One of the most important decisions a pet owner can make is what to feed their dog. The type of food you provide your dog will impact his health and behavior for years to come, so it’s important that you take time to learn about the different types of foods available before making a decision. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some common types of food including healthy dog treats and how they differ from one another in regards to benefits and foods to avoid.
What types of dog foods are there?
Kibble foods
Kibble is a type of dog food that comes in dry, crunchy pieces. This type of food has been around for centuries and many believe it offers the best way to maintain dental health because dogs have to chew on them before swallowing. Kibbles are available with a variety of different formulas – some may be high protein while others might focus more on carbohydrates or vitamins and minerals. One downside: kibble foods can sometimes lead to weight gain if not managed properly.
Canned Foods
Another common option when feeding your pup is canned dog food- also known as wet-type pet foods (as opposed to “dry” types). When choosing this type of meal you’ll need small amounts multiple times per day as they come packed in content that contains 75% water, meaning that the protein composition of each serving is small. You should check the nutrient composition before choosing on the type of brand to buy.
Raw
Raw meats will usually be purchased frozen and should not be thawed before feeding your dog. You can feed raw meat to dogs as a treat but you need to ensure that the meat is fresh, never cooked, contains no seasoning or salt, has been properly cleaned of fat and gristle, isn’t contaminated with any harmful bacteria like salmonella or e-coli (it’s important that this type of food always come from safe sources).
Some people might say there are some benefits for choosing raw over processed foods: it may have more protein than kibbles; it could provide probiotics for better digestion; they believe it promotes healthier skin.
Home cooked
This type of meal gives the owner complete control of the nutrients consumed by the dog. The dog is provided with exactly what the owner wants it to eat-no additional preservatives, chemicals, or artificial ingredients. The downside is that this type of meal takes time and effort to prepare every day for your pet; also, some owners may be intimidated by the possible assembly required.
The benefits: you can control what goes into their food; they tend to have better dental health than those who are fed processed foods like kibbles; less chance of developing allergies because there’s no mystery meat in them.
There are only two disadvantages: It does take more time and energy on behalf of the owner–it requires buying fresh produce at grocery stores daily which could get expensive over time if not planned properly.
Semi-moist
Semi-moist foods are too high in fat, sugar, and salt. They have a lot of additives and fewer nutrients. Semi-moist foods should not comprise more than 25% of the diet at any given time. When choosing semi-moist food for your dog, make sure it’s low in calories to avoid weight gain or obesity which can lead to other health problems like diabetes and joint pain.
There are many types of dog treats to ensure that your pet gets a balanced diet and some of the popular ‘meaty treats’ include beef liver slices and deer bones.
Foods to avoid
The following foods should not be fed to your dog because they are high in fat, sugar, and salt:
- Canned tuna (packed in oil)
- Ham or bacon bits with a lot of added preservatives like MSG and nitrates.
- Garlic and onions
- Nuts
- Chocolate
Conclusion
There are many types of dog foods available on the market today. It is important to understand your pet’s needs and what type of food would be best for them.
