Essential Ingredients in Healthy Dog Foods
The dog food market is expanding day by day. Both in the form of wet food and dry food, there are plenty of options out there. There are so many brands and so many flavors in dog foods to try. If you are worried about making a decision, look for these ingredients when buying healthy dog foods.
Look for these ingredients when buying healthy dog foods:
Meat
A healthy portion of meat should always be included in your dog’s diet. Sometimes you have the time to cook meat and feed it to your dog along with a platter of a home-cooked meal. However, there are times when you might find dry dog food to be a more convenient option. So, make sure that store-bought food contains real meat and not meat substitutes. Meat flavors do not solve the purpose.
Grains and carbs
Carbohydrates should be an essential nutrient in your dog’s daily diet. For all the energy that your pet uses up during the day, it needs a fresh boost of carbohydrates every day. Whole grains are some of the essential sources of carbs for dogs. There are healthy dog foods that come with whole grains. This list of grains should also be free from the common allergens for dogs.
Vitamins and minerals
These should not be underestimated when it comes to an understanding of the nutritional needs of a dog. Some dog foods come packed with all the essential vitamins and minerals, so you might not have to think about adding supplements to the diet. Deficiencies of these nutrients can lead to bone and skin problems in many dogs. In fact, they are also crucial for the dog’s immunity.
Fruits and vegetables
Many fruits should not be fed to dogs. This is why including fruits in your dog’s diet might be a tricky task. This is where commercial dog foods come to the rescue. Many come with natural fruits added to enrich the flavor and increase the nutritional value of the meal. Fruits and vegetables are essential components in the diet for the healthy growth and development of your dog. So, look for these ingredients when buying healthy dog foods.
Good fats
Like human beings, even dogs need a healthy dose of good fats. Many dog foods contain healthy fats, which are critical to the digestive health of the dog. They maintain an excellent metabolic rate in your dog so that indigestion-related health problems can be averted. Therefore, this is a crucial component in the dog’s diet, no matter the dog’s age or breed.
Look for these ingredients when buying healthy dog foods, and you would never regret your decision. These ingredients in dog foods make sure that your pet gets its daily nutritional requirements met.