===========The Scoop on Premium Dog Food========
If you’re interested in premium dog food, then you probably don’t have to tell you about the importance of diet to keep your dog active and healthy. You already know you want better than “average” for your furry friend.
But how much do you really know about what’s in a premium food and what your pet’s particular needs are? I’m not a vet, but I know a thing or two about health and nutrition. (As a family dentist practicing for twenty years, I saw firsthand the effects of poor eating habits on human health, and particularly human teeth!).
Just like you, your dog has to deal with the effects of stress, age, exertion, a polluted environment, and food grown in nutrient-depleted soil. Unlike you, you have to get virtually all of your nutrition from a single food. Sure, you can give him a few treats or an occasional meal (not too many, I hope!), but otherwise, he’s eating out of the same bag or can day after day. He wants you to get complete nutrition from that food.
===========Complete nutrition?===============
Even the experts seem to disagree on what exactly is complete nutrition. Perhaps this explains why there are so many premium dog food formulas out there. However, there is one thing they do agree on: premium dog food is better for your pet than economy and grocery store brands. Although you will pay more, it is generally true that you get what you pay for.
Experts also agree that because premium foods are more nutritionally dense and easier to digest, your dog will not need to eat as much. One study even concluded that if he fed his dog the amounts recommended on each package, he would end up saving money on premium formulas. That’s because your dog needs to eat much less. (You’ll also save on poop collectors!)
Another way to know if your dog is receiving an adequate diet it’s just watching it. Is his eyes bright, his coat silky and shiny, and his skin free of dryness and itchiness? Are you at a healthy weight? What about your energy level? This can vary from animal to animal, but as you get to know yours, you’ll know when your dog isn’t feeling up to it.
Of course, any lingering health issues should be investigated by your vet, and the same goes for any special dietary needs. But overall, you’ll know if your friend is doing well on the diet you’re giving him. If he sees signs that he isn’t, try a different formula or another brand of premium dog food.
Introduce new foods gradually, especially if you are a picky eater. And while we’re on that topic, it’s always good if your dog likes to eat his food. This has much less to do with taste than smell. Dogs have fewer taste buds than we do, but about 40 times more odor receptors. So make sure you eat with gusto and don’t just pick at your food.
Here are some basic guidelines you can follow:
=============essential nutrients==============
Every dog needs the right amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Your dog must have all of these in the correct proportions to stay healthy. Needs vary by stage of life, race, and activity level. Dog food companies make premium dog foods for all life stages, from puppies to seniors. An average adult dog needs a daily intake of approximately five ounces for every ten pounds of weight, with essential nutrients in the following ratios:
protein –23% of total intake
fats –5% of total intake
carbs –65% of total intake
Additional vitamins and minerals your dog needs are: vitamins A, D, E, B-complex, niacin, biotin, folic acid, choline, and pantothenic acid; Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium chloride, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine and selenium.
It is generally accepted that dogs do better on a protein source that is primarily meat rather than soy and grains. Check the label. All US food labels must list ingredients in order of quantity. If meat by-products are listed, they should be listed after the actual meat, not before. Meat by-products are an inferior source of protein and are basically what is left over after good quality meat has been removed. “Crude protein” can be a similarly poor source, as it can include parts of the animal that can’t even be digested or absorbed by the average dog (hair, beaks, etc.).
omega fatty acids they are a hot topic in human nutrition these days, and have been found to be just as important in the canine diet. Both must be present, and in the proper proportion. Most premium dog food companies have researched this and adjusted the ratios, but as usual, ask your vet if you’re unsure.
===========Wet vs. Dry=============
You can buy premium dog food in almost any form, but which is the best? Once again, most experts seem to agree. Dry foods are less likely to allow plaque to build up on teeth, are less likely to harbor bacteria if left out too long, and result in firmer, more compact stools. Semi-moist foods are convenient but for some reason (not sure what) they don’t offer the same nutritional benefits as premium kibble or canned foods.
That said, I’ve also heard arguments suggesting that an all-dry diet can be a strain on a dog’s kidneys. So to be sure, check with your vet.
===========Stages of life=============
puppies they need more calories and essential nutrients than adult dogs. They need up to twice the calories per ounce of body weight and must get 25% to 30% of their energy from protein, depending on the breed.
