When You Shop The Best Dog Food For Your Pet

By Suzy Jane Kew

When searching for the best dog food products, it is important to provide a balanced diet. Dogs have special needs when it comes to nutrition, and these needs must be met for optimum health. Here are tips for meeting those needs, so your dog can be satisfied and enjoy good health for many years.

Dogs require things like fatty acids and amino acids in their diet. They also need a lot of different vitamins. These things must be provided on a daily basis. If you take the time to completely read all the product labels when you shop, it can be very time consuming and sometimes confusing.

Maybe you do not have the time to read every product label in its entirety, when shopping. The most important thing to look for is the minimum nutrition requirements. Products that meet AAFCO standards will state so on the label. AAFCO is an abbreviation for the Association of American Feed Controls Officials. This organization sets nutritional standards for animal and pet foods. This is why it is vital to check for a nutritional statement concerning AAFCO standards.

If a product meets AAFCO standards for canine nutrition it will fall into one of two categories. The first category is adult maintenance. This means that you can feed this product to your dog and the food will keep it alive and well. You should not have to supplement the diet with any other kinds of foods.

AAFCO specifications apply to dogs that are pregnant or are still nursing their pups. It also applies to puppies that are still developing and growing. These products will give puppies and mothers all of the things that they need, as far as nutrition is concerned.

If manufacturers claim that their product meets AAFCO standards, it can be obtained by complete testing in the lab. Products must meet all the necessary testing requirements. However, some products take it a step further and are verified in the lab and with feeding trials and studies. If you are shopping pet foods and find products for "supplemental feeding", they do not meet minimum nutrition requirements and should not be the only item in canine diets.

It is important to read labels of all foods that you consider for your dog. If the product does not meet the standards of the AAFCO, you should not feed it to your pet on a daily basis. Look for products that have been tested in the lab and in feeding trials, for the most reliability. If you see a product that is good for all life stages, it could be the best dog food for puppies and adults, as well as pregnant females.

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Find out more about the benefits and advantages of selecting the best dog food for your pets. You can get comprehensive details and information about Eukanuba dog food today.