Proper nutrition is one of the most important things you can do to keep your dog happy, healthy, and strong. It is also hard to get right with the amount of information out there.
✅ RECOMMENDED
The principle to keep in mind is to feed your dog high-quality ingredients. Just like humans, avoiding highly processed or junk food is essential. Also, diet can vary a lot per dog, it is important to adjust based on specific health factors and talk to a vet when necessary.
High-quality kibbles
The brand of dog food kibbles matters a lot. Only buy reputable, high-quality brands. While they are more expensive, the cost is worth it to avoid vet bills down the line.
ORIJEN
ACANA
⚠️ FEED WITH CAUTION
Raw diet
A raw diet can be extremely healthy for your dog, but it requires some care to do it well. You cannot just feed raw meat by itself! It needs to be paired with other ingredients to provide the full required nutrition. While this can be done at home, it is more convenient to buy it ready-to-go from a reputable source.
As for the meat to use–ground beef, bison, turkey, sardines, and mackerel are all good sources. Even better is to rotate through them over the week.
Volhard
❌ NEVER FEED
Table scraps
Human food is extremely bad for your dog. Even when it is food they can eat, it is often prepared with fats, oils, and/or seasonings that are harmful for your dog’s health.
Low-quality kibbles
There are many dog food brands that are cheap (or even prescription!) that are very harmful for your dog’s health long-term. Avoid any foods that use chicken by-products in their ingredients or have a history of recalls.