Dog food: classification and selection criteria

Dogs are predators that have been tamed by humans, so their diet must necessarily contain protein, which in nature they get from meat. The highest quality feed should contain fish, vegetables, cereals, all of these ingredients are designed to meet the daily need for vitamins and minerals of the animal.

On store shelves, you can see food with salmon, lamb, chicken or vegetables. All of them differ in composition, often they contain additional vitamin supplements and minerals.

A high-quality feed should include rice, and not corn, which is poorly digested by animals. On canned food, where it is indicated that the food is with fish, it is better if the composition contains scraps of red sea fish, since it contains healthy fats and acids. The better the food and the more balanced its composition, the less additional feeding the dog will need. It is better to choose a product that contains natural herbs that have an additional therapeutic effect on the animal's body. Synthetic vitamins are not absorbed as well.

Holistic food is considered the best because it is made from the same products that are used in the production of food for humans. Before buying, it is important to study the content and the whole label in detail. It is better not to purchase food, which indicates only the content of proteins and carbohydrates, since not only meat contains them, it is quite possible that unhealthy substitutes were used in the composition.

Dogs, like humans, are prone to allergies and digestive disorders. This is why rice should be the source of carbohydrates in dog food, not wheat. Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of hypoallergenic feeds.

If the package says "meat" and does not specify which one, then, most likely, the manufacturer tried to hide the fact that he used low-quality raw materials. In no case should an animal purchase products with artificial flavors, preservatives and colors. Dogs are not so picky about the color of the consumed product, so it should not be attractive. Such a publicity stunt attracts breeders, but not animals.

Additional flavors hide an unpleasant odor from humans, the animal recognizes a low-quality product instantly. Premium food includes the following components:

• corn and soy flour;
• offal;
• animal fat;
• a flavoring agent that imparts a liver flavor to the product;
• sunflower oil;
• egg powder;
• flax seeds;
• L-carnitine.

Corn in the composition may come first, but it is worth remembering that this product is practically indigestible in dogs. It doesn't do any good.

In second place can be chicken offal flour. It is good that the product is presented in this form, but not everyone knows what it really is. Specifically in animal feed, flour is ground bones, as well as feathers and poultry paws.

In rare cases, by-product is understood as the liver, lungs, heart and other internal organs, which the animal must consume in a certain percentage of the rest of the feed.

Soy flour is a cheap filler, it allows you to artificially increase the amount of protein in the product.

A super-premium product may include:

• fish, flaxseed and poultry by-product flour;
• corn;
• chicken's meat;
• animal fat;
• egg powder;
• rice, which is called beer;
• dried beet pulp;
• yeast;
• sodium chloride, potassium, choline;
• beta carotene;
• calcium carbonate.

In the first place in such a feed is chicken, but not whole meat, but flour from offal and corn. It can be found in sorghum, which is, in fact, a good source of carbohydrates, but animals cannot digest it well enough. Better if barley is indicated on the label.

In many cases, the presence of fishmeal could be considered a plus, but not this time. It is difficult to imagine what exactly is included in the ingredient. The presence of chicken fat is an indisputable plus of quality dog ​​food.

Good dog food should have something like the following:

• salmon meat;
• from cereals - millet and oats;
• flax seeds;
• from vegetables - potatoes, but not ordinary, but sweet, carrots;
• from greens - spinach, celery;
• fish fat;
• seaweed;
• from additional ingredients - amaranth, currants, apples.

The main source of protein needed by the animal in this example is salmon. Red fish is very useful for animals as it contains many vitamins and minerals. It must be present in the diet of a healthy dog. Millet adds nutritional value to the feed; potatoes are a source of carbohydrates.

The oats in the composition help stimulate the dog's digestion. Most experts will say that feed with such a composition requires special attention, although it will not be cheap.

Pedigree dogs are not fed with economy class food, there is little benefit from it. The composition almost always contains corn, bone meal, soybean and fish meal. The fat is described as simply of animal origin, but which one is not specified. The list of ingredients contains salt, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide and other harmful components.

Whoever understands even a little, immediately sees that the composition of such a product is completely preservatives and fillers, which give a feeling of satiety and nothing more. As for animal fat, when the manufacturer does not indicate which one it is, it is difficult to judge the quality.

If you classify dog ​​food according to the release form, then they are:

• dry;
• wet.

In dry form, the product can be stored for much longer, while the beneficial properties are not lost. They are sold in packages of different weight, the shape of the granules may also differ. The composition depends on the manufacturer.

Wet food is sold in metal cans or soft packaging. To make them last longer, manufacturers add a small amount of preservatives. Vitamin E is considered the best. An animal should eat such food within an hour, then it gets aired and becomes unusable.

The brands most in demand on the market try to offer the consumer both types of feed. They are made from the same ingredients and differ only in water and fat content. For the formation of the correct diet of the animal, dry granules are considered preferable; it is advised to give canned food only from time to time. They can act as a treat or supplement.

