Nutritional Claims

Read the label for nutritional claims.

• Look for life stage claims. For example, a puppy food should say it is complete and balanced for "growth" or "all life stages". Foods balanced for "the maintenance of an adult dog" won't give a puppy proper nutrition.

Types of Food

There is a wide variety of commercially produced dog food available in a variety of forms. Choose the one that fits your needs, your dog's needs and your budget.

• Dry food is an extremely popular choice for dog owners. It tastes good, is easy to store, and provides excellent nutrition. It also helps keep teeth clean.
• Semi-Moist food is increasing in popularity. Moist bites are enjoyable for your dog to eat. Semi-moist food can be fed as a meal, topper or treat. 
• Canned foods are generally very palatable for your dog. However, due to their high water content, they contain less nutrition per pound of food, so you will need to feed your dog a higher volume.

Guaranteed Analysis

Look at the percentages of protein, fat, and other nutrients declared on the package. You can compare these analyses between foods as long as they are foods of the same type; compare dry to dry or canned to canned.

While this comparison might help you select in some circumstances - for example, you may want to feed an overweight dog a food with less calories per cup or a hardworking dog a food with more calories per cup - your best bet is to review the nutritional claims and look for a food that is appropriate for your dog's life stage.

Other Considerations

Consider other aspects of the food including:

• Flavor - does your dog seem to enjoy it?
• Availability - can you get your chosen food easily?
• Cost - does it fit comfortably in your monthly budget?
• Reputation - do you know people who have used and recommend the food? Is the manufacturer reputable?
• Special nutritional needs - if your dog has specific nutritional needs identified by a veterinarian, does this food meet those needs?

With these guidelines, you can find the food that's right for you and your dog.