You
know your dog needs to eat! There are various approaches to the
question of what to feed your dog, and how, and when. And once you’ve
answered these questions in general, you’ll still find yourself
faced with a confusing and seemingly limitless array of choices,
including commercially prepared foods as well as ingredients and
recipes for making your own. So what’s the answer? What’s the best
dog food?
The
answer is that there isn’t one best dog food, at least not one that’s
best for all dogs in all situations. Your dog is unique, and in
deciding what to feed him, you’ll need to take into account a lot
of different factors. Even then, keep in mind that any given stage
or situation in your dog’s life may necessitate a different choice
of foods. For instance, when your dog is a puppy his needs are quite
different than if he is elderly and arthritic. If your dog has just
had surgery, his food requirements are different than if he is in
exuberant good health. Or if you’ve been using a local brand of
food, and then move to another part of the country, you might have
to change simply because you can’t get what you had before.
But
though there is a myriad of choices when it comes to feeding your
dog, it doesn’t have to be a stressful exercise for you to choose
a food that will meet his needs nutritionally, and that he will
enjoy eating. There are some tools available to make the job a little
easier such as dog food comparison charts, or various technical
books, reports and articles that you can use to educate yourself
about the details of dogs’ nutritional needs and how to select the
proper food for your particular dog. Also check with your veterinarian
about any concerns you might have.