Information on the Various Types of Dog Food
Dog food is made in canned, semi-moist, dry and even raw. To know which one to feed your particular dog you must understand each kind. Some might be better than others for what your pooch needs. Let’s take a closer look to learn more.
Canned-Dog Food
Dog food in a can has a high percentage of water in it. The ingredients vary between brands too. Read the labels carefully before feeding them to your pet. Make sure it contains enough protein. One downside with this type of food is that dogs do not get enough chewing to keep the teeth clean and healthy. This can be mixed with dry food to give more balance. Some dogs have special health issues that dictate eating canned food from dog food tins. This type is easier to digest than the semi-moist or dry.
Semi-Moist-Dog Food
This consistency of dog food is easy for the dogs to eat and tasty too. It should be with its high sugar content. The semi-moist is also high in water. This food could lead to the dog being overweight and other problems if portions are not tightly controlled.
Dry-Dog Food
Dehydrated dog food has low-moisture content. This makes it cheaper to feed your dog than the other foods. It can also be mixed with the others for variety. If your dog is a nibbler throughout the day this food can be left out better. Since the dog has to chew vigorously eating it the teeth get a good cleaning.
Raw-Dog Food
The newest rage is the raw food for dogs. This stems from the people that believe that all-natural food stored in portable dog food storage containers is better for the dog. After all this is how dogs used to eat in the past. Also the advocates of this food, state that the other commercial forms of dog food are lacking in certain important nutrients.
This is the most labor intensive for dog owners. They have to prepare the meals. Also if the raw meat has E. coli or salmonella on it, it could make the dogs quite ill. Only portions that the dog will eat immediately should be served. Otherwise the food will spoil which would not be good for the dog if it consumed it.
Table Scraps are a No-No
You should not feed the dog from your plate. Human food is not prepared with a dog’s system in mind. As a result the canine can gain weight. It is best not to get your pooch used to table scraps for this reason; rather if you want to feed them something special then dog treats from dog treat jars are best. Also some people food dogs are allergic too.
Whichever food you decide to use for your dog, make sure it is accompanied by fresh water. Some people feed only once a day leaving the water always available and some people leave the dry food out all the time so their dog can nibble. This can be dependent on how many calories the dog needs for energy. Always consult with your veterinarian on the specific needs of your dog.