Wow! This is always a HUGE topic of debate among breeders, veterinarians, dog trainers, commercial dog food companies, and has spent a lot of time in the media.
I will start by simply breaking down the categories of different types of dog food and review the pros, the cons, and what is important to you and your dog.
Fresh Dog Foods - these would be the dog foods that you find in the refrigerated section of grocery and pet stores. Personally they are my favorite and here are the reasons why.
1. Convenience - you don't have to go through a lot of trouble. Some come in meatball shapes so that you can measure it out like dry dog food or rolls that you slice like thick bologna. However you do have to be careful and ensure that you use the food within a week of opening just like our food.
2. Nutrition - these foods offer high quality proteins, low grains, and generally aren't too high in fat.
Dry Dog Food - the most common dog food available, there are hundreds of brands, each with different sub-brands, flavors, styles, ect...most are heavily marketed large companies.
1. Convenience - the number one reason to feed dry dog food is because it is convenient, easy to store and doesn't spoil quickly.
2. Nutrition - unfortunately dry dog foods have a much harder time of getting quality ingredients and being nutritious for you pet. There are some great quality dry dog foods out there Orijen, Innova, Merrick, Taste of the Wild, Blue, the list goes on with the great quality dry dog foods. However you will be paying for them as a 20lb bag can cost up to $70. They will also likely require a trip to a pet store or even specialty pet store as most grocery stores don't yet carry these high end brands.
Canned Dog Food - the second most commonly found dog food. While there are quality canned dog foods, mostly ones made by the high quality commercial dog food companies, most found in grocery stores are not.
1. Convenient - Moderately, you have to open the can, put it in the bowl, and possibly refrigerate any leftovers so that they do not spoil.
2. Nutrition - There are some very nutritious canned dog foods but you will likely pay $2-3/can which can add up quickly when feeding a large dog. Lower costing canned foods tend to have lots of fillers and be high in fat. Canned dog food can also have poor side effects on your dog's dental health.
RAW Dog Food - these foods have recently become extremely popular and are available in frozen patties, frozen meatballs, freeze-dried styles, and fresh.
1. Convenience - Certain brands have made the frozen and freeze-dried styles of raw dog food relatively convenient to feed as long as they are stored properly. However raw dog food does present the same risks to human health as any raw meat. Therefore careful preparation of the food and disinfecting of surfaces is necessary. You also may not want your dog licking you following a meal.
2. Nutrition - High scores go to this category for nutritional value as the brands that tend to produce these diets go to lengths to ensure they are using high quality ingredients. Cost will be a factor with this style of dog food. You will have to understand that you are also accepting risks of exposure to bacteria and parasites if these foods are not properly handled.
Homemade Dog Food - making your own dog food
1. Convenient - This is definitely not a convenient way to feed your dog. Preparing a properly nutritious meal for your dog takes lots of education, prep time, and required storage in a refrigerator or freezer. If you want to feed a homemade diet it is best to talk with your veterinarian and have routine check ups to ensure that your dog's diet is meeting their nutritional needs. There is considerable a lot of work to be done to feed your dog a healthy completely homemade diet.
2. Nutrition - A proper homemade diet can be extremely nutritious for your dog as you will likely be using human grade ingredients. While one would think the cost would be high, done properly a homemade diet can be affordable if care is taken with your ingredient purchases.
All in all how do you know what is best for you and your dog? Here's what it really comes down to. Feed your dog a food that is nutritious. One that has high quality meats, low in grains, and as few fillers as you can afford. Make sure you are comfortable with the type of food you are feeding your dog. While a fresh, raw, or homemade diet might sound more nutritious there are several great brands of dry dog food available to make feeding more convenient. Plus you can always supplement with an occasional can of salmon, or a package of fresh dog food.
While table scraps are a poor choice mostly due to our own unhealthy eating habits a little scrambled egg, unseasoned lean meats, and even some cooked veggies are great additions to a dog's food bowl (please avoid feeding your dog from the table).
If your dog has any health conditions speak with your veterinarian to find a diet that will help your dog as many health conditions require special diets with different nutritional content. A dog on medications may also have certain foods that should be avoided all together.
If all else fails just try to feed your dog the best dog food you can afford at the time. Even I survived a few weeks here and there in college eating nothing but Ramen Noodles. If there's a few weeks where you have to cut down to something more economical until you can go back to a higher grade food don't worry. It's the long term nutrition that we're going for.
Any dog food means that you are caring for you companion as best as possible and a loving owner and any bowl of food is going to equal a dog happy to see you every day.
If you're looking for specific information regarding a brand of dog food check out the
DogFoodAdvisor as they have reviewed and rated many brands of dog food. You'll find great information on nutritional content here as well as how to read the ingredients label.
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