Choosing Natural Dog Food - Four Tips

By Kim Fleming
There has been an increasing number of concerns and criticisms over a good number of commercially sold dog food. Because of such, many people have turned to feed their pet with natural dog food. In this writing, I am about to show you some important tips in choosing natural food for your dog.

* Understand Your Dog and His Food Needs

The first thing you have to remember is that natural dog food comes in many forms. Natural may mean feeding your dog raw meat and vegetables, cooked meat and vegetables or commercially sold natural food. You have to find out which one is best for your dog.

Not all dogs are same. Their nutritional requirements vary dependent on their different breeds and specific health conditions. You should always observe your dog's behavior and health condition, especially after changes in food. Consult your veterinarian with your observation and ask for his advice.

* Prepare Food for Your Dog

Some dog owners like to prepare natural dog food for their pets. This is a very good idea, but, to do this, you should have very good knowledge of what your dog exactly needs and with what quantity to feed him. Some people feed their dogs with raw meat, and others prefer cooked meat and vegetables as heating will kill most bacteria in the food.

Another thing to keep in mind is that many human foods are not suitable for dogs. For example, chocolates, raisins, mushrooms and onions are either dangerous or even toxic to dogs and should be on your "to avoid" list. You can make up your own list, though, with some research and observation. Compared to self-prepared food, commercially sold natural dog food is probably a safer choice.

* Check What is On the Labels

When shopping dog food, you should always read the labels just like what you do with human foods. Pay close attention to its ingredients. Fillers like wheat and corn, artificial coloring and flavoring, animal and plant by-products, and artificial preservatives should never appear in natural dog food. These synthetic ingredients are very likely to lead to gastrointestinal problems, malnutrition and behavioral changes in dogs.

* Get Enough Proteins and Nutrients for Your Dog

Dogs were built to be carnivorous so the bulk of their diet should remain protein-rich. The protein sources however should never be low-grade meat by-products. Your dog should be fed high quality lean meat and poultry.

Apart from protein, vitamins and minerals are also essential nutrients that should be found in natural dog food. You may choose to buy foods with fortified nutrients, or may feed your dog with vitamin-rich foods, such as squash, beans and peas.

If you are serious about keeping your dog healthy and happy, be sure to read more about natural dog food from our site. You may also like to check more about dog food from our dedicated section if you would like to dig further.

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