Most Popular Types of Dog Food

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Gone are the days when dogs were just considered pets, as they have become official family members. Just like how you care for your family members, it’s also paramount to look after your four-legged baby’s health and well-being. This is where choosing the right kind of dog food enters the picture.

But if you think all dog foods are the same, you should stop and think again. The truth is that dog foods are also as varied and different as those of humans. To save you from trouble and confusion, here are the most popular types of food that cater to your fur baby’s dietary requirements.

Freeze-dried and Frozen Dog Food

Raw food for pups comes in frozen or freeze-dried form for sanitary purposes. Raw food is prone to bacteria growth if you don’t store it at cold temperatures.

Dog diets consisting of frozen and freeze-dried food are very healthy, with most pet food industry experts highly recommending it for dogs. The only downside here is its expensive price tag. Feeding your pup freeze-dried or frozen food can easily cost twice or even up to four times more than traditional dry kibble.

Aside from that, these foods have a shorter shelf life as well. You can only store frozen food in your refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. You can add water to a large batch of freeze-dried food and keep it inside the fridge for 3 to 4 days. It means that you need more time to prepare the food, which not all pet parents might be able to do.

Feeding puppies with a raw diet with freeze-dried and frozen dog food — Feeding puppies with a raw diet requires more work, but it doesn’t change that it is among the healthiest choices. If you have the money and time, freeze-dried and frozen dog food are great options.

Safe handling is also highly essential as far as freeze-dried and frozen food is concerned. After each meal, you must wash the utensils and dishes using soapy hot water to prepare the food. You should also completely dry them before each use.

All leftover food should also be restored precisely as recommended by the manufacturer. You need to seal and refrigerate it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

You also have to be vigilant regarding the condition of the packaging you use. See to it that there are no tears or holes. You should also wash your hands properly and sanitize all surfaces in contact with the food after preparing Fido’s meal.

Having said all of these, it won’t be too much to say that feeding a raw diet requires more work than what you want. But it doesn’t change that it is among the healthiest choices. If you have the money and time, freeze-dried and frozen dog food are great options you can discuss with your vet.

Kibble

Traditional commercial kibble is the perfect example of dry canine food. It is a type of food with a small amount of moisture content. While it often comes in kibble form, you can also commonly see them as biscuits and flake foods or mixers. It is also the most common diet for dogs since it’s the cheapest option.

Dry food also offers different benefits. The first one is the easy storage. All you need is a suitable container, and you’ll be ready. The crunchiness of kibble can also clean your pup’s teeth, which helps maintain good oral hygiene.

This type of food doesn’t expire as far as other types of food for dogs, not to mention that you don’t need to refrigerate it at all.

high-quality dog food kibble for puppies — The best food to feed is a high-quality dog food kibble designed for puppies. This ensures all the nutrients your puppy needs for growth and development are present. The main diet needs to be the commercially balanced kibble.

It’s also easier to serve dry kibble as it doesn’t involve any preparation, unthawing, or cooking. Put a scoop into your pup’s dish, and it’s ready to be served.

Unfortunately, it also has its share of downsides. Due to its popularity, this diet has more options available than others. Many commercial dry dog foods you can find now are also considered unhealthy for pets.

That’s why you must be extremely careful about your choice since many of these are filled with preservatives, flavors, and artificial colors. Many of these foods also contain ingredients without any nutritional value and unhealthy fillers.

Since dry food has a low moisture content, you should also provide your dog with a fresh supply of clean water all the time since this requires them to drink more.

Moist or Canned Food

Moist or canned food is the exact opposite of dry kibble. Its moisture content is higher, which is responsible for its different texture. This type of food is also soggy, making it easier to eat for canines with poor oral health or senior dogs since no chewing is required.

Because it is easier to digest proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in a high-moisture diet than in a dry one, canned dog food benefits puppies to get the nutrition they need—more complete digestion results in less doggy waste and less stool in the litter box.

This type of food is often cooked at extremely high temperatures to sterilize the food. This usually comes in cans, pouches, or foil trays. You can also find this food in chunks in gravy, chunks in jelly, or meatloaf form. You can also buy frozen or refrigerated moist canine food.

This particular type of food is also more expensive, although its shelf life is pretty long. Just be careful when you buy moist food, though.

You should also pay close attention to its water and protein content. The food will have fewer nutrients if the water content is higher. It means that your food will have to eat more of it to meet his nutritional requirement for the day. Choose one guaranteed 100% complete in nutrition, and don’t forget to check the label before you buy anything.

Everything you need to know about how to feed a puppy and which dog food you should use

Giving your dog a healthy and proper diet is the key to helping him enjoy life to the fullest and be one happy pup. However, don’t forget to talk to your vet, research, and consider your budget. It won’t hurt to spend a little bit more if it means you’ll be getting quality dog food. In the long run, you will save more money because you don’t have to pay for hefty grooming costs, supplements, and vet bills.