What is the best dog food?

I’ve been worried about my pets since all those tainted dog food recalls and dog deaths earlier this year, so I’ve been researching commercial dog foods and recipes for home made dog food. The best source of information that I’ve found is this book, Dog Food Secrets. It has sections on the nutritional needs of dogs through the various stages of their lives, the dangerous elements in commercial feeds, and the choices involved when you make your own dog food.

As well as a list of safe commercial dog foods, Dog Food Secrets has 35 recipes for healthy home made dog food, and recipes for dog treats as well! To learn more about the best dog foods for my dog and yours, Click Here!

Check Dog Food Ingredients Before You Buy

If you check dog food ingredients carefully, you can safely feed your dog some commercial dog food. Almost everybody uses commercial dog food from time to time, just as almost everybody eats restaurant food or orders take-out occasionally. Unfortunately, not all commercial dogs foods are healthy for your dog, and neither price nor brand name guarantee quality.

There’s no need to feel guilty! There are three key factors in choosing healthy dog food. Once you understand these factors, you can make healthy choices for your dog.

First, the best dog foods use meat that is fit for humans to eat as well. If the meat listed in the dog food ingredients was inspected by the US Department of Agriculture, then it will be healthy for both people and dogs. Meat that was raised organically, without the use of antibiotic or hormone supplements, will be even healthier. Good quality meat will be clearly listed on the label. It’s all right if some of the meat content is described as ‘meat meal’ or ‘meat digest’, but those processed forms won’t be the only meat in the best dog foods.

Second, preservatives should be natural. The presence of antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C is a good sign; these are healthy preservatives. Chemical antioxidants like ethoxyquin, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) should be avoided. Both BHA and BHT are judged as chemical hazards in the laboratory by OSHA (Occupation Safety and Health Administration) because they have been linked to various forms of cancer. Ethoxyquin is particularly dangerous. This chemical is used in making rubber and preserving animal feeds; it is listed as a pesticide by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has been prohibited for human use. You don’t want to feed these chemicals to your dog! If you see them on the label, don’t buy that dog food.

Third, check the expiration date when you buy dried dog food. Look for a brand that lists a maximum shelf life of six months, and if the information is not on the label, ask the seller what system the manufacturer uses. Buy a bag that is less than three months old, and buy less than a month’s supply at a time. The fats and oils in dried dog foods will turn rancid in time, causing oxidation and the production of free radicals in your dog’s body. Free radical damage contributes to heart disease, arthritis, allergies, cancer, eye disease, and kidney disease. You don’t want rancid oils or fats as dog food ingredients!

If you check these three factors, you can buy the best dog foods for your dog.