Are Premium Dog Foods Better For Your Dog?

What are premium dog foods & are they really any better for my dog than your garden variety dog foods? How can you tell what a premium dog food is? Is listed the bag somewhere? Is more expensive? What makes a premium dog food premium?

The main difference between premium & economy dog foods is the quality the ingredients & the amount actual nutrients digestible by your dog. Ignore any the fancy wording or delicious looking pictures the bag food. Look instead at the dog food ingredients first.

Look at the first 2 ingredients to see if you are purchasing a premium dog food. Economy dog foods use a lot low quality grains & meat by-products. Premium dog foods list an animal meat as the first ingredient.

Grains: Economy dog foods usually have a grain as the first ingredient premium dog foods will not. Dogs are able to digest some grains well like rice & oats but have difficulty with corn & wheat.

Another problem with the type & quality grains/carbs used by the economy dog foods is that they are common sources food allergies for dogs. They are also usually the by-products the grain not the whole grain itself & thus has virtually no nutritional value to your dog. The grains/carbs really turn out to be nothing more than a way to make your dog feel full.

Animal meat by-productsare another top 2 ingredient that just are not found the best premium dog foods. Meat by-products are what is left from a slaughtered animal after all the human-grade meat has been removed bones feed heat lungs brain etc.

Meat by-products like grain by-products just do not have the quality & quantity nutrients your dog needs. It is used as a cheap substitute for meat with the dog food companies hoping pet owners don t really inquire about what a by-product is.

Premium dog foods will have a meat meal or meat as the top ingredient with a meat meal being the better choice. Many premium dog foods will have 2 or 3 meats/meat meals listed the top ingredients thereby giving your dog better protein & nutrients.

Will the price tell you if is a premium dog food? Premium dog foods are not inexpensive they just can t be the quality ingredients used will cost more. Where the consumer needs to be careful is where some dog foods imply they are premium with their price & fancy advertising. If you want to know if you are looking at premium dog foods you must read the ingredients.

And now there are more types dog food like holistic & organic. For more information about the different types foods available for your dog & how to carefully choose the best premium dog foods for your beloved pet at the Healthy Dog Food blog.