3 Steps to Choosing the Best Dog Food
Food is essential - but you already knew that! While most pet food brands are generally sufficient, similarly to human food, there is a wide spectrum of options ranging from great to…. not-so-great. Here we will discuss the 3 steps to help you find the perfect food for your pup:
AAFCO certification and quality of ingredients
Avoiding unsubstantiated marketing strategies
Understanding your dog’s nutritional needs
I will also include my go-to dog foods that I have fed my pups for years, as well as those I have learned about during my time as a veterinary technician. So let’s jump right in!
Dog food has had quite the makeover in the past decade, with much of the pet food industry having followed various diet trends that often mirror the current human diet trends. Before choosing the trendiest, vegetarian, organic, made-for-a-wolf-because-your-dog-is-a-wolf (that’s a different conversation… ) food, talk to your vet! In many of my posts about health and nutrition, I will recommend talking to your vet first before choosing what food to feed your pup. Dogs have very different nutritional needs from humans, and their diet should meet those needs, not the current diet trends. A few tips on finding a high-value, nutritional food for your pup:
Step 1: The first step to finding the best food for your pup is by looking for “AAFCO Certified” food - AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) is like the “FDA” of pet food and, if AAFCO certified, you can be sure your pet is eating a food that has been studied and proven to meet all nutritional markers. One of my favorite AAFCO certified brands that I have fed my own dogs for years is Hill's Science Diet. Hills Science Diet has been around since 1948 and its science-backed food has always been at the top of every veterinarian’s food recommendations since I began studying vet medicine, so I was sure I could trust that my pups were getting all of the essential vitamins and nutrients they needed.
Step 2: The next consideration to take when choosing a dog food is how the brand markets its product. It is important to be cautious of food brands that rely on flashy marketing strategies as opposed to proven, validated research. Marketing tactics I’ve often seen used in the pet food industry include celebrity partnerships, pushing diet “trends” (such as vegetarian, raw, grain-free, etc.) and using unsubstantiated health claims to sell their product (think: “this will cure your dog’s allergies!”). This does not necessarily mean the food these brands produce is bad or low-quality, but it may require extra research to ensure it is the best option to meet your dog’s nutritional needs. A tried-and-true dog food brand I have fed my pups for years is Purina Pro Plan. Purina Pro Plan has been a vet-favorite for decades, after its inception in the 1980’s. One of the top selling points for Purina Pro Plan food is that, unlike many other dog food formulas, Purina Pro Plan uses real meat as the #1 ingredient in their kibble. This is an important distinction from other brands because often, the first (and second, and third…) ingredients are usually some type of by-product or non-meat ingredient that does not contain all of the nutritional components of real meat. Purina is a standout food brand in the industry because of this, and for good reason!
Step 3: Lastly, but certainly not least, after you’ve narrowed down your options to ones that have the “AAFCO” certification as well as proven, substantiated claims, you should check that the food in question corresponds to both your pet’s life stage and condition (if applicable). For example, puppies (< 1 year old) require a food with a higher protein percentage than an adult dog. If your pup has any health conditions, such as skin allergies or a sensitive stomach, a diet that is developed specifically for dogs with food or skin sensitivities may be the best option. For these reasons, it is crucial that you discuss your pup’s needs and specific life stage with your vet in order to make sure you’re covering your (and your pup’s) bases! The one brand that I will never stop recommending, and have used for my own pups, is Royal Canin. Here I have linked the small breed, adult formula as an example, but this is just the tip of the iceberg with this brand! Not only does Royal Canin have all of the qualities we’ve already discussed, but it goes one step further with a wide range of breed, age, and condition-specific foods. If you have a small breed senior dog with allergies, they’ve made a food option for you! Large dog with joint or mobility issues? They’ve got it! The wide range of food options that can be customized to your pup truly is impressive and worth looking into if this sounds like something that would benefit your furry friend.
With the overwhelming amount of dog food options on the market today, it may be difficult to narrow down which food is best for your pup, but by following these 3 essential steps above, you can be sure your pup is eating only the best!
