It is not easy to determine which is the best food for dogs, however, since it is one of the issues that most concerns dog caregivers, it is important to review the differenttypes of food that exist, detailing the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
On our site we will give the keys to determine what is the best food for dogs and what elements we should take into account for your choice. Our dog's diet is not a minor issue, since his he alth will depend on it. A correct menu will cover all the nutritional needs of the dog, which prevents deficiencies that can cause pathologies.
Nutritional needs of dogs
When planning the best diet for our dog, the first thing we have to take into account is what stage of his life he is in, since your nutritional needs will depend on it. Thus, we can distinguish the following vital moments:
- Newborn: puppies, as mammals, feed exclusively on milk. If, unfortunately, they do not have a mother, to feed newborn puppies we must offer them only milk specifically formulated for them during, at least, the first three weeks of life.
- Cachorro: this is the period of maximum growth, so it is very important that nutritional needs are covered, since deficiencies could cause important alterations such as rickets.
- Adult: approximately from one year of life, although there are variations depending on the breed, we can consider that the dog has completed their development, therefore the diet should focus on maintaining their body condition.
- Pregnant and lactating: the feeding of the pregnant bitch or the feeding of the lactating bitch must also be adapted, because at this stage the bitch again suffers an increase in its nutritional needs due to the overexertion involved in breeding. Therefore, to avoid deficits that could result in pathologies such as eclampsia, it is necessary that they be fed with menus for growing puppies.
- Geriatric: although it will also depend on race, as a general rule we can consider that from 7-10 years of age life a dog is going to be considered old. For some this implies the need to offer them a more palatable and easy to ingest food.
- Sick: At any age, a pathology that requires intervention in the diet can manifest itself. Food allergies, liver or kidney diseases or the presence of crystals in the urine are some of the frequent alterations that will require a specific diet for their treatment.
Taking into account the vital phase is the first step for us to achieve a correct diet for dogs. The second would be to consult with the veterinarian to obtain nutritional information, that is, the percentage of proteins, carbohydrates or fats that the animal should consume daily. Of course, it is just as important that you have fresh clean water at your disposal at all times.
Homemade dog food
If we ask ourselves what is the best food for dogs, the answer is, without a doubt, homemade foodAnd at this point it is important that we are clear that homemade food is not synonymous with giving the leftovers from our plate. A menu that we cook ourselves, selecting the ingredients, without preservatives or colorants or any other additive, will always be the best option at any stage of your life.
In recent years, what is known as the BARF diet, an alternative to homemade food that is characterized by presenting, generally, the raw ingredients, without subjecting them to cooking processes or being very soft. Its defenders maintain that it is a natural option, more respectful, therefore, with what the dog's diet would be in nature. For its detractors, on the other hand, nutritional deficiencies could occur and, in addition, parasites would be found in raw products that the dog would contract and that could even affect human beings. Bones or their fragments can also cause injuries such as choking or perforation.
In any case, feeding our dog homemade food requires that we create a balanced menu, so that we make sure that he It covers all the nutritional needs of him at any stage of his life. To do this we must seek the advice of a veterinarian with knowledge of nutrition.
The best food for dogs
The truth is that the current pace of life means that not all caregivers have time to cook, so they resort to pienso, food made up of balls or hard croquettes. The advantage of these products is that they are divided into different ranges depending on whether our dog is a puppy, adult, elderly, sick, etc. All of them are formulated to cover the needs of any dog In addition, they are presented in easy-to-storage containers and their administration is as simple as opening and serving the indicated amount. In the case of puppies or dogs with biting difficulties, it can be soaked in water to soften it.
To know which is the best food for our dog in this case we must look at various aspects and not only at the price. The first step is to read the label of the composition of the feed with the ingredients and the percentages of the nutrients. The latter are usually similar, so the main difference will be in the ingredients used.
The first one on the label is usually the one that will be found in the greatest quantity. If it is about by-products of meat, it will be of lower quality than if fresh meat is used, since it will include all those parts of the animals not suitable for human consumption, including hooves or beaks Therefore, the best feed will be the one made with fresh meat, especially if it specifies the species of origin, that is, better if we read chicken than a generic bird. We can use this criteria to choose.
We must also pay attention to carbohydrates, their origin, and fats. The processing to which the ingredients are subjected to make the feed means that fats must be added to improve its flavor. It is also important that these are he althy, being more recommended the unsaturated Feed also includes vitamins and minerals but you have to know that some are lost during storage, so that the usable amount will not be what appears on the label.
Dog dry food or homemade food?
There is no doubt that when it comes to determining the best dog food, homemade food wins hands down, every time that we offer a balanced menu. If we choose the feed, in addition to selecting a good quality one, we can regularly include some homemade or canned dish for dogs, always separate from the feed, since your digestion will be different. This increases the amount of liquids that the food provides since the feed, when drying for conservation, loses moisture.
Among the advantages of the feed, to summarize, we find its ease of use, conservation and storage, and the guarantee, in general, that it contains all the necessary nutrients for any dog, regardless of its circumstances. As disadvantages we have the excessive processing, the low quality of the ingredients in certain cases, and the low humidity. For its part, homemade food can cause deficiencies if it is not well formulated and must be consumed at the moment or refrigerated, at most, for a couple of days, if it is not frozen. It also requires more preparation than opening a bag.
Other dog food options
We cannot conclude the search for the best dog food without mentioning other options, in addition to homemade food and dry food. They are as follows:
- Canned food: with a composition similar to feed, so what we have said for this one is useful, it has the advantage of maintain moisture, as well as being more palatable.
- Dehydrated food: to prepare it, the ingredients are subjected to a dehydration process that will allow them to preserve their nutrients. It is administered to the dog after adding water to hydrate it, which favors its palatability and its humidity.
