Pet supplements are pleasing to purchase and even more enjoyable to bring home for your furry and feathery family members. While looking for the appropriate toys and bakery items for your pet, keep in mind that brands and pricing may not be as important in pet accessories as they are in electronics and other products. Instead of being concerned with a pet brand’s popularity, keep an eye out for potentially hazardous foods and their contents. However, pet care professionals understand that improper treats result in uneven nutrition. Your dog may enjoy bacon, but overweight dogs live up to two years less than lean dogs and are more prone to health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, and pancreatitis.
The sections below provide some tips to keep in mind as you browse the shelves. Dog experts avoid dog treats with a high-fat content (more than 25%) or chemical preservatives. Labels must include a guaranteed analysis of contents as a percentage by weight, with the most abundant substances mentioned first. To find the exact fat content, you may need to use a converter.
A General Rule
There are always a few items that should be avoided at any cost from the reach of your pet. Dogs are carnivores by nature, and their metabolic systems are designed for meat-based meals. Grains are difficult for dogs to digest and provide little nourishment. A good rule of thumb to follow when purchasing dry dog food is this: is the dog food made from meat? Is it made of grains?
The principal ingredients in many commercial dog diets are corn, wheat, or soy. Corn appears prominently in lower-cost dog diets because it is a cheap filler element that is frequently mixed with smaller amounts of low-quality meat products. Dogs don’t digest grains like maize effectively, so they get poor nutrients from them, which might lead to health problems later on. Purchasing higher-quality meat-based dog foods are the finest thing you can do for your dog. Make sure that meats like chicken, lamb, and salmon are prominently featured on the ingredient list. Omega fatty acids and probiotics are also beneficial for fostering good skin and hair, as are anti-oxidants for immune system health.
Simplifying It
You can also browse for specific vet-recommended dog food brands based on your dog’s breed and age. Because most larger breeds and older dogs are prone to weight gain and low physical activity, a low-weight composition works best for them. Vegetable fibers should also be considered for your senior dog. Smaller breeds, lactating dogs, and high-energy dogs should consume lots of protein. Chicken proteins are also beneficial to these pets.
Many pet professionals have a homemade dog treat recipes that they use entire, fresh ingredients. Fresh vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and cucumber are recommended, as are pet-safe fruits such as blueberries and some puppies love fresh orange and apple slices. Single-source protein elements such as fish, poultry, venison, or rabbit are also advised, as are organ meats such as liver, lung, and heart.
Inputs by Yashika Arora founder of Paw Petisserie
