What Do Dogs Eat? Types of Dog Food

These days we have a considerable range of options when it comes to feeding our dog. So many, in fact, that deciding which is best can prove complicated.

In this article we run through the most suitable diet for dogs and the advantages and drawbacks of the different alternatives. Do bear in mind, though, that if your dog has a health problem, it is the vet who has to determine their menu.

The Menu for Dogs

Dogs are carnivores. Although we can consider them omnivores, the fact is that their diet has to be built on animal protein. As a complement, it can contain grains, vegetables or fruit. This is the basic premise when settling on one way of feeding or another.

From there, the decision is also shaped by the dog's circumstances and our own. A puppy eats differently from an adult, and a working dog differently from a sedentary one, just as it makes a difference whether we work all day or have time to cook.

This is no small matter, since food is the foundation of a dog's present and future health. Below we run through the main canine feeding options, weighing up the pros and cons. They are these:

• Kibble or dry food for dogs.
• Tins or wet food.
• Dehydrated food.
• Home-made food.
• BARF.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Dog Kibble

Kibble is a very widespread and economical option, ideal for people who have no time to cook. All you do is open and serve. Beyond being a heavily processed product, though, very low-quality ranges are sold made from by-products and an excess of grains, which should not be the main ingredient of any canine diet.

Poor storage can also affect the percentage of some nutrients. If you settle on kibble, read the nutritional information label carefully and choose one with dehydrated or fresh meat as its first ingredient. In the latter case, check whether the percentage is before or after processing, since roughly half is lost along the way.

Another problem with kibble is its low moisture content, which can be counterproductive in dogs with urinary and kidney problems where hydration is essential. What is more, since processing affects the taste, fats are added. It is worth checking that these are healthy ones.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Wet Food for Dogs

The same recommendations given for kibble serve us in picking a good tinned food. So we need to check that the first ingredient is meat and not by-products or grains.

The advantage is that, unlike kibble, the moisture content is high. It is also very palatable to dogs and they will normally take it readily. That is why it is common for it to be offered at particular moments when the dog's appetite has dropped for some reason. But it could be their sole food.

The problem is the price, and that it should preferably be eaten the same day. Otherwise it spoils. It is put through a heat treatment during preparation. Contrary to what people believe, it is lower in calories than kibble, which is why it can be an option for dogs on a weight-loss diet.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Dehydrated Food for Dogs

This is perhaps the least well-known option. Here the ingredients are put through a dehydration process, so they keep their nutrients. They are simply cut and dehydrated. When it comes to serving them to the dog, all you have to do is add water.

This gets around the problem of low moisture. It is normally made with ingredients fit for human consumption, which guarantees its quality. The problem is that some dogs do not find it appealing.

The Pros and Cons of Home-Made Food for Dogs

In principle, on paper, home-made food would be the most advisable option. Provided, of course, that we put the menu together according to the guidance of a professional expert in canine nutrition.

Otherwise it is very easy to fall into imbalances that will bring on health problems. Buying quality ingredients fit for human consumption, fresh, and cooking them ourselves on the spot with no preservatives or additives results in wholesome dishes that dogs find very appealing.

Because it is essential to bear in mind that home-made food is not the same as giving the dog our leftovers. Some foods that are common on our plates can be toxic to them.

The Pros and Cons of the BARF Diet for Dogs

The BARF or natural diet has found success and spread above all in recent years. We can consider it a variant of home-made food with the particularity that it is served raw or very lightly cooked, steamed for instance. This way of serving food could be dangerous, since it makes the transmission of parasites and bacteria possible.

The risk can be got around by freezing the ingredients beforehand. It is defended as the most natural option for the dog's biology, but this point is contested. Its detractors maintain that the domestication process involved feeding dogs cooked leftovers, a process that has helped them make use of certain nutrients.

They add, too, that bones could cause injuries and even choking. Putting this menu together means devoting time to it and consulting a nutrition expert to compose dishes with a balance that guarantees the dog's nutritional needs are covered.

A Comparison of Dog Feeding Options

By way of a summary, weighing up the advantages and drawbacks of all the options mentioned, we can set out a basic comparison to help us reach a decision. Whatever you choose, in any case, let quality be your guide:

• Kibble: easy to serve and to store, but a heavily processed product.
• Tins: very palatable, but expensive and short-lived.
• Dehydrated food: keeps the nutrients and the moisture and is easy to prepare.
• Home-made food: a good option provided the menu is put together by an expert. It has to be cooked and eaten the same day, or frozen.
• BARF: as with home-made food, consulting a professional is essential. Raw products carry health risks.

Bibliography Carlson and Giffin. 2002. Manual práctico de veterinaria canina. Madrid. Editorial el Drac. Dopico, David. 2017. "¿Qué sabes de las dietas crudas?". Revista Ateuves no. 62. pp. 20-22.