Best Dog Food

Dog Food Best for Dogs

What is the Best Dog Food?
This is a popular question asked by dog owners.  A good response to this question is that the best dog food is a right and balanced diet that provides essential nutrients their bodies need to function, in the correct quantities and proportions.

Dry, Canned, or Soft Dog Food Types
Other than a homemade diet, there are different types of  commercially produced dog food. These include:

  • Dry Dog Food: which has 6 to 10 percent moisture. It is the easiest to feed and to portion-manage for specific mealtimes during the day.  It comes in many shapes and sizes and you can choose one that your dog prefers.
  • Wet Dog Food: which has 75 to 80 percent moisture.  Some dog prefer the palatability of wet or canned dog food. Once the can is opened, it is recommended to store the remainder of the food in a small food container for refrigeration.
  • Semi-moist or Soft Dog Food: which has 15 to 30 percent moisture.  Is convenient to use as feeding involves opening the dog food pouch and pouring it into the bowl.

Note that how good a dog food does not depend on the moisture content. Dry food is usually more convenient to feed larger dogs while wet food is usually tastier and more acceptable to smaller dogs.

One option for feeding your dog is to use a combination of dry, canned or semi-moist dog food each day.  

Other Dog Food Considerations:

  • Different dogs have different needs –  depending on many factors such as their size, activity level, health condition and stage in life,  so there is really no ‘one-size-fits-all’ dog food that is consider the best dog food.  Some dogs goes well on dry dog food, some need canned food or others. Also athletic dogs does need more protein and obese dogs need low fat. The dog food may need to help out with medical issues such as skin problems, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, arthritis or others.
  • The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles – Dog food should provide the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals as specified by AAFCO. Quality dog food all adhere to the nutrient profiles for dogs as provided. 
  • Look out for your dog’s allergies and sensitivities  – The right diet should not cause allergies. If your dog has allergies then you need to find food ingredients that do not cause them.  It might mean avoiding chicken, beef, grain or others. Hence, the more your know about your dog’s condition and intolerances, the easier it is to choose the right dog food.
  • Quality matters – Dogs seem to look and feel better on better quality food. Better quality brands has quality protein, fat, carbohydrate ingredients and less or no preservatives. Some of the popular quality dog food brands includes Blue Buffalo, Purina, Fromm, Royal Canin, Victor, Nutro, Orijen, Merrick, Diamond, Pedigree, Hill’s Science Diet, IAMS, Rachael Ray, Wellness, Natural Balance, Acana, Taste of the Wild, Canidae, Nutrisource, Kirkland, Beneful, Zignature, Nature’s Recipe, Eukanuba, Whole Earth Farms.

Quick Checklist
– To determine if your dog is getting what he needs:

  • He does not eat the food
  • He burps a lot
  • He constantly sheds
  • He has a dull coat
  • He is prone to ear and skin infections
  • He has no energy or is hyperactive
  • He frequently gets infections and his immune system becomes impaired.

All of these can happen with any dog, but occasionally. When one of more of these occur frequently, it’s time to find out why.

Dog Food Categories
Choosing the right diet for your dog may require some trial and error as there are many choices and brands available.

Based on our research and findings, we have categorised various types of dog food as below for your review. You can click on the specific dog food to go to each selection to find out more:

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