Dry dog ​​food: classes, selection criteria and feeding rules

Dry food has long been one of the staple foods for dogs of all ages. Prepared food greatly simplifies the maintenance of the pet, allowing the owners to provide him with a complete diet with all vitamins and minerals. The granular product of industrial production can have different shapes and sizes of particles. The quality level of different types of feed also differs, and their composition changes. Manufacturers even take into account the intensity of physical activity that the pet is used to enduring.

The article will discuss how to choose food for active and other dogs, whether you need to pay attention to specialized and therapeutic nutrition if the animal is healthy. Each of these points deserves the most detailed consideration and study. After all, the state of health of the dog, the quality of its coat, the correct growth and development of the puppy depend on the diet.

First, let's look at what dry dog ​​food consists of. As a rule, it is made from a variety of ingredients to ensure the correct balance of fat, protein, carbohydrate components in the dog's diet. But the main thing should be meat - chicken, lamb, veal and even fish (salmon). It is this element in the composition that should be in the first place - without any reservations and assumptions. Not bone meal, only meat.

Specific designations "with lamb", "with chicken" on the packaging do not yet guarantee the dominance of the main component. It is also worth avoiding vague mentions "with fish", "with meat" without decoding the composition - the less information on the package, the higher the likelihood that the manufacturer has something to keep silent about.Another important point: chicken protein is a rather strong allergen; it is better to choose a turkey or beef-based diet for the pet's nutrition.

Cereals in the dog's diet serve as a source of energy - they are rich in carbohydrates, but not very well digested, leaving the body almost unchanged... In cheap feed, corn, soybeans or wheat are most commonly used. Manufacturers of more expensive products often completely abandon the cereal component or use barley, brown brown rice.

Consideration should be given to the presence and volume of offal in dog food. As with natural food, their amount should be kept to a minimum. Moreover, the viscera should act as an additive - the liver, kidneys, heart, and not claws, bones and necks, which are also often referred to this category. Another important component is vegetables, fruits and other sources of fiber, including seaweed. Their presence is an indicator of the high quality of products.

Beneficial ingredients in dry dog ​​food include L-carnitine, chondroitin, glucosamine, natural egg, choline, ferrous sulfate, beta-carotene. Vitamin premixes in food make it possible to avoid imbalances in the diet. And also among the desirable ingredients are usually anise, fenugreek, sesame seeds, vegetable oils, flaxseed flour.

What should not be in the composition:

1. dyes - nondescript brown or gray lumps are much more useful for the animal than brightly colored green or orange lumps;
2. dangerous fats - they can cause cancer;
3. grain offal - production waste, the value of which is highly questionable;
4. BHA, BHT, ethoxyquina - hazardous substances banned in many countries of the world.

The arguments of the dry food proponents are quite understandable. Eating from a common master's table is much more harmful for a dog. In addition, a strict diet is recommended for many pets, requiring the elimination of many foods. With the help of a ready-made diet, it is quite easy to comply with it. There are a number of other factors that can be attributed to the advantages of this type of diet.

1. A wide selection of products of different classes. Prepared foods often take into account the age category of the pet, the level of its physical activity, the intensity of the loads received, and even the breed. In addition, the price range is also quite wide, allowing each owner to solve the issue with the food of the animal, without going beyond the planned budget.
2. Significant time savings... To feed the animal, it is enough to pour in new granules. Food does not spoil, suitable for use in automatic dispensers. If the owner is not at home for a long time or travels with the dog, a ready-made diet will be the best choice.
3. Keeping teeth healthy. The use of dry dog ​​food allows you to provide an abrasive effect on the tooth enamel, cleanse deposits, preventing their reappearance.
4. Confidence in the quality of the products. You do not need to look for suitable meat, make sure that it is fresh and that the dog does not have allergies. The ready-made food can be chosen according to the taste of even the most capricious pet, and if you do not save money, the quality of its ingredients will be at its best.
5. No need for additional vitamin and mineral supplements. Quality feed, indeed, contain enough of them. With budgetary ones, everything is not so attractive, their composition is much poorer, and the purchase of supplements to the basic diet is usually necessary, as with natural food.
6. Availability. If you run out of food, in most cases you can find it at your nearest supermarket. With the purchase of food on trips and travels, there will also be no problem.

Not without its drawbacks. There are many disadvantages of dry food. But most of them are associated with mistakes of the owner himself in choosing a diet for the dog. Veterinarians warn of the need individual selection of food... But you should not be afraid of the monotony of the diet - the dog will receive everything it needs, avoid the risk of obesity, indigestion and intestinal upset.

Among the disadvantages to consider is the need for more water. If it is not possible to refill the bowl during the day, it is better to install an autodrinker. The high cost of quality feed is also regularly criticized. But when comparing the costs, eating a natural, balanced diet is no less expensive.

