The way you feed your four-legged friend is extremely important. It really matters because you care about its health and well-being. You should be aware that not all food products available on the market are of the highest quality. How to choose the best option to feed your dog?

Dry or wet?

This is the first question you should ask yourself. As long as you choose carefully and pay close attention to the below-mentioned issues, it does not really matter whether you want to feed your dog with canned or dry dog food. Your four-legged friend will probably prefer the cans but it will mean higher monthly cost.

Pay attention to allergies

Some dogs tend to show hypersensitivity to specific types of animal protein. Thus, you should pay close attention whether your dog is allergic to any types of food or not. Don’t worry, there are thousands of recipes currently available and many food products will be appropriate for your dog.

One of the most common dog food allergy triggers is chicken. Because of that, many manufacturers decided to prepare dog foods containing other types of protein, such as lamb, wild boar, reindeer, salmon and many more. It appears that highly allergic dogs tolerate foods that contain rare types of meat.

Avoid chemical substances

Protein type is only one selection criterion you should look at. Besides that, it is important to avoid foods that contain high amounts of chemical preservatives and additives. Look carefully at the composition of the product. If you are not sure what some of the ingredients mean, check it out in the Web. What is more, try to find foods that contain more meat protein than so-called filler ingredients derived from plants such as corn, rice or soybeans. Even though it is said that dogs can eat anything, rice and pasta do not have much nutritional value for your dog.

Let the dog choose

When you have managed to narrow down the options to just a couple of good dog foods, let your dog try the food before you finalize your decision. Animals, just like humans, have their preferences and might not like some foods you have chosen.

It may be a good idea to buy a small package of each food that you think should be fine and let your dog try to eat it. Watch the reactions carefully and do not let your opinions cloud the facts. Even if you think that the food of the brand “X” will be much better, your dog might prefer the “Y” food. That is why it is so important to narrow down your choices before presenting the options to your dog. If your four-legged friend is able to choose only from high-quality food products, you will not be disappointed with what it had chosen.

Last, but not least, think through the costs. Try to choose a dog food that will be of good or at least fair quality and, at the same time, you will be able to afford it every month. There is no point in picking the most expensive food, if you struggle to buy it.