Choosing the right dog food

Choosing a dog food can be a confusing and overwhelming task with all the brands and formulas there are to pick from. Many companies are making foods for different life stages and advertising things like ‘natural,’ ‘premium,’ ‘organic’ and ‘healthy formula.’ What does all that mean and how do you know which food is the best choice for your pooch?

The pet food scare of early 2007 that sickened and killed many dogs and cats with contaminated foods has prompted consumers to look closely at what they are feeding, read the labels on the foods and consider better nutrition for their animals.

Some things to consider when choosing food are:

• The age of your dog
• Their activity level and energy requirements
• The breed

Large breed dogs such as the Great Dane and English Mastiff mature faster than your toy breeds like the Miniature Poodle or the Maltese. Gathering as much knowledge as you can will help you make a decision that is best suited for your dog’s individual needs.

What life stage and activity level is your dog?

• Puppy food for 0 to 1 year of age or nursing mothers
• Adult food for 1 to 6 years of age
• Less Active or Light food for the overweight dog
• An increased protein food for serious hunting dogs or working dogs
• Senior or mature formula for dogs over 6

How do you choose a food based on ingredients?

• A protein source should be between 18-35% (depending on dog’s age and activity level – adult dogs need less than puppies) of the food’s content and listed as one of the first two ingredients
• Look for good quality protein source such as chicken, lamb, beef or eggs
• The remainder of the 65-82% of the food content should be vegetables, fruits and grains (in whole form is best)
• Foods preserved with Tocopherols (vitamins E and C) are best
• Avoid food colorings, as they are unnecessary
• Avoid synthetic preservatives which some research suggests may be harmful to your dog:
  • BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
  • BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
  • Ethoxyquin
• Understand what the ingredients mean:
  • Meat By-Products are parts of the protein source that may include heads, feet or other body parts
  • Meal means a different way of processing a By-Product
• Know that the ingredients are listed by weight, so if they contain a lot of water (like the chicken may) there may be less of that ingredient than a grain that is actually heavier (than chicken without the water) making the grain contribute more of the bulk to the diet.

Who decides what is in your pet’s food?

The responsibility of regulating what goes in to pet food lies primarily on each individual state. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is responsible for the standards in which pet foods are certified. They develop guidelines for ingredients, minimum nutrients, definitions and terms for food content. These guidelines give each state a standard to go by when writing the laws that govern the production of pet food within their jurisdiction.  

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does play a role in enforcing regulations for pet food manufacturers because the foods are shipped across state lines. In the instance of a contamination problem the FDA would be the authority to handle the situation because they have jurisdiction in all states.

Pet food manufacturers are required to use only ingredients from an approved feed list that has been named by the AAFCO and proven safe by the FDA. They must also properly label food products with those ingredients.

Dog food choices

With so many brands and home made recipes available it is difficult to know where to start and impossible to list them all in one article. Here are just a couple of the many websites regarding dog food and nutrition. Some of them can be emotional, so be sure to consider the research and expertise behind such sites:

• The Pet Food List
• Pet Diets

Cost and availability

Prices on dog foods can vary widely across the brand and quality spectrum. The cost per pound of food can vary depending on the quality. Brands with ingredients that are made from a higher quality protein source and grains in whole form will tend to be more expensive than those listing by-products and ground meal. However, the less expensive foods may end up costing more in the long run because they are not as dense in calories and you need to feed a larger quantity to make up for the lesser quality.

Take a look at this example from The Dog Food Project to see an example of this phenomenon. The example is based on the needs of a 50-pound adult dog.

The yearly cost for the low-end food in this example would be about $182.50 and the high-end food about $161.04. The real numbers will of course be based on your dog’s individual needs and the food you choose. The key is finding a food that is within your budget and you can feel good about feeding your dog.

Once you have narrowed the food choices to 2 or 3 brands, check for availability in your area. Places like pet stores, feed or grain stores, co-ops, kennels or breeders may carry what you are looking for and may also vary some in price. Sometimes you may be able to order in bulk from a distributor and share the shipping with other dog people.

Switching foods

There certainly is a lot of information available on dog food and nutrition aside from what is in the food. And a lot of the information is conflicting. For example, some folks feel if your dog is doing well on one brand, don’t change. Others believe that changing foods every so often is good for your dog. Some only feed their dog home made diets or raw diets. Which ever you decide is best for your dog, please check with your vet before making any changes especially if your pet has a medical or behavioral condition.

When switching from one diet to another, it is a good idea to take about a week to do so. Starting with a small amount of the new food and mix it with the old food. Over the week, gradually increase the amount of the new food as you decrease the amount of the old. By making a change slowly, you will reduce the chance of your dog having any diarrhea or vomiting.

Resources:

Bren, Linda. "The Lowdown on Labels." FDA Consumer Magazine, May-June 2001.

Contreras, Sabine. "Where the Money goes." The Dog Food Project: April 5, 2007.

Goren, Gail and David. "Dog Food Comparison." http://feedmypet.com/

"How to Choose Healthy Dog Food." WikiHow.com.

Syverson, David. "Questions and Answers Concerning Pet Food Regulations." Association of American Feed Control Officials, Inc.