All types of ready-made dog food in the form of dry granules can be divided into classes that are very different from each other. The content of vitamins and minerals, additives to improve digestion is characteristic only of expensive products. Cheap feeds from the mass market segment at best contain offal and a significant proportion of cereals as filler. Such a diet will not bring serious harm. But you shouldn't expect much benefit from it either.

The manufacturers introduced the division into classes for a reason. It helps you select the right quality product by quickly separating the right feed category on the counter. In addition, when buying ready-made food from little-known brands, it is this factor that allows us to understand the level of the manufacturer.

Let's take a look at what classes of dry dog ​​food exist.

The most budgetary solution, the price of which per kilogram leaves no chance that there will be at least the cheapest meat inside. In the composition of economy-class food, you can find at best by-products, as well as bone meal, crushed fats and tendons. The varietal affiliation of the meat component also usually remains a mystery - at best, “bird” will be mentioned, but without specification, chicken or turkey. Even with this approach the percentage of animal protein in a cheap granular product is about 20-25%.

Among the obvious disadvantages of economy-class forages, it is possible to note the inclusion in their composition of such little useful additives as soybeans, corn grits and its production wastes. High salt content, flavors, flavor enhancers, colorants - all this also does not add usefulness to popular products of cheap brands.

Premium ready-made dog food is not yet an ideal product in terms of price and quality, but an option close to it. They cost more than their economy class counterparts, but are quite acceptable for most owners of thoroughbred animals. The composition must contain vegetables, cereals, natural meat. Such food is not suitable for puppies who continue to actively grow and develop. Otherwise, everything is very individual - you need to track the quality composition, select only trustworthy products.

The premium class is still the same mass market, but with a higher quality control. In the composition there are about 30% of meat, over 40% is cereals, most often rice. The presence of offal of the II category is allowed.

Super premium food is an expensive professional food for purebred dogs and pets. He must have a division into subclasses: for allergy sufferers, puppies, active and elderly animals, giants and small breeds. In addition, manufacturers always use high-quality natural meat, include trace elements and vitamins. The diet takes into account the energy requirements of a particular dog, and provides precise recommendations for calculating the amount of food per day.

As part of the super-premium class feed, the use of meat offal belonging to category I is allowed. And also here you can find a boiled egg, fiber-rich roots, rice. All ingredients are certified for animals as well as for human nutrition, and are recognized as safe for health.

In the super-premium segment, medicinal and prophylactic feeds are produced. The first category is intended for use in a certain period of the life of the animal - as a supporting and restorative nutrition. Preventive products are used on an ongoing basis, designed to prevent health problems specific to a particular breed or group of animals.

Diet super-premium food is intended for dogs suffering from diabetes, obesity, metabolic disorders. Each line of such food is optimized in its composition. The content is balanced, the calorie content is reduced, components are added for better digestion of food.

This type of dry dog ​​food is a grain-based and grain-free (dietetic) formulation, in the manufacture of which only the highest quality products are used. The basis is always at least 65-80% of high quality beef, veal, lamb, turkey. And also the composition includes rice and other grains safe for digestion, organic vegetables and berries, herbal preparations.

In fact, the holistic-class food appeared due to the desire of the owners to bring the ready-made ration closer to the quality of natural nutrition. Strict control, careful selection of raw materials - all this makes it possible to create a complete menu for dogs of different breeds and ages. Here you can find suggestions for:

• lactating and pregnant dogs;
• allergic animals;
• sterilized and neutered pets;
• dogs with increased energy requirements;
• puppies and juniors.

Biologically Appropriate Grain Free foods are referred to as “Biologically Appropriate” because they closely match the diet of a dog in the wild. The composition consists mainly of high-quality meat (up to 70%), herbaceous inclusions, spices, vegetables and fruits. The use of grain components, artificial preservatives, dyes is not allowed here.

It is quite difficult to compile a single brand rating. It is worth considering only manufacturers that produce quality products - grain-free and conventional feed not lower than the super-premium class. It is they who fully comply with high standards, do not pose a danger to animals. The quality of production is guaranteed mainly in the EU, USA, Canada.

The highest quality dog ​​food products are mainly represented by brands from Canada. It is here that the highest quality varieties of dry food are produced today, and innovative lines of rations are created. Control over the level of safety of ingredients, requirements and standards are the most stringent here.

The Canadian brand, known all over the world, was one of the first to produce holistic-class feed. The composition contains only high-quality natural meat, the proportion of grain components is minimized, but fiber is present. There are completely grain-free feed options in the line.Any food contains herbs, fruits, vegetables necessary for high-quality digestion of food.

The Acana brand in the holistic line offers food with a rather narrow specialization - by age, breed, size of the animal. The share of natural meat in the composition is at least 70%. Plant organics are carefully selected and checked for quality. It contains a full-fledged complex of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins.

