Understanding Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs

Providing your pup with a well-balanced diet is crucial for maintaining a healthy, happy pet. According to the National Academies, dogs require foods that carefully balance amino acids, proteins, fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water.

Not all meals are made equal — the nutritional needs of a dog changes and develops with their age. Ideally, the food you feed your dog will vary depending on their stage in life. The ASPCA’s life stages include puppies, adults, seniors, and overweight/underweight dogs.

The nutrients provided through high-quality food will give your dog the energy it needs to run and play, as well as help build strong muscles and bones. High-quality foods can help to curb health issues, so over time, they’re a better value than cheaper foods, and you can often save by researching your options online.

Avoiding Dog Foods with Low-Quality Ingredients

As is the case with packaged human foods, dog foods list their ingredients by order of weight.High-quality foods will list animal-derived proteins first, while low-grade dog foods might list cornmeal or another grain. Instead of animal-derived proteins, low-quality foods might include meat by-products and bone meal, inexpensive ingredients that aren’t ideal for pet nutrition.

Try to avoid foods with ingredients like:

• Rendered Fat- Animal fat can enhance flavor, but can allow harmful microorganisms grow if moisture gets inside the bag.
• Food Dyes- These are added for humans, not dogs, and they don’t contribute to the food’s nutritional content in any way. Worse, some can cause allergic reactions.
• Preservatives- While most dog foods contain some preservatives, avoid products with ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). These chemicals have been shown to cause serious health conditions.

Additionally, some vets recommend avoiding products with soy, salts, sugars, and grain meals (including corn, wheat, and rice meal).

Comparing Dog Foods When Buying Online

The internet makes comparison shopping easy, but be sure to review your options carefully. To keep your budget in check, try not to purchase dog food from the first store you find — look at every available option first.

When comparing individual foods, keep these tips in mind:

• Know Your Dog’s Age and Size- As mentioned earlier, different dogs have different nutritional requirements. Make sure to choose a food that’s appropriate for your pet’s size and age. When in doubt, ask your vet or consult the Merck Veterinary Manual, which contains tables with recommended amounts of nutrients.
• Read the Store Policies- Generally, reputable online pet stores allow returns, though they may have exceptions for opened bags of food. Try to stick to stores that offer detailed information about their products.
• Look for Special Offers- Many stores have special offers or discounts, though these aren’t always advertised directly. By looking carefully through online resources, you might be able to find deals. When evaluating offers, make sure to read the fine print — if a store offers a 10 percent discount, but they don’t offer free shipping, you might be able to find a better bargain.

If you switch to a new dog food, gradually add the new food to the old food. Transitioning food can help to prevent an upset stomach by giving your dog’s system time to adjust. The American Kennel Club recommends adding 25 percent of the new food to 75 percent of the old food for the first two days, then upping the percentage of the new food by 25 percent every two days.

Researching Options Online

Read ingredient lists carefully. If you’ve decided on a certain brand of dog food, gather prices from at least 3-4 stores to make sure you’re getting a good deal, and remember to consider shipping charges. Consider keeping a spreadsheet with prices, website names, and brand reviews to make this process easier. Finally, while you should occasionally double-check to make sure you’re getting the best price, you should also avoid changing dog foods frequently. Always talk to your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet, especially if your dog receives medication or has any health conditions that require a certain type of food. Pet nutrition can seem overwhelming at first, but by using online resources, you can find high-quality foods that help your canine companion live their best life.