What is the Best Pet Food?
What is THE BEST Pet Food?
That’s probably the question I get asked most often… and generally the people that ask that question want to feed an exclusively dry kibble diet.
If you are feeding your pet only dry kibble, then the “best pet food” is the one that your pet does the best on. Some pets will do absolutely fine on grocery store food that cost $7 for a 40 pound bag, and others will look and feel terrible on foods that cost $100 a bag.
Feeding your pet a dry diet is really an unnatural way to feed your pet. Heck, most dry foods (even the expensive ones) spray chicken fat on the kibble… why? … because that’s the only way kibble is identifiable as food to dogs. To be honest with you, letting your dog eat out of the neighbor’s garbage can is a more natural way of feeding a pet than dry kibble.
Ok, so we’re not going to feed our dogs out of the garbage can. So…
How do you Choose the Best Food for Your Pet?
- Sometimes, simpler is better. Choose a good quality chicken and rice, or lamb and rice. All your pet really needs from a diet is a good source of meat protein, and some fiber. Don’t worry about fruits, veggies,etc. The more ingredients, the greater chance of stomach upset.
- Picky eaters usually like dry kibbles with multiple protein sources.
- If you are switching dog food brands, start with chicken based foods, they are easier on the stomach, and will help with cleanup in the back yard or litterbox.
- If you need help with skin and coat issues, try lamb or fish based formulas.
How do You Know if You are Feeding the Best Pet Food?
I don’t want to be gross, but the best indication that your pet is eating the best pet food for him is by… stool volume… and smell. Excessive, smelly stool is an indication that your pet is not getting what it needs from his food.
Finding the best food for your pet will probably take some trial and error, and some experimentation. You’ll want to transition foods over a week or so, and to begin to see benefits from a new food will take about six weeks.
I’ll talk more about transitioning foods in my next post.
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“Walmart will not carry ANY good foods. Sorry.”
my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght at the end there, not leave it with ‘we leave it to you to decide’.
Dang, I was afraid someone would try to pin me down… but really, since kibble really is an “unnatural” way to feed your pet, it truly is a matter of trial and error. My first choice is a raw diet…
But, if you insist, here’s my list of foods that seem to work the best for the folks I’ve worked with:
Cat Food:
Wellness Indoor Health – I like the ingredient list, and most cats seem to like it.
Rad Cat Frozen Raw
Dog Food:
Best Food at Lowest Price – Nutri-Source
First Food I would try with a new dog – California Natural
Grain – Free – Wellness Core