Top 10 Best Ingredients For Healthy Dog Food
Finding healthy dog food is a must for all those loving pet parents out there. Just like humans, dogs require a well-balanced diet to help ensure they are happy and healthy for many years to come.
There are numerous of studies out there indicating that your dog's well-being is enormously dependent on the food they eat and that's why it's so important to be feeding them a fresh, vet-approved diet with the best whole-food ingredients. This will not only improve their sleep and brain function but it will also encourage a shiny coat and help to prevent heart disease.
So here is a list of The Top 10 Best Ingredients For Healthy Dog Food:
1. Lean Meats
It shouldn't be a surprise that meat is the most vital component to your dog's meal. Meat will help your dog to maintain a healthy body weight while keeping their muscles and joints strong as they age.
2. Organ Meat
Along with lean, muscle-based protein, organ meats are also a very important ingredient in your dog's food. Feeding your dog organ meats will mimic how their ancestors ate in the wild while providing them with the essential vitamins and nutrients they need. Avoid terms like “made with organ meat” and instead look for the actual organs listed such as "kidneys, heart and liver" which are the some of the best.
3. Carbohydrates
Right after meat sources, carbohydrates are the next critical. Carbohydrates such as those found in fruits, vegetables and rice provide instant energy for your dog ensuring a balanced diet.
4. Healthy Fats
Fats are not bad for your pup and are in fact an essential part of any dog’s diet. Healthy fats, including those found naturally in meats, will do everything from encouraging proper cell function to improving your dog’s coat. Other sources of good fats include fish oil, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil, and olive oil.
5. Fibre
Fibre ensures your dog’s digestive tract is functioning properly, while helping to maintain a healthy weight, prevent anal gland disease, and also ward off obesity as they grow older.
6. Assorted Vitamins
Your dog requires food sources that contain a variety of vitamins, including vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, and choline. While a dog can get the majority of his vitamin needs from natural food sources, sometimes dog foods will contain an extra boost.
7. Electrolytes
Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium and chloride should be lower down on the list of ingredients, and can sometimes be found in whole foods (e.g. pumpkin is rich in potassium). However, they are important for almost every aspect of your dog’s health from their organ function to healthy use of their muscles.
8. Essential Fatty Acids
All dogs can produce certain kinds of fatty acids on their own, but they require two types to come from their diet: Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids. You will need to ensure that your dog's food contains both.
9. Minerals
Minerals contained in dog food are sometimes referred to as "trace minerals" because your dog only needs them in very small amounts. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t vital to their health! Trace nutrients to look out for on labels include zinc gluconate, ferrous sulfate (iron), and manganese sulfate.
10. Superfoods
Superfoods for dogs don't fall into a single food group category, but they do deserve a mention. The very best dog foods will list these in their ingredients. Superfoods for dogs include sweet potatoes, chia seeds, blueberries, kale, pumpkin and quinoa.
To find out more visit other sources such as ‘The Ollie Blog’ and 'The Bark' for more info on how to create the perfect balanced diet for your furry friend.