As dog owners, we all want to give our furbabies a good, healthy life and that starts with choosing the right dog food for them.

How to choose the right dog food

Our dogs are more than just four-legged creatures that live with us. To many, they are considered part of the family. So just like how we care about maintaining a balanced diet, we want to ensure that our dogs eating the food they need to live long, healthy lives. To do this, we need to understand what makes for great dog food.

When you’re out shopping for dog food in the Philippines, here are some things you should consider:

Talk to your veterinarian

The first thing you should do when choosing dog food is talking to your veterinarian. Your vet will be knowledgeable about your dog’s target caloric intake and how it is affected by factors like its body condition, lifestyle, life stage, or medical issues that should be taken into consideration. This should give you a full picture of your dog’s health and help you find the right food that suits their needs.

Go for complete and balanced.

Checking the label also applies for your pup’s food too! When looking at dog food packaging, check if it says “complete and balanced”. This means that it provides all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts for your dog. It’s also important to choose life-stage specific food – puppies, adults, and senior dogs all have different nutritional requirements.

Check the “best by” date.

You want to buy and feed your pup the freshest food available. If a product is within six or fewer months of its “best by” date, look for a fresher batch from the shelf. While eating expired food from an airtight container is generally safe, it is definitely not recommended. Food past its shelf life loses most of its nutritional value and poses a high risk of mold growth, as well as moisture and insect contamination.

Look for the protein and fat levels.

On the packaging of your dog food, there’s a “guaranteed analysis” (GA) section in the label where you can find the minimum levels of protein and fat in the food. When you’re switching up your dog’s food, you should be aware of how much protein and fat the old brand contained, and how much is present in the new one. If the new food has a lot more fat than the old food you may need to reduce the amount you feed your dog.

Check the ingredients list.

Good ingredients you’ll want to see on the label of your dog food include:

• Animal protein such as chicken, beef, lamb, etc.
• Vegetables, fruits, grains, and or carbohydrate sources such as potatoes, chickpeas, or sweet potatoes

On the other hand, here are some ingredients you want to avoid:

• Artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives (such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin)
• Added sweeteners
• Food dyes
• Rendered fat

Shop for dog food and other essentials at Tiendesitas

Tiendesitas’ Pet Village houses a very wide variety of pet care essentials, including a wide variety of dog food. Visit any of the pet shops and the owners will be happy to guide you if you still have a hard time choosing.

Tiendesitas is part of Ortigas & Company, one of the pioneers in the Philippine real estate landscape. To learn more about shopping for dog food in the Philippines and what Tiendesitas has to offer, feel free to read more at the Ortigas Malls website.

Sources:

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/food/10-dry-dog-food-shopping-tips/

https://www.dailydogstuff.com/when-is-it-safe-for-dogs-to-eat-expired-food/