How to Pick the Best Dog Food
To pick the best dog food, look for a food that is labeled with a single protein source, like “beef” as opposed to “beef dinner." Then, make sure that meat is the first ingredient listed to ensure that your dog gets enough protein. You should also look for the “complete and balanced” nutritional adequacy statement, which means it has been approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Additionally, avoid foods with byproducts and preservatives, like corn syrup, sucrose, BHA, or BHT.
Avoid food with "dinner," "entree," or "flavor" in the product name. The product name, which is required on all dog food packages and often found on the front of the package, says a lot about what's inside the food. The best option is food that's labeled with just a single protein source, like “beef” as opposed to “beef dinner.” These products must have that protein make up at least 70% of the food. A “dinner,” “platter,” or “entree” only requires that the protein make up 10% of the product. And if you see “with beef” or “beef flavor,” there is 3% or less of the actual protein in the food. Look for the "complete and balanced" nutritional adequacy statement. This statement tells you whether the food meets nutritional requirements and what life stage the food is meant for. If it includes the phrase “complete and balanced,” it means that the food is nutritionally balanced under the regulations of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and can be the sole diet of your dog. The product must include all of the nutrient requirements at the recommended levels. Treats and snacks will not usually be “complete and balanced.” The 3 life stages are "Growth & Reproduction," "Adult Maintenance," and “Senior.” Food can also be "All Life Stages," meaning it's adequate for dogs of any age though food tailored for specific ages gives your dog better nutrition. The guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally balanced meal for your dog can be found on the AAFCO website. If a food doesn't have the adequacy statement, ask your vet if it's a good choice for your dog. Pick food that lists meat or meat meal as the first ingredient. By law, ingredients must be listed in order of weight, with the first ingredient on the list making up the bulk of the food. The average adult dog needs protein to make up about 18% of their intake. Buy food that is made primarily of meat like chicken, beef, or fish to help meet that goal. Meat includes animal muscle and tissue along with fat and gristle. Meat meal is any product that comes from animal tissue. For example, “chicken” is unprocessed chicken meat whereas “chicken meal” is chicken that's been processed to remove the water and fat. While dogs can be put on vegetarian or vegan diets and get their protein from dairy, eggs, or plant-based proteins, it requires a lot of guidance and rules to be done correctly. Only do it under the supervision of your vet. Avoid not-so-great ingredients like byproducts or preservatives. Meat byproducts include animal parts like bones, blood, ligaments, and intestines. These, along with things like artificial sweeteners, food coloring, or hydrochloric acid, can make your dog sick or lead to other health problems. Look for foods labeled as “single ingredient” that often contain fewer preservatives and added chemicals. If a product is “single ingredient,” that ingredient must make up at least 95% of the food, not including water. Artificial sweeteners may be listed in the ingredients as corn syrup, cane molasses, propylene glycol, or sucrose. Xylitol is toxic to dogs. Avoid using any products with this artificial sweetener. Popular preservatives like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin have been linked to cancer and kidney damage in dogs. Feed your dog puppy food if your dog is younger than 1 year old. Puppies require different nutrition than full-grown dogs. They need more calories, vitamins, minerals, and protein. Food containing the right nutritional value will be marked as specifically for puppies in the dog food aisle. Give this to younger dogs until they turn 1 to help them develop properly. If a puppy eats adult dog food, they may suffer developmentally and not get the protein they need to grow strong and healthy. While 1 year old is the standard age for switching a dog to adult food, consult your vet before you make the switch. Puppy food is also good for lactating mothers. Select more calorie-dense food for smaller breed dogs. Smaller dogs like Chihuahuas have much higher metabolic rates than larger dogs so they require food that's more nutrient-dense. They also have smaller stomachs so they can't eat large amounts of food. Find dog food at any pet store that says on the bag that it's specifically for smaller breeds. It will have a higher calorie content per cup than other food. If they don't get enough calories, small dogs