Dry dog ​​food: classes, selection criteria and feeding rules

Dry food has long been one of the basic nutritional options for dogs of any age. Ready-made food greatly simplifies the maintenance of the pet, allowing the owners to provide him with a complete diet with all vitamins and minerals. The granular product of industrial production may have a different shape and particle size. The level of quality of different feed classes is different, and their composition is changing. Manufacturers even consider the intensity of physical exertion that the pet is accustomed to bear.

The article will discuss how to choose food for active and other dogs, whether it is necessary to pay attention to specialized and therapeutic nutrition if the animal is healthy. Each of these points deserves the most detailed consideration and study. Indeed, the dog’s health, the quality of its coat, the correct growth and development of the puppy depend on the diet.

To begin, consider what dry dog ​​food consists of. As a rule, it is made from a variety of ingredients to ensure the correct balance of the fat, protein, carbohydrate component in the dog’s diet. But the main thing should remain meat - chicken, lamb, veal and even fish (salmon). It is this element in the composition that should be in the first place - without any reservations and assumptions. Not bone meal, but just meat.

The specific designations “with lamb”, “with chicken” on the packaging do not guarantee the dominance of the main component.It is worth avoiding the vague mention of “with fish,” “with meat” without decoding the composition - the less information on the package, the higher the likelihood that the manufacturer has something to say nothing about. Another important point: chicken protein is a fairly strong allergen, it is better to choose a diet based on turkey and beef to feed your pet.

Cereals in the dog's diet act as an energy source - they are rich in carbohydrates, but not digested too well, leaving the body almost unchanged. In cheap feed, corn, soy or wheat is most commonly used. Manufacturers of more expensive products often completely abandon the cereal component or use barley, brown brown rice.

Much attention should be paid to the presence and volume of offal in dog food. As in natural nutrition, their number should be minimal. Moreover, the insides should act as an additive - the liver, kidneys, heart, and not the claws, bones, and necks, which are also often referred to this category. Another important component is vegetables, fruits and other sources of fiber, including seaweed. Their presence is an indicator of high quality products.

Among the useful ingredients in dry dog ​​food can be distinguished L-carnitine, chondroitin, glucosamine, natural egg, choline, iron sulfate, beta-carotene. Vitamin premixes in food make it possible to avoid an imbalance in the diet. Among the desired constituents, anise, fenugreek, sesame seeds, vegetable oils, and linseed are usually mentioned.

What should not be in the composition:

1. dyes - nondescript brown or gray lumps are much more beneficial for an animal than brightly colored green or orange;
2. dangerous fats - they can cause cancer;
3. cereal offal - production waste, the value of which is very doubtful;
4. BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin - dangerous substances banned in many countries of the world.

The arguments of the supporters of dry feed are understandable. Eating from a common master table is much more harmful for a dog. In addition, many pets are advised on a strict diet that requires the exclusion of many foods. With the help of a ready-made diet, observing it is quite easy. The advantages of this nutritional option include a number of factors.

1. A wide selection of products of different classes. Ready-made feeds often take into account the age category of the pet, the level of its physical activity, the intensity of the received loads and even the breed. In addition, the price range is also quite wide, allowing each owner to solve the issue of animal nutrition, without going beyond the planned budget.
2. Significant time savings. To feed the animal, it is enough to pour new granules. Food does not spoil, suitable for use in automatic dispensers. If the owner does not stay at home for a long time or travels with a dog, a prepared diet will be the best choice.
3. Maintaining healthy teeth. The use of dry dog ​​food allows you to provide an abrasive effect on tooth enamel, to clean deposits, preventing their reappearance.
4. Confidence in the quality of products. No need to look for suitable meat, make sure of its freshness and the absence of allergies in the dog. Ready-made food can be chosen to the taste of even the most capricious pet, and if not economized, the quality of its ingredients will be on top.
5. No need for additional vitamin and mineral supplements. High-quality feeds, in fact, contain them in sufficient quantities.With budgetary - everything is not so attractive, their composition is much poorer, and the purchase of supplements to the basic diet is usually necessary, as with natural nutrition.
6. Availability. If the feed is over, in most cases it can be found in the nearest supermarket. With the purchase of food on trips and travels, there will also be no problem.

Not without cons. Disadvantages of dry food are many. But most of them are associated with the mistakes of the owner in choosing a diet for the dog. Veterinarians warn of the need individual food selection. But you should not be afraid of the uniformity of the diet - the dog will receive everything necessary to avoid the risk of obesity, indigestion and stomach upsets.

Among the disadvantages to consider is the need for more water. If it is not possible to replenish the bowl during the day, it is better to install an auto-drinker. The high cost of quality feed also regularly becomes a cause for criticism. But when comparing costs, a balanced natural diet is no less expensive.

