Posted by dogs | Posted in Dog Supply | Posted on 22-11-2009
At last, you have a welcome addition to the family in the form of a dog, but where do you go from here? What food you should feed it? You’re torn between going down the raw meat diet or trying a commercial dog food brand. Naturally, you want to make sure you get the best dog food for your pet, so it is useful to know which route to head down.
Dogs are omnivores which means they require meat, fibre, and other nutrients to stay healthy. Every dog has its own nutritional requirements, and the vet will be able to advise about what is best for your pet.
If you choose to feed your dog a commercial based diet, it is very important to choose the best dog food around. You want to make sure that a good quality protein source such as lamb meal, chicken meal, or turkey meal is the number one ingredient. Stay away from foods that list a grain as the number one ingredient or contain lots of preservatives.
Of course, there are some people that prefer to feed their pets pure raw food. Typically, the raw food diet contains raw animal bones and offal, as well as eggs. People claim this works wonders for their pets, but this isn’t always the case with every dog, since every pet is different.
Pros and Cons
The best dog food names on the market tend to come from heavily commercialised brands and thus they can be trusted that the products contain all the necessary ingredients to keep a dog healthy. The commercial dog food names are popular because they are easy to buy and serve, whereas obtaining raw food for your pet can be quite difficult.
Proponents of commercial dog food say that as dogs are omnivores, it is only natural that they require the nutritional benefits of grains. Some people are sure that a raw food diet does little to help keep their pet healthy.
People who feed their dogs raw food diets feel that nature intended for animals to eat their food raw and that cooking damages the chemical makeup of foods and that cooking the food actually damages an animal’s immune system.
Those that feel that commercial food is the way to go, claim that there is no difference between cooking the animal’s food and cooking human food. All of the nutrients are still active in cooked food providing healthy meals for animals.
Ultimately, it is your decision about whether to look for the best dog food brand or just to head down the raw food diet. You should also consult your veterinarian for his recommendation on diet.