Reading Dog Information Can Save Your Canine’s Life
In this age when healthy living is given emphasis, many people still tend to forget how to make healthy dog food choices. This is not surprising to know because on a daily basis, unsuspecting dog owners are presented with visually interesting advertisements by various dog food brands claiming that their products are veterinary recommended or 100% natural balance dog food. With the dizzying dog food choices shouting at you, you’re probably confused where to get the right information that would certify your food choice is indeed appropriate for your pet. However, if you would just take the time to read the label of your pet’s food, you will definitely gain basic knowledge as to whether what you’re feeding to your pet is healthy or not.
The first thing that you would notice on dog information label is the so called general display information that contains the dog food brand name. You would also find in here the benefits class information, which as its name implies denotes the benefits that your dog will receive once he or she eat such dog food, this may include hair maintenance, nutrition level, weight loss and so on. You could also see in the package the canine class information which specifically details the correct age category of canines that could eat such dog food like puppy level and adult level. The basic information also tackles the quantity of dog food product.
The next dog information incorporated either at the side or back of commercial dog food products is usually ingredient specific. Here, you would know the general analysis of protein and fat found in the dog food, along with the amount of water and fiber contents. Check on the phosphorous level of your dog food choice, and be sure that it contains the right amount of such mineral as excessive phosphorous could induce renal disease to your dog, which if left unattended could shorten his life. Nonetheless, never buy a dog food product that contains animal by-products, fillers like corn as well as artificial colors and flavoring as these ingredients could profoundly alter your pet’s diet. Sadly though, almost all commercial brands contain these ingredients, and often they are major ingredients in the food.
As most commercial dog food brands have the same information, some brands even go to the extent of rewriting the information of other brands, it is still hard to secure the right food for your dog. Much attention is being given right now towards the benefits of feeding canines with organic dog food products. In fact, many veterinarians proved that feeding a dog with organic meals can lessen his or her health problems including allergies and cancer.
Similar to their commercial dog food counterparts, natural dog food products also contain dog information labels that present their ingredient information. But if you would compare the ingredient contents of these products, you can easily point out the differences in many aspects. As commercial dog food products contain preservatives and other synthetic items to improve their tastes and smell, natural food products rely on human-grade ingredients, such as quality meat and vegetables. From here, you could already notice the advantage of natural dog products over commercial dog food products that are made and packed with synthetic additives that could burden your pet’s body with toxicity. Although natural isn’t exactly at equal footing with organic, these two are by far more appropriate as dog meals than any commercial brands available in the market.
Before you settle for organic dog food however, make sure that your choice is made by a trusted company. It always pays to be sure; with emerging dog food products every month, along with the massive recalls of commercial dog food products, you can never be sure whether these companies are infiltrating the natural dog food market. A little research could always go a long way. At the end of the day, your vigilance would greatly benefit you and your beloved dog.
Before you pick a pack of natural balance dog food, make sure to read the dog information written either at the back or side of the package to know if the ingredients it contains are appropriate for your pet’s diet. However, if you really want to be safe, you may want to introduce your dog to organic dog food which is made from all natural and human grade ingredients.
- Brigitte Smith