All types of ready-made dog food in the form of dry granules can be divided into classes that are very different from each other. The content of vitamins and minerals, additives for improving digestion is typical only for expensive products. Cheap feeds from the mass market segment at best contain offal and a significant proportion of cereals as a filler. Such a diet will not bring serious harm. But one should not expect much benefit from him either.

The division into classes was not accidentally introduced by manufacturers. It helps to select products of the right quality, quickly separating the appropriate category of feed on the counter. In addition, when buying ready-made meals from little-known brands, this very factor allows us to understand the level of the manufacturer.

Let’s analyze what classes of dry dog ​​food exist.

The most budgetary decision, the price of which per kilogram leaves no chance that there will be at least the cheapest meat inside. In the economy class feed you can find at best offal, as well as bone meal, crushed fats and tendons. The varietal affiliation of the meat component also usually remains a secret - at best, the “bird” will be mentioned, but without specification, chicken or turkey. Even with this approach the percentage of animal protein in a cheap granular product is about 20-25%.

Among the obvious disadvantages of economy-class feeds are the use of such low-useful additives as soybeans, corn grits and its production waste. High salt content, flavorings, flavor enhancers, colorants - all this also does not add to the usefulness of popular products of cheap brands.

Ready-made premium dog food is not yet an ideal product in terms of price and quality, but an option close to it. They cost more than the economy class analogues, but it is quite acceptable for most owners of thoroughbred animals. The composition necessarily contains vegetables, cereals, natural meat. Such food is not suitable for puppies that continue to actively grow and develop. Otherwise, everything is very individual - you need to monitor the quality composition, select only trustworthy products.

The premium class is still the same mass market, but with higher quality control. As part of about 30% of meat, cereals occupy over 40%, most often rice. Category II offal is allowed.

Super-premium food is an expensive professional food for purebred dogs and pets. He necessarily has a division into subclasses: for allergy sufferers, puppies, active and elderly animals, giants and small breeds. In addition, manufacturers always use high-quality natural meat, include trace elements and vitamins. The diet takes into account the energy needs of a particular dog, gives precise recommendations on calculating the amount of food per day.

In the composition of super-premium food, the use of meat offal belonging to the 1st category is allowed. And also here you can find a boiled egg, fiber-rich root vegetables, rice. All ingredients are certified for animals as well as for human nutrition, recognized as safe for health.

In the super-premium segment, therapeutic and preventive feeds are produced. The first category is intended for use in a certain period of the animal’s life - as a supporting and restoring nutrition. Preventive products are used on an ongoing basis, designed to prevent health problems specific to a particular breed or group of animals.

Super premium diet foods are for dogs with diabetes, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Each line of such power is optimized in its composition. The content is balanced, reduced calorie content, added components for better digestion of food.

This type of dry dog ​​food is a composition on a grain and grainless basis (diet), in the manufacture of which only products of the highest quality are used. The basis is always at least 65-80% of high-quality beef, veal, lamb, turkey. And also rice and other grains safe for digestion, environmentally friendly vegetables and berries, herbal preparations are included in the composition.

In fact, holistic-class feeds appeared due to the desire of the owners to bring the finished diet closer to the quality of natural nutrition. Strict control, careful selection of raw materials - all this provides the opportunity to create a full menu for dogs of different breeds and ages. Here you can find offers for:

• lactating and pregnant dogs;
• allergic animals;
• sterilized and neutered pets;
• dogs with increased energy needs;
• puppies and juniors.

Biologically appropriate grain-free feeds are called “biologically appropriate” due to the fact that they maximize the dog’s diet to the nutrition of its wild counterparts. The composition consists mainly of high-quality meat (up to 70%), herbaceous inclusions, spices, vegetables and fruits. The use of grain components, artificial preservatives, dyes is not allowed here.

Compiling a unified brand ranking is quite difficult. Only manufacturers who produce quality products should be considered - grain-free and conventional feed no lower than the super-premium class. They are fully consistent with high standards, do not pose a danger to animals. The quality of production is guaranteed mainly in the EU, USA, Canada.

The highest quality products for dog food are represented mainly by brands from Canada. It is here that today they produce the highest quality dry food varieties, create innovative line of rations. The control over the level of safety of ingredients, requirements and standards are the most stringent.

The Canadian brand, known throughout the world, was one of the first to produce holistic-class feed.It contains only high-quality natural meat, the proportion of grain components is minimized, but fiber is present. There are completely grain-free feed options in the line. In any products there are herbs, fruits, vegetables, necessary for high-quality digestion of food.

The Acana brand in the holistic line offers feeds with a rather narrow specialization - by age, breed, and animal size. The share of natural meat in the composition is at least 70%. Plant organics are carefully selected and tested for quality. It contains a complete complex of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins.