One of the most popular Canadian brands in Russia, Go! Natural produces holistic products tailored to the individual needs of the animal... For shining coat and physical activity, for everyday protection against diseases, for large and small animals. All of them do not contain grain crops, they contain at least 70% of meat.

A completely natural balanced diet is complemented by the inclusion of fiber sources - vegetables, fruits, herbs. The composition does not contain dyes and chemical additives, but there is a useful vitamin and mineral complex. The medical line contains products, divided into subclasses, taking into account the age of the animal, the presence of diseases. The high cost is offset by the really high quality of the product.

Products under the Now Fresh brand are also produced by a Canadian company. Grain-free and classic versions of the diet are available. Protein is represented exclusively by high quality meat products. In the Now Fresh series, additional components of plant origin are used - fruits, herbs, which have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the digestive tract. The vitamin and mineral component is also fully presented, allowing the dog to be provided with adequate nutrition.

Super-premium feeds are significantly inferior to holistics in their composition. A significant proportion of the product is occupied by grain fillers, but the diet contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Below is a ranking of the most popular brands.

The leader of the rating is the products of the Czech brand, which have earned high consumer confidence. Forage of this brand is high in calories, economical consumption, natural composition. Proteins here are only meat, which allows you to provide adequate nutrition for dogs with different needs - from fighting and giant breeds to small active pets. The composition does not contain freeze-dried components, there are necessary vitamins and mineral supplements.

The products of the Canadian brand 1st Choice have a balanced composition, in which the volume of meat products is at least 35%. Proteins are presented mainly in the form of salmon, beef fillet. A variety of diets makes it possible to choose food for allergic dogs, elderly animals, owners of a sensitive gastrointestinal tract. Products undergo strict quality control. But its cost is quite high, and it is not possible to buy food everywhere.

A brand well known to many breeders from the Procter & Gamble concern. It contains at least 30% meat ingredients, cereals, vegetables as a source of fiber, chicken eggs. There is a division by age, size of the animal.

When choosing dog food, keep in mind that puppy food is not suitable for adult animals. The exception is females during lactation, the food intended for them is also suitable for feeding the growing offspring. If a product has a division into additional categories by age, size, level of physical activity, this should definitely be taken into account. Individual selection of food is the optimal solution for an animal of any age.

Another important selection criterion is the size of the dog.The pellet diameter in feeds for medium breeds and small decorative animals is significantly different from what is found in a pack of food for giant dogs. At the same time, it will be simply uncomfortable for the animal to chew too large or small dry pieces of food.

Features of the state of health are another important factor. For active pets at their peak, feeds with a high energy potential are suitable. For dogs with low levels of mobility, it is best to choose a diet that is less nutritious. Specialized nutrition is indicated for pets with liver and kidney diseases, abnormalities in the work of the stomach and intestines. Separate food is required for sterilized, castrated animals, allergic dogs.

When choosing a feed it is imperative to check the expiration date. The product must have an adequate supply before the expiration of the time allotted for its use. This factor is especially important for large packages.

In order for the feed to be well absorbed, you need to properly feed the dogs with dry granulated products, be sure to follow the simple rules.

1. After choosing one product or brand, you should stick to this diet. Holistic and super-premium producers have a fairly wide range of feeds, which makes it possible not to give up their usual diet when the age category changes.
2. To buy pellets by weight, you can choose only large stores where the product does not stagnate for more than a week. Otherwise, the treat will lose all attractiveness to the animal.
3. When equipping the feeding area, care should be taken to provide a sufficiently roomy and comfortable drinker. Dry food makes you thirsty. Water should be in excess, change it in a bowl daily. It is better to choose a drinkable bottled product rather than filtered tap liquid.
4. When eating dry food, a clear schedule is very important. Let the dog get used to eating strictly on the clock twice a day if it is an adult animal. Serving sizes are calculated based on the manufacturer's recommendations and calorie content. The uneaten food should be removed.
5. Storing dry food requires sealed packaging and a minimum moisture level. If these requirements are violated, mold, fungus, and other dangerous microorganisms may appear in the bag. If the dog is not eating too much, it is better to take the food in small packages.

The opinion of veterinarians and independent animal nutrition experts about dry dog ​​food is quite obvious. They only recommend super premium and holistic products for use. It is such a diet that can replace natural food without loss for the dog. If you only have enough funds for classic economy and premium class products, it is better to immediately consider options additional receipt of vitamins, minerals, fiber for animals.

There are a number of breeds that require a strict lifelong diet. For their owners, according to veterinarians, a ready-made diet can be a real salvation. Instead of cooking for many hours of permitted food, you can simply feed your dog the prepared food. But when choosing a food, a veterinarian's consultation will be required. Among the most relevant options, according to doctors, are brands Canidae, Piccolo, Artemis.

Experts in the selection of feed themselves advise not to be afraid of experiments. Many non-mass brands are cheaper than advertised products and can be brought to order.

For information on how to choose dry food, see the next video.