Wet or Dry Dog Food? | Should We Go Grain Free? | What About RAW?

You get out what you put in!

First things first, feed your dog. OK, now that we’ve got that straight, WHAT dog food should you feed your dog?

There are so many options that it’s hard to know what to choose, and everyone seems to have an opinion about what’s best. Just as in people, a good dog food diet is an essential building block for good health. Cheaper dog foods are made with ingredients of poorer quality and contain more additives, which may affect your dog’s health and cause issues like tummy upsets and skin problems. Better quality dog food will have more consistent, high-quality protein and fat sources, as well as fewer additives. It will generally be more easily digestible and cause fewer food reactions.

So when choosing dog food for your dog, opt for the best quality you can afford. Feeding your dog a consistent, high-quality dog food throughout their life will go a long way toward encouraging optimal long-term health.

Dry Dog Food

Commercial dry dog food is the most common diet fed to family dogs. It is convenient, easy to store, and economical. A dry diet may encourage better dental health (but nothing beats teeth brushing!) and improve
digestion.

Fussy pooch? Try adding a bit of warm water to his dry food to improve the flavour and smell.

Wet Dog Food

Although there is no nutritional benefit to wet food over dry food, some dogs do prefer it. Wet food
tends to have a stronger smell so it may encourage a fussy dog to eat. You will need to feed a larger volume of wet food compared to dry food so storage may be a problem if you have a large dog.

What about RAW?

Despite anecdotal reports of improved coat and digestion, scientific studies do not show any benefit to raw feeding. In fact, studies have shown an increased risk of infections like Salmonella and Campylobacter in dogs fed a raw diet, as well as their owners! If your dog prefers a fresh food, opt for a cooked meat and veg food instead of raw. It is safer and just as palatable.

Lifestages

Just as babies and growing children have different nutritional needs to adults, dogs’ feeding requirements vary depending on their life stage. Puppies need food with a higher calorie density and extra protein compared to a senior dog. Always choose the right food for your dog’s stage of life to ensure that he is getting everything he needs to grow and thrive.

Look at the Label

It can be easy to be distracted by good packaging or a marketing gimmick. We’ve all been there! But a pretty bag
tells you nothing about how good a food is for your dog: Always read the label and check the list of ingredients.
Here’s a few tips to help you understand the label, but the general rule for nutrients is to focus on QUALITY over
quantity…

Commercial dog foods will vary a lot in their levels of macronutrients like protein and fat. Unless your dog has a
medical condition then he will be able to thrive on a wide range of protein and fat levels, so don’t get too caught up on protein and fat percentages. Similarly, levels of micronutrients like calcium, phosphorus, iron etc will conform to UK pet food regulations. So, unless you are feeding your dog a home cooked food, then it is likely that the levels of micronutrients will be appropriate.

Ingredients are listed in order from biggest to smallest percentage, so the first few things on the list are the most
common. Look for recognisable real ingredients: choose foods with real meat over meat derivatives (what even is
that???) and actual grains like maize or rice rather than generic cereals.

What about Grain Free?

Grains included in dog food include things like corn, rice, wheat, and oats. They are an important source of
carbohydrates. Grain free food uses legumes, peas, or potatoes instead of grains as a carbohydrate source. A
possible association between some grain free dog foods and heart disease has been reported in the US. Unless your dog has an identified intolerance of a specific grain there is no proven benefit to feeding a grain free diet.

How Much to Feed?

The actual amount of food your dog needs will vary depending on the specific food and the size of your dog.
Always check the feeding instructions. It is helpful to weigh your dog’s food out each meal. Giving a handful, or a scoop isn’t accurate and can lead to over or under feeding. Work out how much your dog needs each day and
divide it into 2 or 3 meals: several regular meals are easier to digest than one single large meal. Weigh your dog and assess his body condition regularly and adjust his food up or down as needed.

What about TREATS

Treats are an important part of your dog’s diet. They are a key part of training and rewarding your dog, as well as playing an important role in enrichment. When choosing treats for your dog use the same approach you use for choosing a food: Choose good quality treats with recognisable ingredients and minimal additives. In addition, be conscious of how many treats you are feeding. A bit here and there can add up quickly! You can reduce your dog’s meal ration slightly to allow for some treats every day.

Key Points

• Feed the best quality food you can afford: it is one of the biggest things you can do to support your dog’s health.
  
• Feed for the right Lifestage.
  
• Choose a food with good quality ingredients and few additives and processed food products.