Most premium dog food brands take this into account in their puppy formulas, but it doesn’t hurt to check the label. By six to eight weeks of age, a pup should be fully weaned and eating its dry food consistently. After that, different breeds reach their mature weight at different rates, between 9 and 24 months of age. Therefore, it is difficult to give an age or weight at which you should withdraw your pet from puppy food. Again, your vet can help here.
Also, remember not to try to “speed up” the growth process with overfeeding. If it grows too fast, a dog can develop diseases of bone growth. A puppy should get three to four meals a day because he is growing fast but still has a small belly, but don’t overdo the portion sizes.
adult dogs need to eat according to their size and energy requirements and should be fed two meals a day. Premium dog food companies frequently refer to this as a “maintenance diet.”
Unlike cats, dogs are not strictly carnivorous. In fact, a dog is more like an omnivore and will eat almost anything, whether it’s good for him or not! A certain amount of plant matter is part of a dog’s natural diet. Dogs love vegetables like broccoli, carrots, zucchini, peas, and beans, and fruits like bananas, apples, and melons. These are also great low calorie snacks!
One thing you should never give your dog is chocolate, as it contains a chemical called theobromine that is toxic to dogs.
Senior Dogs need a premium quality dog food to help prevent and control the effects of aging. Since different breeds vary so much, it’s hard to give an age at which you should switch to a senior diet. The ASPCA recommends using weight as a guide and offers the following:
Small breeds or dogs weighing less than 20 pounds: 7 years of age
Medium breeds or dogs 21 to 50 pounds: 7 years of age
Large breeds or dogs weighing 51 to 90 pounds: 6 years of age
Giant breeds or dogs weighing 91 pounds or more: 5 years of age
The ASPCA recommends that you start dealing with the symptoms of old age before they are obvious. Just like us, dogs will start to pack on more body fat as they age, even though they consume fewer calories. (At least we’re not alone!). Muscle mass will tend to decrease, but this does not mean that you should reduce your senior dog’s protein intake. If anything, protein is more important than ever to help maintain muscle mass, so avoid reduced-protein senior dog food formulas.
One thing you will want to feed less is calories. Obesity is a real problem in adult dogs, and many owners don’t even realize their dog is overweight. Aside from serving size and calorie content, one way to prevent a dog from becoming overweight is to resist giving him table scraps. Most human foods are not good for your dog.
===========how much to feed=============
How is your dog’s weight? You should be able to feel your dog’s spine and ribs with light pressure from your fingers, but not actually see them. If you have to “dig” to find them, your dog is overweight and if you can actually see his ribs, he is underweight.
If you’re not sure how much to feed, you’ll love the Interactive Dog Food Calculator on the PetsMart home page! It is the result of considerable research that has been published in scientific journals and accepted by industry experts. You can determine the correct amount of food to feed your dog and find out how long that 40 pound bag will last!
===========supplements=============
If you are ready to feed a nutritionally complete premium dog food, do you still need supplements? This is another hotly debated topic. As a general rule, it seems that most dogs do fine without supplements. For certain dogs and certain conditions, supplements can make all the difference. For example, a dog that is not thriving and there is no other medical explanation for it might improve with supplementation. However, dogs with certain skin conditions have been known to improve with supplementation. Since there is a danger of doing more harm than good, you should definitely discuss supplements with your vet.
If you decide to use one, choose one that is made from natural sources and is designed as a multivitamin formulated specifically for dogs. That way you will get everything in the correct amounts and proportions. Add it to the diet twice a week so it doesn’t overwhelm or suppress your dog’s own internal regulatory mechanisms.
======Special Diets===========
There are many reasons why a dog may be put on a special diet. Some dogs are very sensitive to certain ingredients in commercial dog foods. Even if you are feeding him the best premium dog food, if your dog is not thriving, his diet may be a problem for him. Owners have turned to alternative diets (holistic raw foods, even kosher) to optimize the health of their pets. Some choose these diets simply because they think they are better, not because their dog has a problem.
We will discuss special diets in a future article. By now, I hope you’ve gotten some helpful insights into the benefits of premium dog food over budget brands.