These are the questions you should ask yourself to choose your dog's food wisely

Today’s commercial dog food brands offer nutritional options tailored to size, age, activity level, lifestyle, and even breed .

In addition, the type of preparation varies between raw food, cooked food, dehydrated food, dry food, extruded food or canned food.

If we go into the ingredients and additives, the options extend even further.

Mealtime is one of the happiest times of the day for our dogs. And for us, who love our dogs, seeing them eat and savor the dish gives us enormous satisfaction. There is no doubt that feeding your pet is a great act of love.

This love when it comes to feeding our dogs is taken advantage of by commercial pet food brands in their marketing strategies. Knowing that the decisions we make when buying these products are highly influenced by our emotions. 

For the good and health of our dogs (and cats), and to be consistent with our values, making our own decision, we should make the effort to choose the food for our pets, based on real knowledge. 

For this, it is convenient to know the most solid scientific bases on animal nutrition , the evidence demonstrated to date and have expert criteria. 

Leaving aside the influence of fashion and opinion biases or “sectarianism” will lead us to choose the best option: ours.

The 3 big points to consider:

1. Your dog
2. The food
3. the provider

life stage

• Puppy: if it is in the growth stage, it will need a higher calorie intake.
• Reproductive status: Sterilized dogs generally consume fewer calories.
• Teenager or mature adult : Teenagers will need more energy input than a mature adult who will take a maintenance diet.
• Senior dog: determining when a dog is elderly is something that must be looked at in a very individualized way. Remember that age is not a disease and that a well-fed senior dog will be a happy senior dog . 

activity level

• Type of activities: The duration, intensity and frequency of the sports activities that your dog performs must be considered for proper feeding and supplementation if necessary.
• Body condition : If your dog has a tendency to gain weight or lose weight, this should also be considered in order to choose the best nutritional option.
• Seasonal changes: There are dogs that are more lethargic during one time of the year. If this is the case for your dog, you can completely change the diet depending on its seasonal activity.

Health

• Effects on different aspects of health In this option you will find foods for a better coat and skin, others for a better cognitive conservation , mobility or gastrointestinal health.  If this claim appears on the label of the food you are going to buy, ask yourself if there is proven evidence that this food improves that aspect or is it a mere advertising promise.
• Pathologies: In case of acquiring a specific food for a certain pathology, make sure you have the pre-registration of your trusted veterinarian .

• Homemade food – If you choose to make the recipe for your dog yourself, be sure to choose a fully formulated, tested recipe.
• Cooked or raw : If you choose to give your dog raw food, make sure you have proper handling and hygiene of the ingredients. If you find commercial claims that advocate a better quality of raw food than cooked food, ask for corroborating scientific evidence.
• Ingredients: Is there a judicious reason to avoid some ingredients or choose others in particular?
• Quality of ingredients: Is there sufficient evidence about the quality of the ingredients that the food packaging claims?
• Price : How much are you willing to spend on your dog’s daily food?

• Who is it: is it a multinational or a small manufacturer.
• Where is the factory: Is it important for you to promote local purchase?
• What are your marketing practices: are you a transparent provider or are you trying to sell to your emotions?

At this point, the answer is clear. 

Nourish your dog by choosing a food that provides quality nutrients based on scientific studies, proven evidence and your own criteria .