have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, which occurs when their blood sugar is low due to their fast metabolism. If you use dry food, feed a smaller dog smaller kibble that's easier for them to chew. Buy hypoallergenic food if your dog has a food allergy or intolerance. Dogs are most commonly allergic to one of the protein sources in food like chicken, beef, dairy, or wheat. Eliminate the offending ingredient by choosing food with a different protein source or food that's gluten-free. Check the ingredients thoroughly even if the label says it's allergy-friendly to make sure there's nothing that will upset your dog's stomach. Switching to a raw diet or only feeding your dog home-cooked meals is another option for food allergies. For example, if your dog is allergic to grains, instead of buying gluten-free kibble, serve them a chicken breast or slab of steak. To determine if your dog has an allergy, look for symptoms like diarrhea, excessive scratching, or vomiting and take your dog to get tested at the vet if you're concerned. Don't cut ingredients out of your dog's diet without consulting your vet. This could cause nutritional imbalances in your dog. Opt for wet food if your dog has trouble eating or needs more water. Wet food is not only easier to eat for dogs who are older or who have dental problems, it also contains a lot more moisture. If your dog doesn't drink as much water as they should, this is a good way to keep them hydrated. Plus, wet food often has higher levels of protein and fat. Check the “best by” date before you buy it to make sure it's fresh. Be prepared to pay a little extra for wet food. It also doesn't keep for long once it's opened. Cover and store an open can in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. Dry food has benefits like being more affordable and good for your dog's teeth. Consider feeding your dog a mix of both dry food and wet food. Contact the company to answer any additional questions you have. Call the consumer relations department via the number on their website. If there's no number listed, reach out by email or through their “Contact Us” page. Ask about the quality of the ingredients and where they're sourced from, along with any other questions you couldn't answer from the packaging. If the company doesn't respond or provides vague answers, be suspicious. A quality company will be willing to talk to you. Read reviews online to see what other dog owners are saying. Look for reviews on social media, a company's website, or an online retailer. You'll find honest feedback on what people like and dislike about a certain product. People also may provide alternatives for food they didn't like or instructions for feeding or storing the food. Take reviews with a grain of salt. They may be biased or extreme so pick and choose the information that you decide to take into account. Ask for food recommendations from other dog owners. Word of mouth is one of the most reliable ways to choose the best dog food. Talk to your friends who also have dogs and find out what brands or types they like the most. Doggie daycare employees, dog sitters, and dog bloggers are also a good source of information. Send an email or make a phone call to inquire about their dog food preferences. Don't just ask one person. Get feedback from multiple sources and find the similarities. Maybe they each recommended a different brand, but all of the food they suggested was dry food or didn't have grains, for example. Discuss your options with your vet at a checkup. Your vet is a trained medical professional who will help you decide what's best for your dog based on their health, breed, activity level, and more. Talk to your vet at your dog's annual checkup or, if you don't have one coming up, simply call your vet and ask if they have any recommendations or advice. Even if your dog seems perfectly healthy, it's important to get your vet's professional opinion on what you're feeding Fido. Your vet will be able to tell you if your dog is underweight or overweight, too. This will impact how and what you feed them. Take your dog for a checkup at least once a year to make sure they're healthy. 
Avoid food with "dinner," "entree," or "flavor" in the product name. Look for the "complete and balanced" nutritional adequacy statement. Pick food that lists meat or meat meal as the first ingredient. Avoid not-so-great ingredients like byproducts or preservatives. Feed your dog puppy food if your dog is younger than 1 year old. Select more calorie-dense food for smaller breed dogs. Buy hypoallergenic food if your dog has a food allergy or intolerance. Opt for wet food if your dog has trouble eating or needs more water. Contact the company to answer any additional questions you have. Read reviews online to see what other dog owners are saying. Ask for food recommendations from other dog owners. Discuss your options with your vet at a checkup. 