What pet food is best for man’s best friend? Our pets not only offer emotional support but are also great company. For this reason, it’s important to pay special attention to what we feed them to ensure proper sustenance and nutrition. Pet food is animal feed meant for consumption by pets. It’s usually sold in supermarkets and pet food stores and is specific to the type of animal such as; dogs, birds, and cats. Most meat used for pets is not considered fit for human consumption and is therefore packaged for consumption by animals. The feed is usually formulated according to the animal’s nutritional needs.

Dog food is a specialty of pet food made specifically for dogs. This includes both animal parts, cereal products, vitamins, and minerals to ensure the nutritional needs of your pets are met. The type of dog food you give your pet determines not only their mood but also their overall health. Formulation of dog food is done using byproducts of meat, poultry, seafood, feed grains, and soybean meal.

We will examine the different types of dog food available for your pets.

TYPES OF DOG FOOD

Dogs are considered man’s best friend. They offer security, are used as emotional support animals and as guides for the visually impaired. We will delve deeper into the feeding options available for your pet;

1. Dry food – This type contains no more than 10% moisture content. The water makes the mixture rise like dough which is then cut into small pieces known as kibbles. The ingredients include; meat, grains, legumes, and fats that are cooked and sub-divided for ease of consumption by your pet. Dry food can either be complementary or complete a fact usually indicated on the packaging. An important point to note is to ensure you provide your pet with sufficient water for hydration when you feed them on dry pet food.
2. Wet food – This contains 70 to 80% moisture content and is usually packaged in a can, pouch, or tray. Wet food contains more fresh products such as; meat, meat meal extracts with little or no cereal. Dry food can be offered as a complement to ensure your pets get the daily recommended nutritional requirements. It’s important to note that wet food should be refrigerated and used up within a few days after opening to ensure the contents don’t go rancid.
3. Milk & newborn – These are products offered to puppies because they can’t handle solid food at a tender age. It’s important to consult a veterinarian on the supplements to use together with the puppy’s formula when you wean them off their mother’s nutritious milk. As puppies age, they start chewing on the bottle’s teat, it’s at this point that they should be introduced to semi-solid food to ensure they gain weight quickly enough and are healthy to ward off infections.
4. Vet food – This type should be fed with the recommendation of a qualified veterinarian officer. The referrals on these types of food are meant to solve a variety of issues such as; overweight, feed intolerance, gastrointestinal diseases, kidney diseases, and skin irritations. The food can be available as either a portion of dry food or wet food and fed as a special diet to your pet for a happy and healthy animal with diagnosed health problems.
5. Treats and chews – These are meant to keep your pet busy and are not necessarily meant as a source of complete and balanced nutrition. Treats and chews are an indispensable part of training, helping with dental health, supplying natural minerals for bone and joint health, and rewarding your dog. Using safe and natural sources is the best alternative because these are usually animal in origin and edible. It’s important to procure the right treatment depending on your dog’s age because they have different needs based on their life’s phase.

CONCLUSION

Dogs not only provide security by also make the home warmer. It’s important as a pet owner to read the labels on the packaging to ensure you procure the right product for the right age and right nutritional requirements. Whether as a treat, health complement, or routine feeding, getting the best dog food is imperative to ensure the continued health and well-being of your pets. It’s also advisable to work with a qualified veterinarian officer to recommend foods that are both nutritious and to the preference of your dog.