One of the most popular Canadian brands Go in Russia! Natural launches holistic products tailored to the individual needs of the animal. For shining coat and physical activity, for daily protection against diseases, for large and small animals. All of them do not contain crops, have at least 70% of meat.

A completely natural balanced diet complements the inclusion of fiber sources - vegetables, fruits, herbs. The composition does not contain dyes and chemical additives, but there is a useful vitamin-mineral complex. In the treatment line there are products divided into subclasses taking into account the age of the animal, the presence of diseases. The high cost is truly offset by the high quality of the product.

Products under the Now Fresh brand are also manufactured by a company from Canada. Grainless and classic versions of the diet are available. The protein is represented exclusively by high-quality meat products. Now Fresh series uses additional components of plant origin - fruits, herbs that have beneficial effects on the digestive tract. The vitamin-mineral component is also fully presented, it allows the dog to provide good nutrition.

Super-premium feeds are significantly inferior to holists in their composition. A significant proportion of the product is occupied by grain aggregates, but fiber, vitamins, and minerals are present in the diet. The following is a ranking of the most popular brands.

The leader of the rating is the products of the Czech brand, which has earned high consumer confidence. Fodders of this brand are high-calorie, differ in economical consumption, natural composition. Proteins here are only meat, which allows us to provide good nutrition to dogs with different needs - from fighting and giant breeds to small active pets. The composition does not contain sublimated components, there are necessary vitamins and mineral supplements.

Products of the Canadian brand 1st Choice have a balanced composition in which the volume of meat products is at least 35%. Proteins are presented mainly in the form of salmon, beef fillet. A variety of diets makes it possible to choose food for allergic dogs, elderly animals, and owners of sensitive gastrointestinal tract. Products undergo strict quality control. But its cost is quite high, and you can buy food not everywhere.

A well-known brand to many breeders from Procter & Gamble. It contains at least 30% of meat ingredients, cereals, vegetables as a source of fiber, chicken eggs. There is a division by age, size of the animal.

When choosing dog food, it is worth considering that nutrition for a puppy is not suitable for adult animals. The exception is females during lactation, the food intended for them is also suitable for feeding young offspring. If a product has a division into additional categories by age, size, level of physical activity, this is definitely worth considering. Individual food selection is the best solution for an animal of any age.

Another important selection criterion is the size of the dog. The diameter of the granules in the feed for medium breeds and small decorative animals is significantly different from what is found in the power pack for dogs of gigantic growth. At the same time, chewing too large or small dry pieces of food for the animal will simply be uncomfortable.

Health features are another important factor. For active pets at the peak of form, feeds with a high energy potential are suitable. For dogs with low mobility, a lower-calorie diet is best. Specialized nutrition is indicated for pets with liver and kidney diseases, disorders of the stomach and intestines. Separate nutrition is required for sterilized, neutered animals, allergic dogs.

When choosing feed it is necessary to check its expiration date. The product must have a sufficient supply before the time allotted for its use. This factor is especially important for large packages.

So that the feed is well absorbed, you need to properly feed the dogs with dry granular products, Be sure to follow simple rules.

1. When choosing one product or brand, you should adhere to this diet. Manufacturers of holistic and super-premium class have a fairly wide range of feeds, which allows you to not give up the usual food when changing the age category.
2. To buy pellets by weight, you can choose only large stores where the product does not stagnate for more than a week. Otherwise, the treat will lose all appeal to the animal.
3. When equipping a feeding zone, you should take care of a sufficiently roomy and convenient drinker. Dry foods cause intense thirst. Water should be in excess, change it in a bowl daily. It is better to choose a bottled drinking product, rather than filtered tap water.
4. When eating dry food, a clear schedule is very important. Let the dog get used to eating strictly on the clock twice a day, if it is an adult animal. Serving volumes are calculated based on manufacturer recommendations and calories. Uneaten foods should be removed.
5. Storage of dry food requires airtight packaging and a minimum level of humidity. If these requirements are violated, mold, fungus, and other dangerous microorganisms may appear in the bag. If the dog does not eat too much, it is better to take food in small packages.

The opinion of veterinarians and independent animal nutrition experts about dry dog ​​food is quite obvious. They recommend using only super-premium products and holistic. It is such a diet that can, without loss for a dog, replace natural nutrition. If funds are enough only for classic economy and premium products, it is better to immediately consider the options additional animals receiving vitamins, minerals, fiber.

There are a number of breeds that require a strict lifelong diet. For their owners, according to veterinarians, a finished diet can be a real salvation. Instead of cooking allowed food for many hours, you can simply give the dog ready meals. But when choosing nutrition, a veterinarian consultation will be required. Among the most relevant options, according to doctors, brands can be distinguished Canidae, Piccolo, Artemis.

Specialists in the selection of feed advise not to be afraid of experiments. Many non-mass brands are cheaper than advertised products, and they can be brought to order.

See how to choose dry food in the next video.