Wet food can also be in the form of:

• pieces;
• pate.

The pate is always much better than the product that is presented in pieces. If the canned food is really high quality, then with the naked eye you can see the meat, finely ground into minced meat with other ingredients.

Most wet foods are high in organ meats and organ meats, which include soy, vitamins, vegetables, grains and minerals as an adjunct. With the help of a special blender, all components are thoroughly mixed and processed at an elevated temperature. As a result of heat treatment, the starch added for thickening turns into jelly. Only after that they begin to preserve the product.

Not all products of this type are suitable for daily consumption, as there are also gourmet types among them. If you take and read the composition of a regular dog food, it is more balanced. Delicacies often contain a large amount of soybeans, which gives them a brown color, which from the side resembles meat or liver. Gourmet food is addictive, but poorly balanced and lacking in nutrients and minerals. If the animal is fed with it constantly, then it begins to develop problems with the skeleton and the digestive system.

All feeds on the market can be categorized. They differ among themselves in the balance of the components present in the composition, their quality and variety. The better the ingredients and the healthier for the dog, the more expensive the product is.

Dry food can be purchased at any store. An underestimated cost indicates a minimum benefit to the animal. Manufacturers of such products use substandard ingredients of dubious origin, most of which give a feeling of fullness, but do not guarantee the presence of vitamins and minerals, which are so necessary for a dog for normal development at different ages.

Often in the description on the label you can find offal in the composition. In economy class food, these are not internal organs, but most likely bone meal, veins and other waste. They are in the product up to 5% of the total mass. Most of all in the feed of poor quality corn or wheat, which are poorly digested by dogs, respectively, do not carry any benefit to the body. You can also find preservatives, flavorings and other ingredients.

The list of such manufacturers includes well-known brands:

• "Our brand";
• "Oscar";
• Chappi;
• Pedigree.

The composition of products of this class contains up to 25% of raw meat. They are available commercially at a reasonable cost and can serve as a balanced diet for the animal. Of the harmful substances in the composition, there may be flavor enhancers and some other additives that are not absorbed by the dog's body, including corn.

Premium feeds are produced taking into account the breed, age and other characteristics of the animal. The goods that are brought from the USA and Europe are of better quality than those made in our country. Of the manufacturers, it can be noted:

• RosPes;
• Dog Chow;
• Probalance;
• Royal Canin;
• Nature Protection.

If the owner wants the dog to be healthy and develop fully, then he should buy food of this particular class. Of the advantages of the described product, it is worth highlighting:

• balance;
• good digestibility;
• energy value;
• minimum consumption.

In the manufacture, the manufacturer uses only natural vegetables, fruits, herbs. The feed also contains meat, red sea fish, vitamins and minerals. Flavor enhancers, preservatives, GMOs, dyes are completely absent in the composition. Among the assortment, you can find high-quality and balanced food for a dog, taking into account its age and other characteristics.

On the shelves there is a special food, the so-called dietary line of products, which allows you to maintain the normal condition of dogs with diabetes, weak immunity and other abnormalities. They sell feed of this classification exclusively in specialized stores, it is distinguished by its high cost. AND3 manufacturers that are worthy of attention are worth highlighting:

• Eukanuba;
• 1st Choice;
• Josera, Arden Grange;
• DailyDog;
• Trainer.

Of all the feeds on the market, these have an innovative composition that is perfectly balanced. The developers make up the animal's ration in accordance with the research carried out and perfectly select all the components.

In the composition, you can see only high-quality components that in other conditions may be suitable for cooking for humans. On the label of such a product it is indicated that the amount of natural meat in it is 80%, and this is indeed the case. All ingredients are minimally heat treated. The composition of the food is close to that which an animal should eat in the wild.

To improve their products, manufacturers add probiotics, which in turn improve the dog's digestion. With such a diet, the animal feels much better, its hair and teeth look healthy. It is forbidden to use flavors, dyes and gluten in the composition, so they are not there.

Among other feeds, this one stands out for its increased cost, therefore it is not often used by breeders. Of the manufacturers, the following can be distinguished:

• Acana;
• Savarra;
• Applaws;
• Pronature Holistic;
• Wolfsblut.

Today the assortment of dog food is quite wide, so every dog ​​breeder will be able to choose a product that will take into account his financial capabilities. In any case, when buying dry or wet food, you should pay attention to its composition. If the manufacturer does not specifically prescribe ingredients, but uses general phrases such as "animal fat", "offal", the more likely that the feed is of poor quality, despite its cost.

Feed is produced in dry form in packages not only by kilogram, but also in large bags of 15 kg, and sometimes 20 kg. There are those that can be purchased by weight. In the ranking of the best products of Italian, Russian, German and Canadian manufacturers. In terms of quality, European feed and those produced in Canada are much better, but they are not always available.

