others is what is the best food to feed my dog? I always respond the same way. I want you to tell me about your budget, needs, and lifestyle. I have always said that more expensive does not always mean better and one person claiming that they have the best dog food in the world may be true for some, but it may not be right for your dog. Food is individualized and unique and finding the food that works best for your pet can be difficult. Dogs with special needs or chronic conditions or sensitivities will need different concentrations of nutrients that dogs with no underlying health problems or sensitivities. One of the most important things you can do is consult with your veterinarian and staff at your local animal hospital and see what they say. If they are not asking you questions about your pet and your lifestyle, then keep shopping. Do not just buy their food because they say it is good.

For example, I would not recommend the same food to a geriatric or senior Chihuahua or Maltese as I would a young Labrador or Golden-Doodle. Different dogs have different needs and it is important to remember that when selecting a food. The only common advice I give when advising people to select a food is to please stay away from grain-free diets. Unless your pet has a diagnosed specific grain allergy that has been diagnosed by a veterinarian there is absolutely no point to be on a grain diet. There is no medical evidence stating that these diets are in any way better. Many of the small dog food companies that advertise grain-free use it as a marketing ploy to adhere to our sentimental side. They put colorful pictures of fruits and berries and raw meat or even wild animals on packaging to make us think our dogs need whole vegetables and raw meat. This is simply not the case. This appeals to our notion of thinking that our dogs are little humans and they need to eat the same food that we do. Again, this is not true. Dogs do not live in the wild. They do not have the same molecular and DNA structure as wolves, coyotes, or foxes and therefore would not survive long on the same diet.

Many health problems that people have with their dogs stem from feeding a poor diet. Now, by poor diet, I do not mean a cheap one. There are plenty of poor diets that are expensive and claim to be the best. But remember, just because it is the best for some, does not mean it is the best for everyone. I am in no way discounting smaller brands or boutique foods if your dog likes them and they live a long full life and they have no health problems. However, expensive boutique foods should not be the first thing you jump to when feeding your dog. The best food is relative to what works for your dog.

Coming back to the question of what food should I feed my dog? First, let's start with breed and personality. What kind of dog do you have? Is he a finicky or picky eater or does he eat anything? Is he a small breed or is he growing into a large or medium breed dog? What about his parents? What did they eat, and how long did they live, and what health problems did they have? The next question I will ask is tell me about your lifestyle and the lifestyle the dog will have. How active is your dog? Is he going to be a couch potato or is he hyperactive and running in circles around the house? Also, will you be taking him hiking with you or doing any extracurricular activities with him, or will he just be running around in the backyard or going for walks? Will he be getting neutered or fixed? The last question I ask is budget. How much is the maximum amount you are willing to spend every month on food? Do you have multiple dogs or just one? Once we have answers to all these questions then we can start to weed out foods.

For example, let’s say you get a new German Shepherd puppy. The first thing I would advise is to make sure you are feeding a large breed puppy food as it will have more nutrients required for optimal growth. Feeding a food that is for “ all life stages” will not have the necessary minerals and nutrients and combinations of proteins to support how quickly this breed will grow in a short amount of time. Different formulations of dog food exist for different reasons. The same rule applies if you got a Maltese or Yorkshire Terrier puppy. You would want a puppy small breed or small bite food so the kibble is easier to pick up and since these are not working dogs that will not get very big, they do not need the same amount of calcium and protein as our larger breed friends.

Breed is not the only factor. Age plays a large role in supporting nutrition as the pet gets older. This is why it is so important to feed diets for different life stages from puppy to adult to geriatric or senior and customize the food from there. For example, most dog foods are developed for puppies and adult foods but you have to pay attention to labels even more as your pet ages. Senior diets are important as they provide fewer calories to help keep from any additional weight gain. They may also be lower in protein as the dog may not be as active and they may also contain added ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin to help with joints and other senior-related problems. Something as simple as changing your dog's diet and eating habits can literally add years to their life and keep them happy and comfortable, which is the main goal. We want our pets around as long as possible and as comfortable as possible.

To achieve this we need to see food as medicine and not as a marketing ploy or a status symbol. Stop worrying about buying the most expensive food on the market because they claim to be the best. Truly good food does not need to advertise or put glossy pictures on the bag or spend thousands of dollars in marketing. They should be putting their money into research and improving formulations and making the food as palatable or tasty as possible so the pet wants to eat it while maintaining all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals needed for that specific pet. Be sure to pick a food that has nutritionists on the panel who develop the food. Look into their research and how long the company has been around. Are they new with little research to back up the claims they make on their bag, or have they been around for 50 or 60 years and still developing new ideas? Consistency and reliability are some of the most important factors when picking out a food. Do not be led in by your emotions in order to keep your dog as healthy as possible. Use your common sense and remember if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Also remember, when in doubt, consult your veterinarian or local vet staff. We do this for a living and are more than happy to direct you to a high-quality food for you and your best friend.