How to choose the best dry dog food?

2024 Author: Arianna Cook | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-12 17:55

Classification of dry dog food, their advantages and differences, rating of manufacturers of dry concentrates for dogs in 2016, selection rules. Everyone knows that a properly selected, balanced daily menu is necessary not only for a person, but also for his pet - a dog. Only by getting the required amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and trace elements in the daily diet will your pet be healthy and cheerful. The absence of at least one of the necessary components of a full-fledged diet leads to a decrease in his activity, to a decline in his vitality, and sometimes paves the way for future significant problems with his health.

Correct and high-quality nutrition of a dog is a guarantee of good health, stable immunity to diseases and general longevity of the animal.

Classification of dry dog food

It's no secret that all dogs are big lovers of tasty and a lot of food. But what and in what quantities your dog will eat is entirely up to you, dear owners.

Some pet owners choose to feed their pets exclusively with natural products, supplementing them with multivitamins and mineral complexes. But this option obviously requires the owner of certain knowledge of physiology, much more time, effort and money. The organization of catering using industrial-made concentrates greatly simplifies the matter. That is why, for a person who already has a dog or is just about to get one, it will not be superfluous to figure out what assortment and quality of dry food the market presents to us today. Moreover, this assortment is huge, and each manufacturer claims that it is his product that is of the highest quality and useful for dogs of all breeds and the most optimal in terms of quality / price ratio. But is it? Understanding.

Concentrated food for dogs (as well as for cats or other animals) is conventionally divided into four classes:

Economy class;
premium class;
super-premium class;
holistic.

There are several classes of dry concentrates:

Economy class dry food. This is the cheapest concentrate group and (quite naturally) the most advertised in the media. Economy-class dry food is made by the manufacturer from low-grade raw materials, with a large addition of soybeans, all kinds of low-quality by-products and various wastes from the meat and dairy, fish and food industries. Also used are the cheapest food colors and flavorings that can undermine the health of the strongest dog. Vitamins and minerals are also never included in this group of dry concentrates (even if they are printed on the packaging), which means that the necessary multivitamin complexes for the dog's diet will need to be purchased separately. And this - additional costs and extra running around pet stores. Naturally, food of this quality is extremely poorly absorbed by the animal's body, there may be problems with the dog's stomach and intestines, the occurrence of unpredictable allergic reactions to the existing components. And this is especially unsafe for dogs with a breed genetic predisposition to gastrointestinal diseases and diseases of internal organs.
Premium dry food. This group of dry concentrates also does not differ in the special quality of the raw materials used. The only advantage of the premium over the economy class is that it contains slightly more animal protein obtained from processed by-products (but not from natural meat). For the visual appeal of premium food, manufacturers do not regret adding a variety of dyes, preservatives, odor and taste enhancers to the product, they come up with original forms of solid granules and bright attractive packaging. Be that as it may, the quality of feed in this group leaves much to be desired.
Super premium dry food. The group of feeds belonging to this class certainly surpasses the first two as it is made from high-quality natural raw materials. In the manufacture of a super-premium dry concentrate, truly natural meat and fish, chicken and other eggs, various cereals, cereals, vitamins and minerals are used. Harmful preservatives, flavoring enhancers and colorants are almost completely eliminated. The undoubted advantage of the super-premium class is the daily dietary norms for a dog, developed in detail by nutritionists, in accordance with its breed, age, weight, hairiness, lifestyle and specific physical condition, which allows the owner of the animal to independently choose the right diet without any problems. Nevertheless, even this generally good feed contains a small amount of components that are not assimilated by the animal's body and can cause upset of the gastrointestinal tract.
Holistic class. A group of concentrates of the highest class, for the manufacture of which the highest quality and exclusively natural raw materials (quite suitable even for human nutrition) are used, supplemented with high-quality ingredients. The best nutritionists of the manufacturers have made every effort to select and balance the compositions of the offered holistic feeds to the smallest detail. In addition to natural ingredients, these feeds contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals, as well as probiotics and biological additives that improve the digestion of the animal.

TOP brands-winners of the rating of dry food for dogs 2016

Economy class feed:

Pedigree / made in Hungary, USA;
Darling / made in France;
ARO / made in Ukraine.

