How to distinguish good and bad dog food
When raising a dog, choosing a high-quality dog food is crucial to the health of your dog. However, there are many brands of dog food on the market and the quality is uneven. How to distinguish between good and bad has become a problem for many pet owners. This article will teach you how to choose high-quality dog food from the aspects of ingredients, nutrition, brand reputation, etc.
1. Look at the ingredients list
The ingredients list of dog food is the primary basis for judging its quality. High-quality dog food is usually marked with the main ingredients, and meat is the first ingredient. Here are the common comparisons of high-quality and inferior ingredients:
High-quality ingredients | Low quality ingredients |
---|---|
Chicken, beef, fish (clearly marked meat) | Meat by-products, animal fat (unknown source) |
Brown rice, oats, sweet potatoes (high-quality carbohydrates) | Corn, wheat, soybeans (allergic cereals) |
Natural preservatives (vitamin E, vitamin C) | Artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT) |
2. Pay attention to nutritional ratio
Dogs have different nutritional needs at different growth stages, so the nutritional ratio of dog food is crucial. Here are the basic nutritional needs references for adult dogs and puppies:
Nutritional ingredients | Recommended value for adult dogs | Recommended value for puppies |
---|---|---|
Crude protein | ≥18% | ≥22% |
Crude fat | ≥5% | ≥8% |
Coarse fiber | ≤5% | ≤4% |
Calcium-phosphorus ratio | 1:1 - 2:1 | 1.2:1 - 1.5:1 |
3. Brand reputation and certification
Choosing well-known brands or authoritatively certified dog food can reduce the risk of purchasing inferior products. Here are a few trustworthy certification bodies:
Certification Agency | Certification standards |
---|---|
AAFCO (American Association of Feed Management) | Ensure dog food meets minimum nutritional needs |
FEDIAF (European Federation of Pet Food Industry) | European Pet Food Safety Standards |
Organic certification (such as USDA Organic) | No artificial additives, non-GMO raw materials |
4. Observe the dog's reaction
Even if the ingredients and nutrition of dog food meet the standards, it must be adjusted according to the individual response of the dog. Here are a few indicators to determine whether dog food is suitable for dogs:
5. Avoid common misunderstandings
When choosing dog food, many pet owners are prone to fall into the following misunderstandings:
Conclusion
To distinguish the quality of dog food requires a comprehensive composition, nutrition, brand and actual reaction of the dog. I hope this article can help you select truly high-quality dog food for your dog and let it grow up healthily!
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