Unlock Your Dog's Health Potential: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Top-Quality Dog Food

There are many types of dog food, and the classification standards are different, so the categories are also different. The broad classification is basically based on the form of dog food.

There are a variety of brands on the market now, the number is scary, and the quality of dog food varies from good to bad, and the price ranges from a few yuan per kilogram to dozens of yuan. So, do owners really know how to distinguish good dog food from bad?

Dog food classification

Divided by moisture, manufacturing process, function and use, materials, nutrients, etc.

According to the moisture content: dry, semi-dry, soft and wet, wet dog food, etc.

According to the manufacturing process of dog food, it is divided into: ordinary dog food and high-end sandwich dog food.

According to the manufacturer of dog food, it is divided into: industrialized commercial dog food and home-made homemade dog food.

According to the function and purpose of dog food, it is divided into: maintenance nutritional dog food, growth and development nutritional dog food, health care and prescription dog food, etc.

According to the source of dog food materials: natural food, commercial food

According to the nutrient content: core premixed dog food, concentrated dog food, full-price compound dog food, etc.

According to the type and use of dogs: dog food for big dogs, dog food for household pets, dog food for meat dogs, etc.

According to brand and origin: original imported dog food, imported packaged dog food, domestic OEM dog food, joint venture dog food, domestic independent brand dog food, etc.

According to the physiological stages of dogs: dog food for the weaning period, puppy food, adult dog food, pregnancy dog food, lactation dog food, elderly dog food, etc.

Nutritional Facts Table Analysis

Crude protein, fat, moisture, crude fiber, crude ash, calcium/phosphorus, water-soluble chloride, etc.

The main raw materials added to dog diet are crude protein, fat, moisture, crude fiber, crude ash, calcium/phosphorus, water-soluble chloride, etc. Let’s introduce them one by one to avoid pitfalls:

Crude protein, pure animal protein, should not be too high in content. If it is too high, it cannot be absorbed. It will put a huge burden on the liver and kidneys, and may cause intolerance and soft stools and diarrhea in dogs. And from an economic cost point of view, it is not cost-effective. Combined with the actual feeding conditions of ordinary household pet dogs, a value in the 30%-35% range is more reasonable.

Crude fat should be controlled between 14% and 20%. If it is too high, the dog food will be oily.

Moisture content should be controlled within 10%. If it is too high, it is difficult to store. If the bag is opened and exposed to air frequently every day, it will easily deteriorate.

For crude fiber, the national standard stipulates <9%, and 5% is more suitable. It mainly comes from grains and potatoes. Dogs are omnivores. It is beneficial to eat an appropriate amount of foods containing crude fiber. The function is to increase the feeling of fullness and make the intestines smoother. Adding yucca powder and fructooligosaccharides can improve the intestinal absorption rate of dogs.

Coarse ash refers to the residue left after all organic matter is oxidized in a high-temperature furnace at 550-600°C. It is mainly inorganic substances such as mineral oxides or salts, and sometimes contains a small amount of sediment, and may also contain additives, meat powder and the like. Therefore, do not choose dog food with a coarse ash content greater than 10%. The quality of its meat raw materials is poor! On the contrary, the lower the better.

Calcium to phosphorus ratio, calcium and phosphorus play a very important role in the growth, metabolism and bone development of dogs. Any element that is too high, too low or out of proportion will have an impact on the health of the dog. A balanced calcium to phosphorus food intake Ingestion can promote their absorption in the small intestine and deposition in the bones, and the excess is metabolized out of the body through the kidneys. The appropriate ratio is probably 1:1~2:1, and the optimal ratio is 1.2:1

Lysine, which directly reflects the meat content, needs to be ≥1.5%. As long as there are no additional additions, the higher the better

Water-soluble chloride is salt, 0.5% is more suitable, but should not be too high, otherwise it will be too high.

Omega-6 and 0mega-3 are helpful for beautifying hair and protecting joints. The front-to-back ratio is 2:1~4:1, which is more appropriate. They are not necessary, but are considered a bonus.

DHA, brain gold, promotes brain and vision development, and is beneficial to the improvement of intelligence, learning and memory abilities.

EPA, the "vascular scavenger", can regulate blood lipids, reduce blood viscosity, prevent blood clots, lower blood pressure, and protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health and kidney function. It is also not required, but is considered a bonus.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are also bonus points. Helps with joints.

L-carnitine is rare, it depends on everyone’s needs. To help lose weight, the premise is that the dog needs to exercise.

Choose a good dog food

Good dog food is really important for dogs. The effect of good dog food is far better than that of various nutrients and health care products. Choosing the right dog food can not only make the dog's immunity higher, but also more nutritious and comprehensive. , teeth can also be healthier.