As a pet owner, you must keep your dog healthy by giving him high-quality food. This will make his coat sleek and shiny, boost his immune system, and keep his digestive system in excellent health.
However, finding the right dog food for your pet is not easy because there are several options you have to choose from. Here, pet food delivery company Pet’s Delight shares the three best practices for finding the right dog food in Dubai (or wherever you reside).
1. Follow your vet’s dietary recommendations
The physical characteristics, overall health, and behavior of your dog will serve as crucial factors when choosing the right food for him. Thus, it is highly recommended that you let your vet perform a body condition evaluation. This is the best way to ensure that the weight of your furry friend is on track.
Take note as well that there are some dogs that require special food. For instance, senior pets will need fewer calories each day, while lactating mothers and puppies will require more. Likewise, highly active breeds need more calories than those that are not that active.
Your vet is your best partner in determining the right amount and type of food that your dog needs to prevent health issues caused primarily by malnutrition.
2. Read the food label
In the same way that you read labels when choosing a dietary supplement, paying close attention to labels on pet food packaging is an excellent way to pinpoint the best products. Don’t let the small print hinder you from reading the label because it’s best to know what’s in the food you will be giving your dog.
Ideally, a dog food label will include the following information:
● Name and net weight of the product
The name of the product will tell you a lot about the merchandise.
The term “beef,” for instance, will mean that the product is 70% made of beef. On the other hand, the terms “beef entrée,” “beef dinner,” and “beef platter” mean that the product is made up of at least 10% beef. And if the product contains less than 10% beef, you will read the terms “with beef” or “beef flavor” on its label.
● Manufacturer’s name and address
All dog food products have a manufacturer. A high-quality product will include not only the name of the manufacturer but also its address. Expand your knowledge about the manufacturer by doing research on them online.
● List of ingredients
The list of ingredients won’t inform you of the quality of these ingredients or where they’re sourced from. Instead, it tells you what is in the dog food. So if your dog has allergies or special dietary needs, checking the contents of the product is even more important.
Another crucial consideration is the product’s first ingredient. The best dog food has meat or meat meal as its first ingredient instead of a vegetable or grain. Meat contains essential amino acids that will help make your dog healthy and strong.
On the other hand, grains and veggies contain high amounts of carbohydrates that can do more harm than good. Studies have shown that the consumption of large amounts of carbohydrates can significantly reduce the availability of the essential vitamins found in meats. So stay away from dog foods that contain high levels of grains and carbs.
● Guaranteed analysis
A guaranteed analysis will list the maximum amount of moisture and fiber and the minimum amount of fat and protein, both by percentage. Moreover, this provides a measure of nutrient categories, but doesn’t indicate the ingredient’s digestibility or quality.
● Nutritional adequacy statement
The nutritional adequacy statement will inform you if the product is intended for all life stages, for reproduction and growth, or for adult maintenance only.
● Intended animal species
The product label must inform you if it is specifically for dogs, cats, horses, birds, fish, or reptiles.
● Feeding guidelines
Every dog is different. The feeding guidelines will inform you of the quantity of food you must give your dog and how frequent the feeding should be. But remember that the feeding guidelines provided by the manufacturer must only be used as a starting point. Crucial factors like your dog’s health, age, behavior, and reproductive status must also be taken into consideration.
3. Do your homework on different brands
Pet food labels do not include information on sourcing and quality control during the manufacturing process. Thus, it is your responsibility to check the brand’s website or call the manufacturer’s consumer relations.
Reputable manufacturers will be happy to engage with their customers. Check also if they have their own manufacturing facility because this means that they produce safe food for your furry friend.
Choosing the right food for your dog can be stressful because of the endless choices you have to select from. This can be made a lot easier by asking about your vet’s dietary recommendation, reading the product labels, and doing thorough research on your chosen pet food brand.
AUTHOR BIO
Farah Al-Khojai is the Managing Partner of Pet’s Delight. A passionate entrepreneur, Farah holds a Bsc in Government from the London School of Economics. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to develop and grow the pet and equestrian retail and wholesale market in the UAE and beyond, and is proud to be at the helm of the first and the largest pet care provider in the market representing world-class brands including Orijen, Applaws, Hunter, Savic, Flamingo, Ruffwear and Rogz.