How much does a normal dog weight? Ideal weight for dogs

 All pet owners want to make sure they feed their dogs the best food, food that supports their dogs' health and overall quality of life. But what exactly is the best dog food?

There is no simple answer to this question. It will depend on several factors for you and your pet. Here is a guide to help you decide what is the best dog food.

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Important factors in choosing the best dog food

To find the best dog food, you'll need to consider these factors: The age of your dog

How old is your dog? Is it a puppy, a young person, or an old dog? This question is very important because dogs in different life stages have different nutritional requirements. How do you choose the best food for small dogs? The primary components of all dog meals are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. So the best food for small dogs should contain twice the amount of raw protein and fats found in adult meals. This is because puppies have higher energy requirements and are actively developing muscles and other tissues. Energy comes from the breakdown of protein fats and carbohydrates. You may also see a reference to docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, on puppy food packages. Additives like DHA are said to support a puppy's brain, heart, and eye development. DHA is an abundant fatty acid in oily fish, so salmon or other fish meals may not need additional supplementation. Large puppies should have less calcium and phosphorous to support good bone development because larger breeds grow at a slower rate.

How to choose the best food for adult dogs? The best food for adult dogs is 10% protein and up to about 50% carbs (to include 2-4.5% fiber). If you read the label of all over-the-counter dog diets, they all have these ratios. How do you choose the best food for older dogs? As your dog ages, its lower activity levels and slower metabolism mean that it will need about 20% fewer calories than before. Your vet can help you determine the best dog food that will provide your dog with the right amount of calories. Older pets are also more susceptible to cognitive and inflammatory changes in the joints, so they may benefit from foods that promote joint health and cognitive function. Joint health condition You may see glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate included in the detailed analysis in aging dog food. Glucosamine and sulfate are believed to maintain healthy cartilage and joints, but dosages of these supplements vary because their direct effect has not been proven. It's a method that may help but likely won't hurt. If glucosamine and chondroitin are incorporated into the elderly diet, the dose the dog gets will also depend on how much food the dog eats. cognitive tasks The amino acid L-carnitine was shown in a 2012 study to aid the cognitive function of beagles. Although it was a small study (16 animals/group). The diet fed in the study also contained high levels of taurine (an amino acid) and other health triggers that could have played a role. In general, any additive to an AAFCO balanced diet should first be discussed with your veterinarian. Ask them if certain nutritional supplements or diets for seniors combined with these might be the best food for older dogs. health problems Does your dog suffer from any health problems such as skin allergies, kidney disease, or inflammatory bowel disease? These pets may have specific nutritional requirements and need foods with or without certain ingredients. Your vet may also recommend a prescription diet for some cases. Pregnant or nursing dogs Is your dog pregnant or breastfeeding puppies? Pregnant and lactating dogs require food that is high in protein and contains plenty of water. your preferences Do you have any personal preferences, such as dry or canned food, or also a raw versus processed diet? What is the best food brand for your dog? After determining if your dog needs a particular type of food for their specific health conditions, you can research brands to find the best dog food. Get recommendations to discuss with your vet Talk to your family and friends who have dogs. Find out which businesses they used or liked, and take a look at their pets. Does their dog have great hair? And is it lively and lively? Also, see online reviews. Remember that no dog food brand is best for all dogs, but this step will help narrow your choice. Then you can take the list of brands to your vet for their feedback to determine the best dog food. What is the best type of dog food? Another decision you have to make is the type of food: is it a processed or raw diet, canned or dry (if you are on a processed diet), and is it grain-free or with grains. Canned dog food or dry dog ​​food? Both canned and kibble dog food can provide adequate nutrition. Simply put, kibble is an ingredient that is ground into granules. Consisting of meat, grains, vegetables, and other materials, kibble is the most common type of dog food and can prove to be a better food source for your pet than wet dog food.

Canned food contains more moisture; It may benefit dogs with urinary problems or dogs who don't tend to drink a lot of water. It is also delicious. However, feeding a 70-pound dog a complete diet may require a large food storage space. Grain-free or grain-free diet? The final say has yet to be made, as the Food and Drug Administration is currently investigating grain-free dog food. Talk to your veterinarian for the latest information and recommendations for grain-free dog food and diets that include grains. Processed or raw food? Raw diets may increase your pet's exposure to foodborne pathogens. Speak with your veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist before making this decision. You will have to do your research and plan a prescription with your vet to ensure that the raw diet is complete and balanced. How to rate the label and ingredients If you've got a specific brand or diet recommendation and you know what kind of food you want to try, the next thing you should do is read the dog food label. You can learn a lot about dog food from the words used on the label. Estimate the name of the diet or diet Look for diets that follow the 95% rule. For example, labels such as salmon and rice or chicken and brown rice; mean 95% of the diet is made up of these ingredients (not including any water added during processing). Words like dinner mean that whatever appears in front of this word makes up only 25% of the diet. Looking for an AFCO statement Be sure to have a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) that says the product is complete and balanced. Most balanced diets contain a combination of protein, fats, carbohydrates (including fiber), minerals, vitamins, and other ingredients that are generally recognized as safe and the best dog food. The AAFCO uses the nutritional recommendations issued by the Nutrition Research Council (NRC). The board sets the minimum levels of nutrients and energy needed for the different stages of a dog's life. Pet food manufacturers are only required to note the minimum amount of raw fat, protein, fiber, and moisture in the Guaranteed Analysis section of the ingredients list. Actual quantities will vary by batch based on the source of nutrients. Check the ingredients list, especially the first five ingredients Always check the ingredient list. The nutrients are listed in weight order. For example, dog food that contains corn, beef meal, potatoes, peas, and chicken as the first five ingredients; Contains more corn than chicken by weight. What else should you know? The word meal means that the water and fat are removed, and it does not include hair, horns, or nails but usually includes the meat of organs such as liver, kidneys, hearts, etc. The natural flavor does not mean organic. This flavor can come from any vegetable or animal source, and the product must contain the flavor in sufficient quantity to be detected. Usually, names that sound chemically are vitamins, minerals, and other supplements. Some dog foods will contain added probiotics, such as the fermented product Bacillus coagulans or the ferment product Lactobacillus acidophilus. Probiotics are live cultures of gut microorganisms. They may be beneficial but must be added to dry dog ​​food after baking to be effective.