June 11th, 2020 by Amy Varley

Picture the scene, you walk into your local pet shop, go to the dog food aisle, and behold; so much choice! How on earth are you supposed to decide which food is the best for your beloved pooch? The foods that suit some dogs will not agree with others, and there is so much choice it would be impossible for your dog to try them all out to see which is the best for them! Let’s take a look at some of the options available and the factors you should consider when choosing a new food for your four-legged best friend!

Types of Dog Food

To start with, let's look at the different types of dog food.

Kibble

Kibble or biscuits are probably the most common type of food people feed their pooches, with a variety of different options available. From breed-specific food to age-appropriate food, grain-free, cheap biscuits, expensive biscuits. There are so many different types of kibble that it can be overwhelming to choose one. For the majority of dogs, a good quality kibble with a high meat content should be suitable for them. The most expensive food doesn’t necessarily mean the best food, however, foods with a high meat content will often be higher priced than those that contain less meat but more filler!

Raw

Raw food is becoming increasingly popular, with people referring to it as feeding your dog how nature intended. Giving quality raw foods, including bone and offal is said to have many health benefits for dogs, such as keeping them healthier, cleaning their teeth and giving them a glossier coat. For dogs that are prone to itchy coats or dogs with allergies, switching to a raw diet has been proven to help with these issues. Raw food can be bought in complete meals or can be done in a D-I-Y fashion, with owners buying meat and bones in bulk quantities and making these into meals themselves, adding fresh veg and herbs.

Freeze-dried

Freeze-dried food is a relatively new concept for dog food. It is basically raw dog food, that has been freeze dried – so holds all the goodness of a raw diet, without the preparation and with a longer shelf life. Freeze-dried dog food has high-quality ingredients so is, therefore, one of the most expensive ways to feed your pooch. Because of the way the food has been dried out, it holds a very high concentration of flavour, so for dogs with poorer appetites, this food is usually quite tempting for them! Freeze-dried food is also used by a number of raw feeders for when they are either on holiday or when it’s not convenient for storing/preparing raw food.

Wet

Wet dog food comes in a number of forms. Cooked tripe, tinned chunks in gravy or jelly, or the newer higher meat content wet food that is in more of a pate form.

Tinned tripe has a certain ‘aroma’ that makes it highly enticing for dogs with poor appetites, plus it can help dogs to put weight on if they are fussy (warning…it doesn’t smell so pleasant for us humans)!

Tinned chunks of meat that come in gravy or jelly are also very palatable for dogs, they have a much higher water content compared to kibble, and is easier to eat for dogs who have trouble chewing, for example, elderly dogs or dogs who’ve had teeth removed. These types of wet food usually have lower meat contents, with many containing more animal ‘derivatives’ and fillers, so typically aren’t the best quality feed for your dog.

Higher quality wet food is more expensive, and usually consists of fresh meat and vegetables or herbs, with little filler. Normally lightly steamed to keep as much natural goodness as possible, this food is very attractive for your pooch, as it smells not dissimilar to our freshly cooked human meals!

Your dog

The age, size, health and amount of exercise your pooch gets can help you to determine which food is best for them.

Puppies

Young dogs and puppies need the right type of food so that they are able to grow and develop properly. Food that is marketed as a puppy or junior food has a higher protein content to help them grow at the correct rate. Small breed puppies will often need smaller sized kibble or wet food that is easier for them to eat, whereas larger breed puppies will need the proper amount of protein that is needed for them to develop slowly, so as not to put any excess pressure on their joints and bones. Puppies can often be fussy eaters, especially if they get a little taste of human food! Wet food can be used as a tasty topper to kibble to entice them to eat, or if you want to feed raw then you can add herbs or give your dog different types of foods, such as chicken wings or duck necks, to make feeding feel more exciting and different for them!

Health

If your dog suffers from any health issues, did you know their diet may be the cause? A number of allergies or internal problems related to the digestive system can be successfully treated or managed by changing their diet. Dogs who appear itchy or have problems with their skin or hair loss may be caused by grain in their diet, or a particular meat protein that your dog is allergic to. Having an allergy test at the vets may help you in deciding what to avoid in their diet, or a trial and error with a few different foods may help you to find something that suits your dog.

Raw food is championed by those who feed it as being brilliant for almost instantly removing any signs of allergies, itchy skin or ear problems. Allergies in dogs are usually caused by food, grain, mites or environment. Because raw food has no preservatives and is completely natural, it supports your dog’s immune system and is the easiest food for them to digest -it may take a few weeks to alleviate all symptoms of allergies but in most cases, a natural diet will almost clear up any itching!

Exercise

Dogs that get a high amount of exercise will need more calories and energy in the form of proteins and fats to keep their weight at an optimal level. Often foods that are labelled as being for ‘working dogs’ contain more calories to keep dogs with higher activity levels. For most dogs, simply upping the amount of food that you feed them will be sufficient to keep them at a good weight, however some foods (especially those that are highly processed) may go straight through them if they are fed in large amounts, so switching to a higher quality food may help with this, if your dog is losing weight due to the amount of exercise they get!

So – how do I choose?

For the majority of us, it is simply trial and error of a couple of different foods until we find one that our dog thrives on. Some dogs will have no problem eating any food whereas others that may be prone to sensitive tummies or allergies will need something a little more specific. You can consult your vet for advice on which food is recommended for your pooch, however, it’s important to look for a vet who has also trained in nutrition – as they will be better informed with all the different types of food available. For some people, raw and wet food can be too messy for them (especially if your dog is a messy eater) so kibble is preferred.

In any pet food, you check out – be sure to look for the meat content, as this will tell you how high quality the food is. Any dog food with 60%+ meat is typically good for your pooch, however, don’t forget to take into account their age, size and any health concerns you may have. Good luck in finding the best food for your doggy!