Dogs are omnivores, meaning they eat everything. In the wild, dogs thrived on a varied diet, rich in complex nutrients, including plant nutrients from the diets of their prey. Most domestic dogs now eat a diet that is highly processed. Even high quality or “premium” brand dog foods lose some of their nutritional value during the process of becoming kibble or canned food.
Proper nutrition helps prevent and fight disease by supplying the body with nutrients needed to support optimal function in organs and tissues affected by stress, injury, disease, and surgery. What we feed our pets can help their immune systems fight infection and may even prevent some cancers. Diet affects our dogs’ overall health, and it is one thing you have the power to change that will positively influence their wellbeing.
There are many ways to modify what you feed your dog to help him/her be more nutritionally balanced, have a healthier body weight, and live well. This article discusses some important ways to improve your dog’s diet.
First off, decrease the amount of dry kibble fed and substitute with homemade and/or canned food. Adding moisture to the diet will reduce the amount of calories ingested, which will actually help with weight loss in overweight pets.
My second recommendation is a bit more complex: Read food labels! There are some great resources to help you determine whether the food you currently feed your pet is of good quality. One excellent website for information on commercial dog foods and recipes for balanced homemade diets is the Whole Dog Journal.
Choosing a high quality food can be easy once you know what to look for, so here’s a crash course in pet food label reading. Ideally, one or two animal proteins will be listed among the first few ingredients, but that’s not the end of the story. By law, food manufacturers are required to list ingredients by precooked weight in descending order. Often, fresh meat or other water-rich ingredients are at the top of the list because they weigh more. However, once processed into dry kibble, the ingredient percentages can change. Although the manufacturer is still allowed to list the meat as the first ingredient, if many grains are listed as the next few ingredients, they may end up being the main ingredients in the end product. Therefore, look carefully at the percentage of animal proteins vs. carbohydrates listed on the label.
Also, the animal protein sources should be named (beef, chicken, lamb, etc.), not listed as “meat” or “meat-by-product.” The various animal proteins specified refer to muscle meats only, so also look for added organ meats, since they provide nutritional support for your dog’s corresponding organs and are needed for optimal function and health.
Animal protein “meals” named with a specific protein source such as “chicken meal” can also be on the ingredients list. They are high in protein and nutrients and usually include muscle meat as well as bone, skin, and connective tissues that have been dried and ground. Avoid foods with “meat by-products” on the label.
Look for whole vegetables, grains, and fruits, too. These whole food nutrients (not meals or flours) provide plant vitamins and minerals that, when eaten together, work better than minerals and vitamins added individually. Look for foods contining dark leafy green vegetables and complex carbohydrates, such as brown rice, oats, barley, legumes, yams, or squashes.
Avoid foods that list carbohydrates like corn first on the ingredients label. Carbs break down to sugars in the bloodstream, so diets high in carbs can contribute to increased obesity in dogs. Carbohydrates also provide the building blocks for inflammatory molecules in the body, so high-carb diets can actually worsen inflammatory disorders in many dogs, such as arthritis and skin allergies. Other carbs to avoid include corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, brewers rice, modified corn starch, corn meal, and soybean meal.
Also check your pet food label to avoid chemical preservatives such as nitrates, BHSA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin, or added artificial colors or sweeteners. Be sure to check the “Best By” expiration date on packages, too, and buy foods that have expiration dates within about a year from date of purchase. Buy smaller-sized quantities so food remains fresh and retains its essential nutrients.
Lastly, make sure that the food label states that your pet food is “complete and balanced.” Some products are meant only as supplemental treats and should not be fed as the sole diet. Pet food may be labeled as “complete and balanced” if it meets the standards set by an industry group called AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials. AAFCO analyzes commercial pet foods to be sure they meet basic standards for balanced nutrition determined by food scientists, but it does not concern itself with the source or quality of ingredients. That is the job of the educated consumer!
Now that you know what to look for, start reading labels. It is up to you, with the help of your veterinarian, to choose an appropriate diet for your dogs that ensures their good health and high quality of life.
Ilana Strubel, DVM, MA, is the owner of A Well Adjusted Pet, a veterinary housecall practice specializing in chiropractic care, behavior, and nutrition consultation. She is also in general practice at Linda Mar Veterinary Hospital, where she treats her patients’ entire well-being: body, mind, and quality of life. When not working, she loves to spend time with her family, including partner Michelle, four rescue dogs (Pinky, Ziggy, Roxie, and Billie Lucille), and 21-year-old cat, Tuli.
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