What Is The Best Dog Food? 3 Common Myths About Dry Dog Foods
Dog food is dog food in its purest form, which means it is food specially designed and intended exclusively for eating by dogs. Dogs are generally regarded as omnivorous species with a meat-based lean propensity. Although dogs can still eat fish and cereal products along with table scraps, dog food primarily contains meat as the main ingredient. The term dog food may be used interchangeably with dog food or dog treat. This article briefly discusses the basics of dog food so you can make an informed decision.
There are three categories of dog food. These categories are dry dog food, wet dog food and canned dog food. All three types have their own unique specifications, benefits and limitations. This article briefly discusses the three categories so you can make an informed choice regarding which type of dog food best meets your dog’s needs.
Dry dog foods consist of food that has been dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when moisture is removed from food while it is still at its raw (wet) stage. Wet dog foods lack the moisture and vitamins which are removed during the dehydrating process. Dry dog foods are also known to lack the beneficial ingredients which provide a balanced and complete diet for active dogs.
Soybean Meal is the main ingredient in most commercial dog foods. Soybean Meal is a by-product of genetically modified crops. Some dogs may be allergic to soybean meal, so it is important to check with your vet if you pet is prone to allergies. Soybean Meal is a high quality protein source and provides your dog with the essential amino acids, fatty acids and vitamins he needs to build strong bones and muscles.
Another important consideration when choosing what is the best dog food for seniors is to look at what is in the ingredients. Many commercial brands use meat meal as their primary ingredient. While this may be fine for some dogs, it is not the best choice for the long-term health of your dog. Veterinarians around the world recommend against feeding dogs meat because of its high cholesterol levels and lack of nutritional value.
Along with what is the best dog food for seniors, it’s important to look for a product which uses the best possible sources of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. High quality commercial dog foods which use soybean meal as one of its primary ingredients will provide your dog with all of the necessary vitamins and nutrients he needs on a daily basis. Not only do soybean meal and other organic sources provide your dog with vitamins A, B, C and E, they also provide him with zinc, iron, calcium, and protein. These nutrients help to build strong bones and muscles, along with improving the overall health of your dog. Also, these are all essential amino acids which are needed to maintain the overall balance of proper pH levels in your dog’s system.
There is also a correlation between dog food ingredients and dog health and the likelihood that your dog will develop heroin addiction or become addicted to another substance. As we have mentioned previously, studies have found that most people who are addicted to heroin do so unintentionally. Because dogs have no physical addiction to anything in this world, the chance that they will accidentally get addicted to something they come in contact with is extremely small. However, dogs do experience emotional addictions, just like people, when they are exposed to certain triggers such as the smell of new gasoline, the taste of new foods, or the sight of certain objects. If your dog is exposed to one of these triggers, it will no doubt feel a sense of pleasure or stress from time to time, depending upon its psychological makeup.
Finally, we always recommend trying to avoid processed foods whenever possible. If you do decide to feed your dog a processed product, please note that many veterinarians have begun to refer to these products as “chemical-free” because they lack the necessary vitamins, minerals, and protein that our dogs need to remain healthy. Dogs on a raw diet will often display the same kinds of outward signs as humans: lethargy, obesity, and excessive hair loss. While it may be true that dogs fed a primarily raw diet does not display the same health problems as their meat-fed counterparts, it is always good to try to feed your dog a healthy dry dog food, as well as making sure that he receives all of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and protein through a raw diet.