What your dog eats should be taken into account as one of the most crucial aspects of their general care. You’ve undoubtedly considered various dog food options as a pet owner more than once. If you’re unsure of what to look for, it can become a little overwhelming. Dog food costs can vary so widely that you might feel compelled to invest in more expensive brands.
But are those pricey bags of food really worth it, or will their less expensive alternatives provide your dog with a similar amount of nutrition?
Instead of giving your dog empty calories, you should give them food that will keep them healthy and energized. In light of this, let’s examine some advantages and disadvantages of inexpensive and expensive dog food to ascertain whether you ought to spend more on your dog’s daily diet.
NomNomNow provides a puppy guide on how much you should feed your pup.
Calculating the amount of food that adult and senior dogs should eat based on their current weight, activity level, and body condition is fairly simple. Most people are concerned that because puppies are constantly growing, their daily calorie and food amounts must be changed. According to Dr. That’s not necessarily true, according to Justin Shmalberg, the Chief Nutrition Officer and board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist at NomNomNow. “Most puppies need to be fed the same number of calories, and food, from about 4 months of age to 12 months of age, to promote normal growth,” he says. “Although they grow bigger with age, they use fewer calories for growth, which consumes a lot of energy. The overall result is that if a puppy consumes 1,000 calories at 16 weeks, he will consume similarly as a young adult. You should feed your puppy to maintain his body condition rather than just to meet some calculated number, but keep in mind that this may vary from dog to dog. ”.
Their food comes right to your door and will grow along with your dog, making sure his nutritional needs are met at every stage of his life! Check out NomNomNow to see if their delicious, handmade food is the right fit for your pets!
Dog Foods Geared Towards Small Dogs
In the dog food industry, a wide variety of brands and ingredients are available. Choose an all-natural blend, or buy a cheap bag of flavors that are artificial instead. Of course, there are also a ton of breed-specific products available, such as food for “small breeds” of dogs. “.
Listed below are just a few of the top small dog food manufacturers on Amazon:
As you can see, every can of dog food on the list above specifically states that it is made for small dogs. Because their dogs adore these foods, many pet owners applaud them, but is there more to it than that?
The size of the kibble is one of the primary differences between dog foods for small dogs and those for larger dogs. Shih Tzus and other smaller breeds have smaller mouths and more delicate teeth than large breeds like Golden Retrievers.
Consequently, buying small breed dog food is beneficial for your dog’s eating habits because it is simpler for them to chew and digest. Overall, thats better for their health, including digestion and dental.
Despite the fact that size is a contributing factor, other factors show that small breed dog food is more than just a marketing ploy.
Did you know that small dog breeds actually require more calories per pound than large dog breeds? The solution to this may seem simple: just feed your little dog more.
However, simply giving your small breed more food can lead to obesity, which can have some negative effects, such as:
The need for a different approach arises because feeding your dog more food to meet their required calorie count can lead to obesity and eventually the issues mentioned above.
In order to ensure that you can feed small dogs the right amount of food while maintaining their health, small dog food is typically formulated to increase the calories per pound. These foods have a special combination of ingredients, nutrients, and nutritional elements that are appropriate for smaller bodies.
On average, smaller dog breeds live longer than larger dogs. In fact, some smaller breeds can live up to 15 years, while other larger kinds of breeds can have a lifespan of just eight years.
Whether you believe it or not, lifespan is actually important for the creation of dog food.
Responsible dog food producers concentrate heavily on producing small breed kibble with a high concentration of nutritious ingredients, nutrients, and antioxidants. They do this because a dog that consumes the same food every day for 15 years needs to continuously consume healthy food to live to the fullest extent possible.
Feeding your small dog food designed for its size will increase the likelihood that it will live longer by reducing the risk of free radical damage and other negative effects.
Are foods for “Large breed,” “Small breed,” and formulas for specific breeds worth the trouble and expense?
Look for foods that add extra omega 3 fatty acids, particularly “EPA,” or fish oils, to their formulas, such as large breed adult and senior formulas, as these are well worth the money. Omega 3 fatty acids from fish (not flax seed oil, as dogs cannot metabolize flax seed oil’s omega 3s into a useful product for their dog bodies) are fantastic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant supplements, which are great for larger dogs’ joints. Extra omega 3s Are WORTH Paying for. Glucosamine and chondroitin are an additional dietary supplement found in large breed dog foods. Unfortunately, unless they are specially processed, as in the case of the premium brands (Dasuquin and Cosequin TM, for instance), glucosamine and chondroitin are poorly absorbed molecules. Even the wealthiest dog owners wouldn’t be able to purchase this premium glucosamine/condroitin complex in a serving of dog food because it would be too expensive for the manufacturer to produce. Therefore, the amount of glucosamine and chondroitin in dog food is insufficient for it to be effective. If you are purchasing dog food at a higher price because it contains a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement, STOP!
List of Royal Canin Breed Specific Dog Diets – there might one just for your dog!
Breed specific dog and cat foods- Worth considering! These formulas target specific health conerns of those breeds. Royal Canin(tm) is probably the most notable manufacturer. Most of their rationale is scientifically based and very reasonable. For example, their Bulldog formula is designed in a special shape to make it easier for bulldogs to pick up because of their unique jaw structure. Supplemented fatty acids support their allergy and infection prone skin and arthritits-prone joints. The formula is even specially designed to reduce flatulence! Who hasn’t been run out of a room by dog toots?! Breed specific cat foods are also available: Siamese food has high protein content to help maintain their preferred lean body condition and added prebiotics to assist their notoriously sensitive digestive systems. Persian food has prebiotics for their sensitive GI tracts, hairball remedy to help with that 231 miles of fur, and specially shaped kibble to encourage chewing since these cats are prone to dental disease. For pets with health concerns common to their breeds, these foods are WORTH the money for otherwise healthy adults!
Large Breed puppy formula is a MUST for large breed puppies, in my experience as a veterinarian. Keep using the Large Breed formula for the appropriate life stages unless medical justifications require a change. Small breed foods are generally not good for your dog’s dental health, with the exception of Royal Canin brand foods. There is no need to buy special here. Breed-specific foods, at least from the Royal Canin line, are based on solid scientific and nutritional research to prevent diseases specific to those breeds. Make your small breed dog chew his food. These can be a great diet option if you’d rather prevent illness than treat it!
FAQ
Is puppy food really necessary?
Feeding Your Puppy: A First-Year Timeline. Puppies should be fed puppy food, a diet formulated specifically to meet the nutritional requirements for normal development, between the ages of 6 and 12. Feeding adult food will rob your puppy of important nutrients. Typically, four feedings per day are sufficient to meet nutritional needs.
Does it matter if I give my dog puppy food?
It’s critical that adult dogs stop eating puppy food because it can lead to orthopedic issues in older dogs, and obesity is the most prevalent nutrition-related problem for canines. Serve your best friend high-quality, adult-maintenance food instead.
Do dogs really need dog food?
Dogs can survive on traditional dry or canned dog food, just as humans could theoretically survive for a lifetime on a diet of potato chips, but they benefit greatly from eating fresh, human-grade food in terms of their health.
Is it best to free feed a puppy?
Dogs always prefer free feeding. Too much food can lead to weight gain, which puts stress on the heart and joints. Make sure you are only placing a healthy amount of food in the bowl if you choose free feeding (ask us about the best nutrition options for your pets).