Dog Food Comparison

When making a dog food comparison, it is important to make sure that the foods being compared include all of the necessary components dogs need for good health.

Dogs need several different kinds of nutrients to survive, namely: amino acids from proteins, fatty acids and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. So, in the dog food ratings process, the foods you are comparing should be checked to make sure they contain all of the essentials. Here is a brief review of the nutrients that your dog's food should contain.

Required Nutrients in Dog Food Comparison Process

Amino Acids from Protein - There are 10 essential amino acids that dogs cannot make on their own, thus dogs can't survive without eating proteins. In fact, dogs can often tell when a food lacks amino acid an will avoid eating it. Quality protein should come from animals rather than "animal byproducts".

Fatty Acids - A dog cannot create fatty acids that are necessary to sustain life and must also ingest enough dietary fats to provide for internal body functions such as, carrying fat soluble vitamins, cell structure and function, skin and coat health, resistance to infections, vision and brain function.

The National Academy of Sciences suggests that an average size adult dog (weighing 33 lbs.) needs around 25 grams of protein and 14 grams of fat on a daily basis. Puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs actually need more than twice that amount.

Carbohydrates - Dogs get some of their energy (calories) from carbohydrates including glucose, fructose, starches and dietary fibers. According to studies and adult dog's diet can include up to 50% carbohydrates with preferably no more that 2.5-4.5% coming from fibers that contribute little by way of energy or nutrition.

Again puppies require more than twice as many calories than an active adult dog. Pregnant Dogs require one to two-thirds more than an active adult dog. Nursing dogs may require 2-4 times as many calories as an adult dog depending on the number of puppies being nursed and how long they have been nursing. Older dogs that have become less active may require 20% less calories than middle aged adult dogs.

Vitamins & Minerals - Many vitamins and minerals are known to be essential to your dogs health including the following: Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B1, Riboflavin, Vitamin b5, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid and Choline, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chlorine, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Selenium and Iodine.

These provide vital nutrients to your dog's body that are necessary for strong bones and teeth, nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, cell signaling and enzymatic reactions, just to name a few.

Once you have made sure that the dog foods you are comparing include these essentials, you can then focus your pet food comparison efforts on the quality and quantities provided by each prospective dog food source.