What ingredients should I feed my dog? What is the best dog food? Should I use grain-free?
Important questions. There are no easy answers.
And it’s so personal. And what’s best for one isn’t always best for the other. It’s something I’ve read about and researched, and will continue to do so. I can’t pretend to tell you what is the best food for your dog. But I can tell you about our experience and some research I’ve done.
Quite some time ago, we used to feed our dogs what we thought was pretty good quality dog food. But after doing some research, I realized that we were way off. That was way back, before I started getting fit and healthy, and dieting with my dog. Not only was my dog Kelly overweight, but she was also at risk of many serious health conditions. I remember that all her lab results were borderline…and I determined that it was up to me to change her diet and get her healthy and get those lab tests going in a positive directions.
So I learned about quality protein sources. And I learned which fruits and vegetables were healthy for my dog. Then I also switched to grain-free dog food. All of these changes helped get Kelly fit. With the healthy food, combined with increased exercise, she lost weight. And best of all, her lab results all improved to healthy/normal ranges.
Here are some reasons to consider switching to grain-free dog food.
Higher levels of protein and fat allow you to
feed less quantity while still giving your pet fuel for the day.
Grains, like corn or wheat can be triggers for
food allergies or food sensitivities in some dogs. Choosing a grain-free dog
food can help lessen food allergy symptoms and
optimize digestion.
A
protein-based diet that is free of grains more closely mimics a dog’s ancestral beginnings.
Grain-free formulas contain more meat-based protein as well as easy-to-digest
animal fats.
Taste of the Wild recently contacted me to ask me to sample some of their new grain-free AppalachianValley and Pine Forest formulas. This variety features venison as the primary ingredient. Real
beef, chicken, fish or venison protein sources provide dogs with the amino acid
building blocks necessary for ideal lean body condition. Taste of the Wild grain-free formulas
also are enriched with
fruits and vegetables, including peas and garbanzo beans, that provide a better tasting food for
your pet.
Taste of the Wild grain-free formulas
rely on ingredients like quality meats and probiotics that maximize the
nutritional health benefits for your pets. The probiotics are live, beneficial bacteria that help
your dog by keeping the digestive system healthy and in balance. They do this
by suppressing the bad bacteria that reside in the digestive system.
NOTE: If
you decide to switch your pet to a
grain-free dog food, be sure to make a slow transition to help your dog’s
digestive system adjust. Taste of the Wild veterinarians recommend transitioning food over a 6-9 day
period. You can do this by starting with 25 percent of your dog’s feeding
portion of the new formula mixed with 75 percent feeding
portion of your dog’s old formula for 2-3 days. Then, move to 50 percent of each for
2-3 days and then 75 percent of the new with 25 percent of the old for 2-3 days
before feeding the new formula exclusively.
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** FULL DISCLOSURE: I am being compensated for spreading the word about Taste of the Wild. Opinions expressed here are 100% my own. The Writer’s Dog only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.
