How to Buy Best Dry Dog Food? (8 Tips to Keep Your Furry Buddy Healthy)

Dogs are more than just pets; they’re members of the family. As such, it’s important to give them the best possible care, including proper nutrition. Choosing the right dry dog food can make a significant difference in your dog’s health and well-being. However, with so many options available in the market, it can be overwhelming to determine which one is best for your furry friend. In this blog post, we’ll share some tips and tricks on how to buy best dry dog food to keep your dog super healthy. From understanding dog nutrition to researching brands and making the purchase, we’ve got you covered. By following our advice, you’ll be able to confidently choose the right dry dog food. Which in fact will help keep your dog healthy and happy for years to come.

Why?

Simply because compared to canned or cooked dog food, dry food has more health benefits. However, balancing your dog’s diet with fresh veggies and protein-rich meat helps in fully meeting her dietary requirements. However, can you alone survive on fiber and protein? Of course, not. Plus, it will be too boring.

So, with dry food, you can provide the right quantity and quality of protein and fiber to your dog. If you haven’t bought dry dog food before, no worries. By the end of this post, I’ll make you a pro at buying dry dog food. Also, check out our compilation of best dog food brands after you are done reading this blog, if you are looking for more information.

Benefits of Dry Dog Food

Dry dog food has been adopted by many pet owners lately. Simply because it has high nutritional content and offers vivid health benefits. If you haven’t tried dry dog food yet, you should definitely give it a try and check your dog’s reaction. If you get a happy tail moving sign, you move your dog to dry food for sure. You must know how to buy best dry dog food for your pawsome friend!

  • Nutritious & Balanced: Many brands of dry dog food are formulated to provide dogs with a balanced and nutritious diet. They contain a range of essential nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals, which are necessary for maintaining good health in dogs.
  • No Bad Breath: Yep, if you can’t snuggle with your sweet dog because he has bad breath, switch to dry food. As compared to dogs who only eat wet food – dry food eaters have better breath. So, include kibbles into your dog’s diet today!
  • Healthy Gum & Teeth: When you let your dog munch on dry kibble for some time, it makes his teeth healthy. Additionally, you can provide protection against oral health problems to your dog like plaque, tartar buildup, etc.
  • Stress Reliever: Oh, yes, your dog does get stressed! And, when he uses his aggression to crunch on dry food, he will feel relaxed. That means you will have a relaxed and happy dog with you. Not the grumpy and bitter one.
  • Easy for You: Do you often forget to put your dog’s food in the refrigerator? Then, you should try dry food to go easy on your pocket. That’s because wet food can spoil easily if it is not properly preserved. However, there’s no such case with dry dog food. So, you don’t have to buy new dog food often.
  • Longer Shelf Life: Dry dog food has a longer shelf life than other types of dog food. Most dry dog foods have a shelf life of 1-2 years. They can be stored for a long time without spoiling. This makes it easier to buy in bulk and save money on pet food.
  • Cost-Effective: Dry dog food is generally more cost-effective than other types of dog food. This is because it is easier to produce, store, and transport, which reduces the cost of production. This means that pet owners can feed their dogs high-quality food without having to spend too much.

Tips on How to Buy Best Dry Dog Food

If you are ready to add dry dog food to your dog’s diet, you have to face another challenge. Yep, whether you go online or to the local dog store, you will find so many dog dry food brands. All of these brands offer different nutritional and supplement values. So, if you feel a little dizzy after searching for good dry dog food, I don’t blame you. To help you out, I have prepared a helpful list of things that you should consider before buying crunchy dog food.

Dog Specific Requirement

When it comes to buying the best dry dog food, it’s important to consider your dog’s individual needs.

Different dogs have different nutritional requirements based on their age, breed, and level of physical activity. Puppies, for example, need more protein and fat than adult dogs to support their growth and development. Senior dogs may benefit from lower calorie, higher fiber diets to help maintain a healthy weight. And high-energy breeds like Border Collies and Greyhounds may need more calories than more sedentary breeds like Bulldogs or Basset Hounds.

If your dog has any dietary restrictions or allergies, you’ll need to choose a food that meets its specific needs. For example, if your dog is allergic to chicken, you’ll want to avoid foods that contain chicken or chicken by-products. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, you may want to look for food that’s easier to digest, like a limited-ingredient diet or food with added probiotics.

If your dog has any health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, or kidney disease, your vet may recommend a specific diet to help manage their condition. For example, dogs with diabetes may benefit from a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. While dogs with kidney disease may need a low-protein, low-phosphorus diet. It’s important to follow your vet’s recommendations and choose a food that’s appropriate for your dog’s health needs.

Stay High on Protein

One important factor to consider when choosing the best dry dog food is the protein content. Dogs are carnivores by nature, and they require a diet that’s rich in protein to maintain healthy muscles and organs. In general, it’s a good idea to choose a dry dog food that has a high protein content. Ideally, it should have at least 18-20% protein for adult dogs and even higher for puppies.

There are several benefits to choosing a high-protein dry dog food. First, protein is an essential nutrient for building and repairing muscle tissue. This is especially important for active dogs or those that participate in sports or agility competitions, as they require more protein to maintain their muscle mass. Additionally, protein is important for maintaining a healthy immune system and for supporting healthy skin and coat.

