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Senior Dog Food - 8 Things You Must Look For When Buying Senior Dog Food

Today, it is not easy to buy food for dogs. With so many brands on the market, it is hard to know which one is the best for your friend.

Here we give you 8 things you have to look for in dog food to make sure you are purchasing a quality product:

1. Look for dog food with the quality of human food

The best brands of dog food use ingredients that match the quality of human food; nevertheless, they can’t mention this fact on the label because it is prohibited by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

To know which dog foods are the best in this sense, check several senior dog food reviews available online, some are very reputable and exact.

You can also check the manufacturer’s website. If it offers detailed ingredient information in a clear and direct way, you will know the brand is good.

2. Check that the ingredients are obtained locally from USDA inspected facilities or from countries that are trustworthy

Some ingredients imported from China are not safe; make sure the food of your choice does not contain them. Learn to identify the best quality assurance and testing procedures.

This information is not always available; thus, research online for the data and check reputable senior dog food reviews.

3. Look at the food label and check the ingredients listed on top of the first fat source

Those ingredients are the food’s major components. The best brands list 10 or more ingredients there.

4. Look at the content of protein

Meat is the most important ingredient in your dog’s food, and you want it to be top quality. Make sure the meat is more meat than grains.

Look at the meat’s position on the label¾the best brands show it as the first ingredient¾, how many times it’s listed before the fat¾the more it is listed the more nutrients the food has¾, and if they tell you want kind of meat it is¾the best brands indicate the type of meat (beef, chicken, lamb, etc.) the food contains.

5. Look for good sources of fat

The sources of fat must be specified on the label, and these have to be good, for example: chicken, olive oil, canola oil, or flax oil. The top brands will also list Omega 3 and 6.

6. Look for grains

Dogs don’t need grains in their diets; thus, the best food brands do not include them or are a minor component, listed after the fat source. If listed, make sure they are specified and top quality, such as barley, oats, and rice.

7. Look for fruits and vegetables

These are not necessary in a dog’s diet; however, are a nice addition that many top brands include. Look for potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, beans, broccoli, peas, spinach, apples, and blueberries.

No onions!

8. Look at the preservatives, colors, and other chemicals added

The best dog foods have natural preservatives like Ascorbic Acid, which is vitamin C, and Tocopherols, which is vitamin E.

Important! Never buy dog food that contains:

Ethoxyquin
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Artificial colors blue 2, red 40, or yellow 5 and 6
Flavors that don’t mention the source
Cane molasses
Corn syrup
Sugar
Sorbitol
Fructose
Glucose
Sucrose
Propylene glycol
Ammoniated glycyrrhizin
Menadione, vitamin K3, or dimethylprimidinol sulfate

The above are chemicals that have been prohibited in human foods and should not be ingested by dogs either.

~ Staff, SeniorDogs.com

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