Premium feed:

Purina Dog Chow / made in France;
Purina Pro Plan / made in France;
Nutra Nuggets / made in the USA.

Super premium food:

Nutra Gold / made in the USA;
Belcando / made in Germany;
Bosch / made in Germany.

Holistic class feed:

Pronature Holistic / made in Canada;
Wellness / USA production;
Taste of the Wild / made in the USA.

Basic rules for the selection of dry concentrate food for dogs

Having decided on the breed of your future pet, consult with dog handlers and veterinarians about the nutritional habits of this dog breed, read specialized literature on this topic.

When buying a puppy, ask the breeder what you fed the animal before the sale and listen to his advice. Decide on a food option. The diet should be either completely natural (natural meat and fish of low-fat varieties, cereals in the form of cereals and soups, special multi-vitamin complexes and additional minerals), or based on the use of dry or wet industrial food. Eating an animal does not imply a mixed option, and even more so, it is categorically undesirable to eat waste from your table.

Choosing a feeding option and finally settling on dry food, it is necessary to take into account the following factors when buying it:

Feed class. We have already spoken about the classification of dry feed concentrates, their features, advantages and disadvantages, and the best brands.
Dog breed. Many existing breeds have genetic predispositions to certain diseases, obtained as a side effect of artificial selection. This factor must be taken into account when forming a diet. It is possible that the option you have chosen is not at all suitable for some dogs. For your information - feed manufacturers provide only approximate information about the breed orientation of their products.
The size of the animal. Many buyers, dog owners, when buying, mistakenly focus only on the growth of their pet. Yes, the growth of an animal is definitely important when calculating the diet and its amount. It is clear that large breed dogs (Rottweilers, Shepherds and others) need much more food than smaller animals (Pekingese, Spaniels and others). But there are also more complex options. For example, the English Bulldog, which is not very tall, but weighs about 30 kg. Accordingly, the diet of this dog should be at the level of large dog breeds, but at the same time not exceed the norm for the amount of carbohydrates and fats (otherwise your bulldog will begin to grow unreasonably fat), which are always in abundance in food for large dog breeds. So, given the height, do not forget about the weight of the animal. If this is difficult for you, it is better to seek help from a specialist.
The presence of wool (its length and quality) or lack of it. Modern manufacturers of high quality dry food have long since solved this problem. So, just pay a little attention to it and find what works best for you.
Age. This problem has also been solved long ago by nutritionists of manufacturing companies, who have developed the necessary mixtures taking into account age-specific nuances: for puppies, for middle-aged dogs and for old animals (taking into account their size). Remember - large breeds of dogs live less, and therefore they get old much earlier.
Animal activity. The breeds of dogs that exist in the world were created for a wide variety of purposes. Therefore, the dynamics of the behavior of representatives of different breeds is significantly different. Greyhounds, hounds, and cops require much more attention to replenishing energy losses than Bulldogs, Pekingese or Rottweilers. There are also strictly individual characteristics of each specific animal. One dog loves to run, and the other loves to lie down, one is more dynamic, and the other is sleepy. Accordingly, the calorie content of the food of such animals should differ significantly. And this is also taken into account by manufacturers for a long time.
Pregnancy and lactation. There are varieties on the market specifically designed for pregnant women and nursing bitches during lactation. Such food is sure to be present in pet stores in your city. It is possible that consultation with an experienced veterinarian is required to make the right choice.
Climate. In the northern regions, feeding the dog should be more nutritious and nutritious, as soon as 70% of the energy received from food will be spent on warming the animal, and even more with the constant presence of the dog on the street. In the southern hot regions, the animal's diet will be completely different, somewhat lighter in composition (less fat, heavy food, more vitamins and minerals) with more access to water (the feeding regime is also different - early in the morning and late in the evening or even at night).
Nuances associated with the disease of the animal. Feeding a sick or injured animal is necessary only with a high-quality fortified concentrate, in strict accordance with the instructions of the veterinarian.
Feed price. The condition is important for the owner of the dog. High-quality dog food certainly costs a lot more than their low-quality and cheap counterparts. But it cannot be otherwise. The cost of a product is very much determined by its constituent components and raw materials. In any case, your pet's health should be a top priority when choosing a food grade and brand. Remember, the miser pays twice.