Another benefit of choosing a high-protein dry dog food is that it can help your dog feel fuller for longer. Protein is more satiating than carbohydrates. And a diet that’s high in protein can help your dog feel satisfied and avoid overeating. This is especially important for dogs that are prone to weight gain or obesity.

When choosing a high-protein dry dog food, it’s important to make sure that the protein source is high-quality and easily digestible. Look for a food that lists a specific protein source, like chicken or beef, as the first ingredient. Avoid foods that contain by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives.

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Make Meat the No. 1 Priority

When choosing the best dry dog food, it’s important to look for a food that lists specific meat as the primary and main ingredient. This is because dogs are carnivores by nature and require a diet that’s high in animal protein to maintain healthy muscles and organs. Your dog required 2.5% of the meat diet as his meat. A healthy dog needs a certain ratio of meat to other ingredients, and you can drop or increase this ratio, but you need to maintain the initial percentage. This could be chicken, beef, lamb, or another high-quality protein source. Avoid foods that list fillers, by-products, or vague ingredients like “meat meal” or “meat by-product.”

By choosing a meat-based dry dog food, you can help ensure that your dog is getting the high-quality nutrition they need to stay healthy and active. Here are some reasons why meat should be the primary and main ingredient in dry dog food:

Complete Protein Source

Animal protein is considered a complete protein source, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids that dogs need to maintain healthy muscle and organ function. Other protein sources, like plant-based proteins, are often incomplete and may not provide all the necessary amino acids.

Highly Digestible

Dogs have short digestive tracts and are designed to digest and absorb nutrients from animal protein. Meat is highly digestible and can be broken down and absorbed more efficiently than plant-based proteins or fillers.

Essential Nutrients

In addition to protein, meat also provides essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. These nutrients are important for maintaining healthy skin and coat, supporting the immune system, and aiding in energy metabolism.

More Satiating

Meat is more satiating than carbohydrates, which means that dogs on a meat-based diet are more likely to feel full and satisfied after meals. This can help prevent overeating and reduce the risk of obesity.

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Keep Wheat Based Dry Food Away

Wheat is a high antigen component for a dog’s body. Dogs are the most gluten-sensitive animals out there. Your poor dog can’t simply digest wheat. If you serve him wheat-based food, he is likely going to suffer from malabsorption or end up with recurring skin, gut, or ear infections. Wheat is suspected to be the number one reason behind arthritis and epilepsy among dogs.

While wheat-based dry dog food may be a convenient and affordable option, it’s important to consider your dog’s individual needs and dietary restrictions. If your dog is prone to digestive issues or has a known wheat allergy or sensitivity, it’s best to avoid wheat-based foods altogether. Instead, look for high-quality dry dog food that lists specific meat as the first ingredient and does not contain wheat or other fillers.

Multiple Nutrients in Your Dog’s Diet

Usually, many companies use the same nutritional content in their products. That means your dog is only receiving certain nutrients from his food. If you feed the same dry dog food for a very long period, it might cause deficiency problems.

Multi-nutrition dry dog food is important because it provides dogs with a balanced and complete diet that includes all of the essential nutrients they need for optimal health and well-being. A high-quality dry dog food that contains a mix of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals can help support healthy muscles, organs, and immune function, while also helping to prevent nutrient deficiencies that can lead to health problems. By feeding your dog a multi-nutrition dry dog food, you can help ensure that they get all of the nutrients they need in the right amounts to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

To improve the regular body functioning of your four-legged canine friend, you have to give them a well-balanced, best dry dog food diet which includes:

  • Proteins
  • Fats
  • Fatty Acids
  • Omega 3 & Omega 5
  • Carbohydrates
  • Minerals 
  • Vitamins

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Read the Back Label Twice

One of the worst mistakes people make while doing dog food shopping is not reading the back label. Dog owners just see the cute dog photo on the pack or trust their vet’s words before buying a portion of dog food. You can easily learn how to buy best dry dog food by reading the back label of the package you are buying. Every approved food brand has to provide the data. Check the label for the below-mentioned information.

Ingredients

The ingredient list will tell you what dry dog food is made of. Look for a high-quality protein source as the first ingredient, such as chicken, beef, or fish. Avoid dry dog foods that contain fillers like corn, wheat, or soy, as these provide little nutritional value for your dog.

Guaranteed Analysis

The guaranteed analysis will tell you the minimum amounts of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture that dry dog food contains. Look for dry dog foods that have high levels of protein and moderate levels of fat and fiber, as these are important for maintaining healthy muscles and digestion.

Feeding Instructions

The feeding instructions will tell you how much dry dog food to feed your dog based on its weight and age. It’s important to follow these instructions carefully to ensure that your dog gets the right amount of nutrition.

Manufacturer Information

The manufacturer information will tell you who makes the dry dog food and where it is made. Look for dry dog foods that are made by reputable manufacturers with a good track record for quality and safety.

