What
Does Your Dog Food Need To Be Healthy?
By Lori Matthews
When you think about it, what does your dog need
from its food in order to be healthy?
Today our pets have a wide variety to meet their tastes and
needs and we have our choice of what kind of food we can choose
to feed them. Despite the variety, pet foods usually fall
into three major categories. These categories are: Grocery
store foods, these types of dog and pet foods are usually
found in grocery stores and mass marketed retailers and can
contain lower quality, less expensive ingredients. The second
category is “premium dog foods,” which can also
be found in grocery’s stores but are also found in pet
stores and through your local veterinarian’s office.
These types of foods are usually made from some higher quality
ingredients and are usually made evident by the expense of
the food. Some of these pet foods though can contain lower
quality ingredients that you aren’t aware of. The third
and final category is healthy dog foods which are a relatively
new addition and make use of the latest research into the
best foods and blends for your pet.
So what is best for our pet
and how do we choose the proper dog food?
Quality, healthy ingredients make quality,
healthy dog food. Nutrition is important no matter whether
you’re a person or a pet. Pets, just like humans, need
good nutrition not just to survive but to truly be healthy.
They need good quality protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals,
and fats. This is where premium, healthy dog food can benefit
your pets.
Typically, healthy dog food contains quality protein, good
quality carbohydrates and fiber, natural fats and preservatives.
The protein does not come from dead or diseased animals and
you will never see the word by-product on the label. By-products
(feet, bones intestines, etc) are inferior protein sources
that are sometimes used and can be very hard for your dog
to digest. Less digestion means less nutritious and therefore
not as healthy. Quality protein helps build and maintain muscle
strength.
If you see corn, soy or wheat used as protein sources instead
of meat, you now know your pet isn’t getting healthy
dog food. Good quality carbohydrates give your pet the energy
to be active. Good fiber sources help promote a healthy digestive
system and colon. Quality fats from animal sources contain
omega fatty acids that benefit the skin and coat.
Believe it or not dog food manufacturers that label their
bags "premium food" use these ingredients as well
as chemical preservatives and artificial colors that can be
harmful to pets.
Benefits beyond healthy nutrition
When your pet is eating right, it feels better, giving you
a happy and more playful companion, fewer trips to the vet,
and less wasted food. Ultimately, giving your pet better food
might seem expensive initially, but keeping your pet healthy
saves you money, time and expense in the long run. Healthy,
premium dog food can possibly extend the life of your pet
giving you more quality years together.
About the Author:
Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and
wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people
and pets. Please visit http://www.premium4pets.com
for more information.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
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