The foundation for a healthy, active, lifestyle is nutrition. Although we all want the best for our pets, there are so many options available on the market that it’s difficult for the average dog owner to figure out which dog food is the best for their pups. Below, we’ll discuss how to find the healthiest food for your dog.
Similar to our human lifestyles, dogs are increasingly living a sedentary life. While dogs were originally kept as pets on farms or houses with large backyards to roam around in, they are often found in small apartments or kept in kennels during the daytime while their owners are at work. This means that nutrition is even more important because dogs don't have the opportunity to burn those calories while playing freely outside.
In fact, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) noted that over 34% of dogs were overweight and almost 20% were obese! This is particularly worrisome because obesity in dogs has been linked to increased risks for diabetes, cancer, inflammation, skin disorders, reduced life expectancy and diminished quality of life.
Along with different brands and companies, there are several different kinds of dog food to choose from. For example, there are dry, canned, and fresh dog food options at most local pet stores.
Dry dog food is typically the cheapest of the bunch and claims to have all the nutrients that your dogs need. Canned food is a little more expensive, but dogs love it and it actually seems to have a lot of meat. Finally, fresh dog food can be found in the refrigerated section of most pet stores and has some tasty-sounding options, including beef, chicken, lamb, and bison. Since it has to be refrigerated, we know that it's less likely to have as many preservatives as other options available.
As you can see, buying a good dog food brand can quickly become a challenge. In addition to different types of food options on the market, owners then have to compare ingredients lists to find the nutritional value, how the ingredients were sourced, the number of preservatives or fillers mixed in, etc.
Luckily, our friends at DogFoodGenius.com have provided a very useful infographic below to help you pick the right dog foods that will keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come!