When ranking the best, it is necessary to separately consider wet and dry foods for dogs.

These canned food contains up to 70% of meat. There are fish, vegetables, seaweed in the list of ingredients. The manufacturer added brown rice to the mixture. It is a fortified product, perfectly balanced in terms of the amount of minerals, which contains all the necessary ingredients.

The percentage of meat to other components is 80%. Including in the feed is used meat of ram, cow, kangaroo, chicken.

The list of ingredients also includes rice, berry and vegetable additives. The food is popular with professional dog breeders because it has a mineralized composition with a lot of vitamins. Grain-free foods are also available and are ideal for animals that are allergic to certain foods.

There are only two options on the market: canned chicken and turkey. Ingredients include rice, flaxseed and starch. To balance the diet of the animal, the manufacturer has added fatty acids, vitamins and minerals to the composition. The amount of proteins in the presented canned food is underestimated.

On the label, natural meat is listed first in the list of ingredients. Its amount is 60% of the total mass.

Also on the list of useful components necessary for the body are berries, amino acids and other biologically active substances. This feed has an ideal value for money.

The presented feed is characterized by a small amount of proteins. Supplied for sale at an affordable cost, the main component is chicken meat, which is 30% in the feed, the rest is offal, beets, trace elements, vitamins, fats. If we talk about the daily requirement of an animal in calories, then this product fully satisfies it.

It is marketed in chunks that float in a nutritious jelly. In the composition there is not one type of meat, but several. Cereals are represented by brown rice, which is much better than corn or wheat. The food is enriched with essential vitamins and microelements, the quality corresponds to the price.

German product, for the production of which pure meat is used, and animals are specially raised on farms where hormones are not used.

The manufacturer's line includes a wide range of meat, sometimes exotic. In addition to the usual duck, chicken and beef with lamb, you can find camel, ostrich or wild boar meat. For dietary meals, you can choose a product with 6 types of fish.

The granules are medium in size, there are 15 different flavors for dogs, so the food does not get boring. The composition uses a minimum of grain, but the feed is enriched with phytocomponents.

Of the minuses of the brand's products, one can note the high fat content.In percentage terms, its proportion is 18%.

Czech product containing poultry and salmon. Great alternative for dogs with allergies. There is a food containing rice and lamb. Chondroprotectors protect joints from age-related problems; fruits and berries are on the list of useful components. Large packages weighing 12 kilograms are available for sale.

This is a Russian manufacturer, although its name is foreign. The brand is Danish, it has existed on the market not so long ago, therefore it is not often found on store shelves.

The feed uses dehydrated meat, not meat and bone meal. The cost is in the middle range for prices, corn is completely absent, as well as soybeans. The main sources of carbohydrates are flax seeds and oats.

The food is popular due to the presence of medicinal herbs, prebiotics, chondroprotectors in the composition. If we compare it with other feeds, where three vitamins are more common, then the manufacturer offers 12 at once.

If the breeder manages to choose the right food, then his animal will be able to live longer. Individual characteristics must be taken into account, for active dogs and for puppies of small and medium breeds, the food will be different if you want to provide the animal with a high-quality and complete diet. It is very important that the composition contains healthy berries, herbs and vegetables. For adults, the product should be less fatty and nutritious, otherwise the dog will suffer from obesity.

When making a choice, the breeder should pay attention to the composition. If it contains corn and soybeans, then it is of poor quality. When choosing a product, take into account:

• breed;
• age;
• sizes;
• animal activity;
• the physical state.

For large and small breeds, the food is significantly different, since they have different needs for certain microelements. Including at different ages, the dog needs some minerals and vitamins first, and then others. Puppies need to be fed more nutritious mixtures, they are very active and consume calories more quickly.

You can not give the dog round-the-clock access to food, then it will suffer from obesity. There are certain rules that every dog ​​breeder who wants to see his pet healthy must follow.

• The daily amount of calories consumed should correspond to the level of energy expended.
• Large breeds can be fed a large amount of feed, but the fat content must be reduced.
• Puppies are given food three times more often, but in small portions.
• If the bowl is licked, then this portion is sufficient. When the food remains in it, the portion is reduced.
• After feeding, the animal is not given anything else, even if it looks plaintively. Dogs can overeat and do not feel full, so they often vomit.
• At the first sign that the animal has become uncontrollably gaining weight, it is worth reducing the portion.
• Up to three months, the puppy is fed every four hours. Young dogs up to 6 months old are given food three times a day, after which it is reduced to two times.

According to numerous veterinarians and experienced dog breeders, dry food, if it is of high quality, can completely replace natural, since it has a well-balanced formula.

A natural product can only be afforded by those breeders who have enough time to make minced meat. Puppies can be given canned food from time to time, but it is always undesirable to use them. The consumption of such a product is much higher than dry food.

For an overview of dog food, see the next video.