Expiry Date

You obviously want to feed fresh food to your dog. Thus, always check the “best by” date to ensure that you aren’t feeding spoiled food to your dog. Just buy the freshest pack because your dog isn’t going to finish the entire pack at once.

Choosing Quality Ingredients Food

Choosing dry dog foods with high-quality ingredients and avoiding those that contain fillers, by-products, and artificial ingredients can help ensure that your dog gets the nutrition they need to stay healthy and happy. Be sure to read the ingredient list carefully and choose a dry dog food that meets your dog’s unique nutritional needs.

Ingredients to Avoid

When reading the ingredient list, avoid dry dog foods that contain by-products, artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, as well as corn, wheat, and soy. These ingredients provide little nutritional value for your dog and can even be harmful.

Ingredients to Look For

Look for dry dog foods that contain high-quality protein sources like chicken, beef, or fish. Whole grains and vegetables are also important sources of essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 can help support healthy skin and coat, while antioxidants can help boost your dog’s immune system.

Allergic Food Ingredients

Some dogs can have food allergies or sensitivities. Food allergies can be a common issue for dogs, and some may be allergic to certain ingredients in dry dog food. To avoid triggering an allergic reaction, it’s important to read the ingredient list carefully and choose a dry dog food that does not contain any ingredients your dog is allergic to. Common allergens in dry dog food include wheat, corn, and soy, as well as certain proteins like beef, chicken, and dairy.

Probiotics & Prebiotics

Some dry dog foods may contain probiotics and prebiotics, which can help support healthy digestion and immune function. Look for dry dog foods that contain these beneficial bacteria. It helps maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria and improves nutrient absorption.

By-Products

Avoid dry dog foods that contain by-products, which are low-quality sources of protein that may contain unwanted parts like beaks, feet, and organs. It’s best to choose dry dog food that uses high-quality protein sources like chicken, beef, or fish, and avoid those that contain by-products.

Artificial Preservatives, Colors, & Flavors

These ingredients are often added to dry dog foods to enhance their taste and shelf life, but they provide little nutritional value and may even be harmful. Look for dry dog foods that use natural preservatives instead.

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Choosing a Brand & Retailer

When choosing a brand or retailer for your dry dog food, it’s important to do your research. Look for brands that use high-quality ingredients and have a good reputation for producing healthy and nutritious dry dog food. You can also look for retailers that specialize in natural and organic pet food, as these products are often made with high-quality ingredients and free from harmful additives.

It’s also a good idea to read reviews and ratings from other dog owners to get an idea of the quality of the dry dog food and the customer service provided by the brand or retailer. Consider factors like price, availability, and shipping options as well, to ensure that you’re getting the best value for your money.

Finally, consult with your veterinarian to determine the best dry dog food brand and formula for your dog’s unique nutritional needs. Your vet can help you choose a dry dog food that is appropriate for your dog’s age, breed, and activity level, as well as any health issues or allergies they may have.

FAQs

What should I look for in dry dog food?

A: Look for dry dog food that contains high-quality animal protein sources, whole grains and vegetables, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. Avoid dry dog food that contains by-products, artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, corn, wheat, & soy, meat meal, bone meal, and chemical additives.

What is the number 1 healthiest dog food?

There is no one “number 1 healthiest” dog food as the nutritional needs of each dog may vary depending on their age, breed, weight, and activity level. However, there are several high-quality dog food brands available that use high-quality ingredients and meet the AAFCO guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition.

How do I know what dog food is best?

The best dog food for your dog will depend on their individual needs and preferences. Look for high-quality ingredients and a nutritional profile that meets the AAFCO guidelines for complete and balanced nutrition. Consult with your veterinarian for specific recommendations based on your dog’s needs.

What is considered the best-tasting dry dog food?

The taste preferences of dogs can vary, and what may be considered the “best-tasting” dry dog food for one dog may not be the same for another. It is important to choose dry dog food based on its nutritional content rather than just taste. However, some popular brands known for their palatability include Blue Buffalo, Taste of the Wild, and Wellness.

Can I switch my dog’s dry food brand or formula?

Yes, you can switch your dog’s dry food brand or formula gradually over a period of 7-10 days to avoid digestive upset.

How much dry dog food should I feed my dog?

The amount of dry dog food to feed your dog depends on its age, weight, and activity level. Follow the feeding guidelines on the food packaging or consult with your veterinarian for specific recommendations.

Bottomline

Choosing the best dry dog food for your furry friend is crucial to ensure that they are getting the right nutrition for optimal health and well-being. Look for dry dog foods that contain high-quality animal protein sources, whole grains and vegetables, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants, while avoiding by-products, artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, corn, wheat, soy, meat meal, bone meal, and chemical additives. The convenience, longer shelf life, dental health benefits, cost-effectiveness, and ease of feeding are some of the advantages of dry dog food. By being mindful of the ingredients in your dog’s food, you can help ensure that they live a healthy and happy life.

The way you select your groceries after comparing different brands and hopping from store to store. You need to follow the same procedure to buy your dog’s food. Read this detailed guide on how to buy best dry dog food guide to the dot. With little knowledge and love, you can buy the best food for your dog. Keep your dog healthy and happy!

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