All You Need to Know About Your Dog

Are You Feeding Your Dog the Best Food?

PetSmart Dr. Mark Finke, Ph.D., Nutritional Sciences

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As the old adage goes, you are what you eat. The same rings true for your pet. But with so many food options to choose from, how do you know you’re feeding your dog the very best? Mark Finke, Ph.D., a pet nutritionist and director of Merchandising Technical Services at PetSmart, gives us his expert opinion on how to choose the healthiest food for your pet.

According to Finke, even the best food is not perfect for every dog. When choosing a food, it’s important to understand your dog’s individual needs. As you are walking down the pet food aisle, consider your dog’s lifestage and life style and choose a food with high quality ingredients that optimize nutrient utilization.

High vs. low quality pet food

According to Finke, premium pet foods contain more protein and energy than lower quality foods. Also many lower quality foods contain high levels of cheaper ingredients that result in lower digestibility and more stools.

One of the most common misconceptions Pet Parents have about their pet’s food is the overemphasis placed on certain ingredients. Finke says, “While certain ingredients may indicate a high quality food, the overall balance of the ingredients used in the food is most important.” Unless your pet has developed an allergy or sensitivity to a particular ingredient, emphasis on a particular ingredient should be considered less important.

A food allergy or sensitivity?

Since dogs can develop allergies or sensitivities to particular ingredients in their food, how do you know the difference? Finke weighs in on the subject:

“Technically allergies are the body’s immune system reacting to a foreign protein in this case one that is consumed. Food sensitivities are less specific and generally should be considered when the food doesn’t seem to agree with your pet and causes vomiting and/or loose stools.”

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