Dog food: What should i Feed them?

Dog food: Should I feed him dry food, canned food, or a mixture?

Walk down the pet aisle in the grocery or pet store and you’ll be able to tell instantly what type of dog food is the favorite among pups.

Commercial dry dog food is cost-effective, easy to measure, comes in a wide variety of flavors and types, and, as your dog would tell you if he could, feels nice on his teeth and gums and makes fun noises when he bites down. It works well for millions of dogs.

Canned dog food, on the other hand, is vacuum sealed and therefore doesn’t contain any preservatives. Some dogs love the meatier taste and consistency, which is closer to what they would enjoy in the wild. Canned foods often contain the same amount of nutrition as dry food, but they don’t have the same dental benefits as dry food, they can be more expensive, and serving them requires more than just a scoop.

Which is right for your buddy? That’s up to the two of you. If you prefer the convenience of dry dog food and have found a brand that meets the nutritional requirements and satisfies your dog, stick with it. Use the same criteria when selecting a canned food, and when checking the label for nutritional percentages be certain to adjust for the moisture.
The percentages listed above apply to dry food, which means we need to figure out the dry food content of a canned food, which is largely made up of nutrient-less water. If the label lists the can’s moisture content at 75%, this means that 25% of the food inside is dry.

Now whip out that calculator and try the following formula: Nutrient percentage ÷ dry dog food percentage  X 100 The result is the actual nutritional content of that nutrient, whether protein, fat, or carbohydrates. Okay, now put away that calculator.

You look nerdy and people are starting to stare. Indecisive? Many people feed their dogs a combination of both dry and moist food for the best (and worst) of both worlds. Again, this decision is completely up to you and your dog, unless your veterinarian has instructed you otherwise. That being said, stick with your decision. Dogs aren’t as interested in variety as their owners, and their bodies aren’t made for it.

Switching your dog’s food too often can end up making him sick or even cause him to just lose interest completely in whatever you set in front of him. If a food doesn’t seem to be working out, ease him into a new selection slowly by mixing small amounts of the new food into his current one.

Increase the amount at each feeding time until he’s eating only the new food.