If you are looking for dogs for sale, or even puppies for sale, you should begin thinking about some other details that come with taking care of a pet. One of the major details is pet food. There are so many kinds of dog food on the market today, which is very convenient, but the selection leaves many owners confused about what is really best for their furry best friends.

The pet food industry has grown to enormous proportions, profiting over $25 billion dollars a year, and though many manufacturers may start out with good intentions, the realities of profit and bottom lines often unfortunately begin to win out over quality and concern for animals. Some manufactures are owned by huge, multinational parent companies that have little concern about quality, so it is important to do your research and find the perfect food.

There are regulatory systems that create certain restrictions for wording on labels and ingredients. For example, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, or the AAFCO, sets the standards for what may be labeled “complete and balanced.” Pet foods may be certified in one of two ways. One is by meeting the AAFCO’s standards for content, and the other is by passing actual feeding research studies. Research studies are often more reliable because the actual effects on the animal have been tested, however, this may not always show the long term affects of the food.

By becoming familiar with some of the “Label Rules” for domestic dog food, you can better discern what will be the right sustenance for your pup. For a product to actually claim to be “Beef Dog Food” or “Salmon Dog Food,” the salmon or beef must make up 95% of the ingredients. If there is a double main ingredient such as “Beef and Chicken,” 95% must be beef and chicken, with the majority being beef, as it is listed first. If an extra descriptive term such as “dinner” or “formula” is added to the label, the primary ingredient does not have to be the listed meat, such as “Chicken formula for Large Breed Dogs.” It must be 25% chicken. If a commercial food uses the word “with,” it only has to contain 3% of that product. For example, “Puppy Chow with Lamb” must only include 3% actual lamb, and a dog food that is labeled “lamb flavored” is not required to have any actual lamb.

Understanding some of these buzz words and doing your research about the best kind of food for your particular breed should help you navigate to the perfect food, and it never hurts to simply ask your Veterinarian. They will always be able to recommend a great selection. Remember, this is the same food your family dog will eat every day while you are sitting down to steaks, seafood, or whatever. Treat your pet something nutritious and delicious.

If you are looking for dogs for sale, or even puppies for sale, you should begin thinking about some other details that come with taking care of a pet. One of the major details is pet food. There are so many kinds of dog food on the market today, which is very convenient, but the selection leaves many owners confused about what is really best for their furry best friends.

The pet food industry has grown to enormous proportions, profiting over $25 billion dollars a year, and though many manufacturers may start out with good intentions, the realities of profit and bottom lines often unfortunately begin to win out over quality and concern for animals. Some manufactures are owned by huge, multinational parent companies that have little concern about quality, so it is important to do your research and find the perfect food.

There are regulatory systems that create certain restrictions for wording on labels and ingredients. For example, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, or the AAFCO, sets the standards for what may be labeled “complete and balanced.” Pet foods may be certified in one of two ways. One is by meeting the AAFCO’s standards for content, and the other is by passing actual feeding research studies. Research studies are often more reliable because the actual effects on the animal have been tested, however, this may not always show the long term affects of the food.

By becoming familiar with some of the “Label Rules” for domestic dog food, you can better discern what will be the right sustenance for your pup. For a product to actually claim to be “Beef Dog Food” or “Salmon Dog Food,” the salmon or beef must make up 95% of the ingredients. If there is a double main ingredient such as “Beef and Chicken,” 95% must be beef and chicken, with the majority being beef, as it is listed first. If an extra descriptive term such as “dinner” or “formula” is added to the label, the primary ingredient does not have to be the listed meat, such as “Chicken formula for Large Breed Dogs.” It must be 25% chicken. If a commercial food uses the word “with,” it only has to contain 3% of that product. For example, “Puppy Chow with Lamb” must only include 3% actual lamb, and a dog food that is labeled “lamb flavored” is not required to have any actual lamb.

Understanding some of these buzz words and doing your research about the best kind of food for your particular breed should help you navigate to the perfect food, and it never hurts to simply ask your Veterinarian. They will always be able to recommend a great selection. Remember, this is the same food your family dog will eat every day while you are sitting down to steaks, seafood, or whatever. Treat your pet something nutritious and delicious.