Things To Remember When Selecting Dog Food And Treats

If you are a dog lover, you will agree that life becomes so much more exciting when you have a four-legged friend in your home. At the same time, you are faced with certain challenges to keep your special friend fit and healthy. One such challenge is selecting the best food and treats for your dog. It’s a known fact that a complete and balanced diet is essential to ensure proper health and growth of your pet. But choosing healthy dog food and treats is easier said than done, especially if you are new to the task. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting healthy dog food and treats.

Consider your dog’s age

The nutritional requirement of dogs changes with their age. It is important that you feed your dog healthy food and treats that are formulated for his age. For instance, a puppy will need food or treats that are rich in protein. This will help them to develop their growing muscles and attain strength. But for a grown-up dog, you will have to look for food that matches his activity level. Also, you need to make sure that the food or treats you are offering will help to ensure a healthy weight for your pet. After all, you don’t want your dog to become obese and inactive due to inappropriate food.

Keep your dog’s activity level in mind

Dogs belonging to different breeds have different activity levels. Some dogs may be more active than the others of their own breed. As such, you need to think about your dog’s activity level when selecting food or treats for him. Does your dog indulge in regular activities that help him to burn more calories? Or, an occasional walk is the only exercise your pet gets throughout the week? If you have a highly active dog as your pet, you need to go for food and treats that are rich in nutrients. Such food will help them to get the energy to keep up their activity level without feeling fatigued. On the other hand, for a dog with a less active lifestyle, you may opt for dog food designed to maintain proper weight.

Prioritize nutrition but do not forget the taste

The right food can ensure a long and quality life for your dog. So, you need to give utmost importance to the nutrition contained in your dog food. But, like human beings, your dog also loves to indulge in tasty food. So, you need to maintain a balance between the two. Having a nutritious food that does not appeal to your dog’s taste buds is not a great idea. Your dog may even avoid eating the food if he does not like the taste at all. That is why you need to look for food and treats that are great for health and good in taste as well. You can check out the food and treats from Betsy Farms if you are looking for the perfect blend of nutrition and taste.

Think about food allergy

Food allergy can result in much discomfort in your pet, including itchy skin and dog hair shedding. If your dog suffers from any kind of food allergy, look for food items that won’t trigger the allergy in your pet. Most new pet owners can’t even recognize the food items or ingredients in food that causes allergy to their dogs. When you are in such a position, the best idea is to consult your veterinarian and seek advice about the same. Your veterinarian will be able to identify the ingredients that can trigger the allergy in your dog. Once you know which ingredients are to avoid, pick out food and treats that do not include them in their ingredient list.    

Ensure that the food is easily digestible

Improper digestion can cause much discomfort for your dog and can even affect his health adversely. If you find that a particular dog food results in flatulence or your pet does not defecate properly after having it, then it’s time to change the food. You can know that the food is easily digestible if your dog maintains his pooping schedule and defecates properly. Also, your dog must not show any symptoms of discomfort or stomach ache after eating the food. Homemade food may seem to be a good solution for this problem. But such food may not contain all the nutrients required for the wellness of your dog. So, it’s better to opt for a nutrient-rich and easily digestible dog food.

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