Hello, Y'all!
*I want to start with a discloser; I am not a veterinarian or animal nutritionist. I am just a dog mom sharing what I have learned about dog nutrition and food.*
We love our four-legged family members but when was the last time you looked at what is actually in your dog's food? The content of your pet food can help with everything from the shine of their coat, weight management, and overall longevity. Take a moment and go check out the food label. What are the first several ingredients? Many of the dog food mega brands out there have corn as their first ingredient with by-products as the second, followed by even more cornmeal. The primary components are the predominant ones used to make your dog's food.
" There are the six essential classes of nutrients dogs need for optimum healthy living." (ASPCA website) These classes include water, protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and mineral. Here is where the issue with corn-based dog foods comes in; corn is a grain making it a great source of carbs but not much else. In the 1950s commercial dog kibble was invented and corn was selected as the main ingredient mainly because it is cheap calories (DogFoodAdvisor).
So what can you do to make sure you are picking out the best food when looking for balanced dog food for your four-legged friends search for a meat first ingredient. Meat is not only a great source of protein but also fat. Many new dog food brands have emerged in recent years to help bring clean and balanced options for Fido, foods that put chicken or salmon as the first ingredient. With hearty and nutritionally rich ingredients like brown rice and sweet potatoes. And these foods do not break the bank for a couple of dollars more you can be providing a better quality meal for your best four-legged friend.
Eloise's favorite food comes from NUTRO. She loves the taste, and I love knowing I am feeding her a balanced diet. If you are interested in a fun little taste test of the Essential and Ultra head over to my Instagram page and check out the highlight "Eloise."
Thank you NUTRO for providing free product for the taste test.
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