As discussed in the first post on this issue, feeding your dog the best foods and treats you can afford does have its benefits.
Before you choose a food or treat for your dog you must do your due diligence and research. When doing your research, don’t always just accept claims made by manufacturers and don’t always just feed according to the manufacturer’s suggestions. Feed the food or treat you’ve chosen (through your research) and in the quantity that best suits your dog. Age, activity level, health and other criteria all play a part in your choice of a food or treat.
Make sure of the nutritive value of the food or treat by doing on line and other research, including talking to your veterinarian, other owners of the same breed, breeders and anyone who might be in the know. There are books on dog foods and treats in addition to publications like the Whole Dog Journal https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/ that can help. In addition to the health and nutritive aspects of these foods and treats, remember that availability is also important. You must be able to access these foods and treats easily or they will be of no use to you. If you can’t find a convenient place to purchase the food and treats you cannot feed them to your dog. This means also being able to purchase the foods and treats, well within their Best Buy Dates. It does your dog no good to be fed foods and treats that are beyond their Best Buy Dates.
Also understand that while a “dog is a dog” might be true, different dogs have different requirements. In addition to the criteria mentioned above – age, activity level, and health – breed characteristics often are involved. Dogs of breeds that are very active such as working and herding dog breeds (and others) might need a higher caloric content. Older and younger dogs have different requirements. Dogs with medical issues also need special attention. Also remember, your dog is an individual. Just because a particular food or treat works well for another representative of your dog’s breed doesn’t mean it will work for your dog. But, such recommendations are a great place to start.
Veterinarians can be of great help but please know that the foods and treats sold by veterinarians may not be the best for your dog. Just because it is sold by a veterinarian does not mean it’s the best food for your dog. That goes for special diets as well. Please do talk to your veterinarian about your personal beliefs, preferences and desires as to the foods or treats you want to feed – do you prefer dry or canned, do you prefer holistic, do you prefer a certain meat source, etc.?
In the end, the nutrition you put into your dog, along with the exercise, training, health care and love will ultimately have a great effect on the dog’s quality of life and longevity. I’ll address this more in later posts. There’s so much to talk about. Stay tuned