When
selecting a dog food reach for a good food that is both nutritious and balanced.
You will find out if the food is what you need by reading the label. When reading
the label, be sure to do your homework. Keep in mind that most dog foods list
their first ingredient as whole meal. Good as this sounds, this tells you that
the meat has a high percentage of water and less nutritious.
You will
also notice labels that contain chicken and chicken meal. Opt for the chicken
meal as this means it has been baked to remove bacteria and toxins. Again, the
ingredient chicken is 60% water, which means you are not buying good nutrition
here.
When you feed your dog the best you can they are more apt to be healthy
and happy. When you feed your dog inferior food he will become sick. He will stop
being playful and will become lethargic.
PROTEINS - We
believe the primary source of protein in all pet foods (except for weight loss
formulas) should come from animal protein, not vegetable protein or grains. Look
for an identifiable animal protein such as "chicken meal" rather a generic term;
such as, "poultry meal," which can contain any fowl (turkey, chicken, geese, etc.).
CHICKEN MEAL VS. CHICKEN? Some manufacturers use chicken
in their pet foods; however, HealthyPetNet prefers to use Chicken Meal. Why? Because
chicken meat contains a certain amount of moisture in the flesh; however, chicken
meal is a concentrated source of chicken protein because most of the water has
been removed. Therefore, it only stands to reason that you get a greater “protein
content” in 1 pound of chicken meal versus 1 pound of chicken.
BY-PRODUCTS
- Depending on the source, some by-products can be difficult to digest. Low digestibility
means less nutrition and more clean up. Some manufacturers consider by-products
inferior sources of protein.
Check
out the Dog Food Comparison Chart Here
Click
here to read Part 2 of this course.