Dog Food: How to Make the Right Choices

By Leslie Brown

There are a number of dog food choices out there. How do you decide which one to pick? Should you invest in expensive brands, believing them to be the best for your dog, or do you stay economical and buy an inexpensive brand to fill up your dog for less? How do you choose the best dog food among dry, wet, organic, holistic, or even raw food? Pet store aisles give you a dizzying array of dog food labels,such as natural, holistic, super-premium, and organic.

With the number of options to choose from, first read the label on the dog food. It’s best if meat such as chicken or lamb is the first ingredient—not meat meal (which can be anything, including road kill), but specifically chicken or lamb meal. Most dog nutritionists prefer a chicken-based diet because dogs tend to digest chicken better than lamb. Make sure that a by-product meal is either chicken or lamb, and is not just listed on the label as a “poultry,” “meat,” or “animal” by-product meal.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for making sure that pet food is safe and labeled appropriately. Although dog food ingredients vary depending on the manufacturer and the brand, most meet standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

When choosing an appropriate food for your dog, make sure that the food has the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, which indicates that the food provides complete and balanced nutrition. It should also include information about which stage of life the food is intended for. For example, you wouldn’t want to feed puppy food to a senior dog, or vice versa. However, a food that is labeled for all life stages can be used throughout a dog’s life—from weaning through adulthood.

Puppies need about twice as many calories per pound as an adult dog of the same breed. Older dogs need 20 percent fewer calories than middle-aged dogs because they are less active and have slower metabolisms. Adult dogs can be fed once or twice daily, although twice a day helps your dog digest more effectively.

To choose the right food for your dog, try to pick one that your pet would like, given his environment and activity level. What about choosing dry or wet food? Dry food contains less moisture. On average, the moisture content of dog food is 6 percent to 10 percent for dry food, and 75 percent for canned food. Dry dog food costs less per serving than canned food, and its nutrients are more concentrated, meaning that you’ll need to feed your dog less. Canned food also allows feeding a greater volume of food for the same amount of calories, which can help if your dog is overweight. Canned foods also tend to be higher in fat and protein, with fewer carbohydrates, and dry foods will always contain some starch.

If you’re switching from one food to another, give your dog a mix that’s one-quarter new food and three-quarters existing food for the first two days. Change the mix to half-and-half for two days, and then change to three-quarters new food, one-quarter existing food for the final two or three days.

One of the most common mistakes dog owners make is feeding their dog too much. You’ll know if you’re feeding your dog too much if you can't feel his ribs and you can’t see his waist. Along with the right amount of food, make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise, and adjust his food accordingly.

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