What Is the Right Formula for My Dog?

Rather than basing your pet's nutritional needs upon breed, consider your puppy or dog's age, activity level, temperament, environment, and physical makeup. Good nutrition is required for your dog to remain happy and healthy. Therefore, look for a food that fits your pet's basic lifestyle and nutritional needs, rather than what breed it happens to be. There are, of course, some who feel that breed itself plays a major role in determining what pet food you should feed. It is always wise to contact your veterinarian concerning your pet's diet.

Choosing a dog food in today's extensive pet food market can prove challenging. With the vast array of choices in today's pet food market, how can you tell which food is best? It helps to do your homework.

• Your dog's age/life stage - make sure you choose a food that's nutritionally geared to your dog's age (puppy, adolescent, adult, senior).
• Your dog's body condition - dogs who are overweight or underweight need different nutrition than those who are not. Dogs who get lots of exercise also have different nutritional requirements. Choose a food that fits your dog's needs, whether it's weight control, performance, maintenance, or another formula.
• Your dog's health history - if your dog has medical conditions such as diabetes, allergies, cancer, or digestive difficulties, you'll need to choose a food that is appropriate for that condition.
• Your budget - simply put, feed your dog the best food you can afford. Generally, the more you spend, the better-quality, healthier food you will be using.

Keep in mind that no one food is best for every dog. Dogs are individuals, just like people. Some dogs prefer dry food, some canned. Some dogs prefer chicken, some prefer lamb. You could feed a brand of very well-formulated food to a group of dogs and find that most of them do great on it, some do marginally well, and a few actually get sick from it. Luckily, today's market offers many well-formulated dog foods for dogs at all life stages, and it's fine to try several to determine which one works best for your dog.

When you're shopping for a healthy food for your dog, the ingredient list on the back of the bag is a good place to start. By law, pet food labels must list their ingredients in order by weight. Look for dog foods with meat, fish, or eggs listed as the first ingredient. These are very digestible, and if they are listed as the first ingredient, you can assume the food offers a good-quality protein source, and includes several valuable, usable amino acids. If you are switching to a new food, be sure to allow ample time for your dog to adjust to it.

Keep in mind that "grocery-store" foods - those found in grocery stores and mass-market retailers - are typically made with lower-quality, less-digestible, inexpensive ingredients and are therefore a cheaper alternative. While easy on the pocketbook, "grocery-store" foods normally do not provide your dog with the healthiest, most nutrient-dense ingredients.

Premium foods, also found in grocery stores as well as pet stores and veterinarian offices, generally contain higher-grade ingredients. Watch, however, for some elements of "grocery store" food such as artificial colors, artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, and "filler" ingredients. Premium foods are usually more expensive than "grocery store" foods because their ingredients are typically of a higher quality and more beneficial and digestible.

Bright eyes, a shiny coat, and a normal energy level will let you know you've chosen a good source for your dog's nutrition. If you need assistance selecting a food for your dog, seek veterinary/professional advice.