How Do I Choose Good Commercial Food for My Dog?

Those of us who love our dogs always want the best for them, because it makes us feel better and because we know it will make them happy. That is why, when the subject is feeding dogs, we like to take our time and explain everything someone who is not a nutrition expert needs to know. That way they can choose what is best for their dog, making them happier and improving their quality of life and life expectancy.

We all know that diet is one of the cornerstones of how our bodies work. We can try it on ourselves: eat healthily and in a balanced way, or live on junk food. We will see the results in a matter of weeks. Well, exactly the same goes for dogs.

A well-fed dog is, in every respect, a healthier, more energetic and above all happier dog. And if we are looking for a healthy, balanced diet for our dog, there is only one thing we can be talking about: the familiar BARF diet.

The Pros and Cons of Preparing a BARF Diet Yourself

If you have done a little digging into this kind of natural feeding for dogs, you will have seen that it means feeding our dogs raw meat, meaty bones, certain organs, fruit and vegetables. All of it in the right proportions to cover their full nutritional needs.

At first it can seem rather complicated: which meat to buy, in what amounts relative to the other ingredients, and so on. Once we get down to it, though, it is not as complicated as it looks. It is all about making a start.

Because these are fresh products, our dog's whole system will feel the benefit, since there is simply no comparison — not even close — with the very best of the prepared, extruded commercial kibbles.

The drawback, and practically the only drawback, is that not everyone has the means to prepare a BARF diet. Many of us work long hours, and when we do get some free time we simply want to spend it resting and enjoying our dog's company.

Others do have free time but would rather not take on the business of buying the food, working out amounts, portioning it up and freezing it so there is enough for the whole week or month. The BARF diet is without question the healthiest option, but not all of us have the time or the knowledge to prepare it.

So… why not buy it ready-made? That would save us a great deal of time we could put into other things, every bit as healthy as walking our dog.

Tips for Choosing a Good Ready-Made, That Is to Say Commercial, BARF Diet

Make sure the product you buy is entirely natural. There is no point opting for BARF feeding if we end up buying processed products packed with artificial ingredients or preservatives.

Try to choose a single-protein product, that is, one containing only one animal protein source. Plenty of dogs suffer allergies or intolerances from eating kibble, which usually contains a broad mixture of meats and fish.

With a single-protein product we will be able to tell whether or not our dog tolerates it, and if they do not, we can rule it out and move on to other options. As an example, you could look for a commercial BARF diet with chicken as its only meat source, or beef, or even more exotic meats, depending on your dog's tastes.

Go through the product label thoroughly, and if you still have any doubts, get in touch with the manufacturer. Manufacturers who offer quality products answer all their customers' questions — Puromenu.es, for instance, an excellent producer of natural BARF food for dogs. If you come across a manufacturer who does not reply, or who gives you vague answers, be suspicious.

Make sure the commercial BARF diet you are thinking of buying contains:

• Ingredients of animal origin, mainly muscle meat.

• Nutritious organs such as liver.

• Fruit and vegetables

• A natural source of calcium

And also make sure it does not contain:

• Grains

• Non-natural additions such as preservatives, colourings and so on

• Animal by-products

Unfortunately, the European Union permits the use of meats classed as Category 3 material in the manufacture of dog food. Products of this kind offer little nutrition and are not at all advisable for feeding a dog.

To give you an idea, Category 3 allows things such as these to be added:

• Hides, hair, blood, hooves, horns, bristles, heads and feathers from animals fit for human consumption

• Raw milk from animals

• Cracked eggshells

• Catering waste not originating from international transport

You will appreciate that if what we are after is healthy, good-quality food for our dog, we should not be betting on ingredients of that sort. Hence how important it is to look closely at the label on the food you intend to buy. The law obliges manufacturers to specify the ingredients, and that is a great card in our favour.

As you can see, we all have three options: feed our dog conventional kibble, feed them natural, healthy food by preparing the menu ourselves, or buy the menu ready-made from fresh, wholesome ingredients from a producer we trust, such as Puromenu.

If you go for the last option, we recommend you always get in touch with the manufacturer and let them advise you on the most suitable amounts and menus for your dog. They are the experts — don't be too lazy or too shy to ask.