With so many different types of dog food out there – and lots of opinions about what is best – it can be difficult to know what you should feed your dog.
The reason for so many choices is because there’s a lot to consider when choosing your pet’s diet. Stage of life, breed, weight, level of activity and any underlying health issues all have a big impact on the best food for your dog.
Nutrition needs of dogs
While many people think dogs are carnivores, they are actually omnivores. This means they need to consume a mix of meat and plants to meet their dietary requirements. While meat often makes up the majority of their diet, for optimal health and well-being, dogs need a balance of:
- Protein to build and maintain strong muscles and keep their body functioning well
- Carbohydrates to provide energy
- Fats to support a healthy nervous system, as well as for energy
- Vitamins and minerals for a strong immune system and healthy bones
The exact amount of each of these components will vary throughout each stage of your dog’s life.
How do I choose what to feed my dog?
The pet food industry is essentially self-regulated in Australia. This means that there is no independent body governing the manufacturing of pet food. There is however the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia which has a voluntary pet food standard that some manufacturers adhere to.
With no regulated standards, it can be quite confusing when it comes to assessing the claims some dog food brands make, and working out just how good the food actually is for your pup.
Supermarket vs premium dog food brands
There can be a big price difference between the dog food you find in your local supermarket compared to the premium food offerings. The key difference is in the makeup of the ingredients.
Cheaper dog food is not typically as “complete” or balanced a diet compared to the more expensive options and lacks some of the extra vitamins and minerals that you’d find in a premium option. Supermarket brands also contain fillers, which means your dog has to eat more to feel full, which also results in more faeces to pick up as these fillers are passed straight through.
For our clients at Bryants Road Vet, we tend to recommend Hills and Royal Canin brands. They provide a complete and balanced diet, have a money-back guarantee if your pet doesn’t like it, and are also AAFCO-certified. This certification means that they meet voluntary minimum nutritional standards for dog nutrition.
There are also prescription veterinary foods available from our vet clinic that are specifically formulated for dogs with diagnosed health problems such as diabetes, allergies, heart and kidney conditions.
That said, we do understand that everyone’s budget is different. Our vets are always happy to discuss a tailored nutritional plan for your pet and recommend the best-quality food to suit your budget.
Wet or dry food?
With pros and cons for both types of food, there is no hard and fast answer when it comes to wet versus dry foods. The choice is often an individual one.
Dry food is convenient, economical, and good for your pet’s teeth. However wet food is a great way to get some extra water into your pooch, and they will most likely find it tastier.
Most people decide on a combination of both, offering a small amount of wet food as “dinner”, and dry food at other times of the day.
What about a raw food, grain-free or home-cooked diet?
While there are many proponents for raw food or grain-free diets, there is little scientific evidence to support these restricted diets.
Grain-free diets can actually be quite harmful, and lead to canine dilated cardiomyopathy. It is extremely rare for a dog to have a true grain allergy – dogs are much more likely to be allergic to a protein such as beef or chicken.
A strict raw food diet is very difficult to make ‘complete and balanced’ when it comes to nutrition for your pooch and can deprive or oversupply them with important vitamins and nutrients.
Raw meat can also put your dog at risk of developing bacterial and parasitic infections that can make your dog seriously ill and even compromise the health of people in your household. This is because the bacteria from the raw meat is excreted in your dog’s saliva and poo. This is particularly a concern if anyone in the household is immunocompromised.
A home-cooked diet is less restrictive, but to do it well takes a big commitment. It can also be quite difficult to prepare a home a balanced diet that covers all nutritional elements for your dog. If you’d like to incorporate some “human” food in your dog’s diet, you could however supplement their commercial food with some cooked chicken or cooked egg as treats once or twice a week.
It is important to note that a home-cooked diet is not appropriate for puppies, as any nutritional imbalances during their growth phase can have some pretty serious implications for their health down the track.
If you do choose to feed your dog a restricted diet, we strongly recommend that you consult a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to ensure that your dog receives all that they need for their particular life stage and individual dietary requirements.
What you shouldn’t feed your dog
There are also plenty of human foods that you shouldn’t feed your dog. Many foods can be toxic to dogs, including chocolate, grapes, lollies, macadamia nuts and onions. Cooked bones are another big no-no. They can splinter and lead to serious internal damage, constipation and damage to teeth.
Need some advice on what to feed your dog?
While there are lots of myths and misinformation when it comes to the food best for your dog, the vets at Bryants Road Vet Clinic have extensive expertise in pet nutrition and are here to help. Every dog is different, so we are always very happy to discuss with you the best nutritional plan for your dog that suits their age, lifestyle, health and your budget.
To schedule an appointment to discuss what you should feed your dog, call us on 07 3801 1744, book online, or drop into the vet clinic at 141 Bryants Road Loganholme.