Dog Care Topics | Dog Diet | Dog Care FAQ

Most dog owners recognize that the correlation between diet and health applies to their dogs as well as themselves, and try to feed their dogs properly. With hundreds of brands of dog food on the market, determining what constitutes a proper diet can be very difficult.

Government regulation with respect to pet food ingredients and additives is minimal. As a result, not all pet foods will contain the nutrients and vitamins necessary to maintain a pet's good health.

Commercially prepared pet foods fall into three basic categories: generic or house brands sold through discount outlets and supermarkets; popular brands sold through supermarkets; and premium brands sold at animal hospitals and pet supply stores.

Generally speaking, the selling price of the various brands reflects the quality of ingredients and nutritional value. Sold at the lowest prices, the generic or house brands are produced with the cheapest ingredients and tend to provide less than optimal nutritional value.

Popular brands typically consist of better quality ingredients than generic brands but are often inconsistent in quality. Usually formulated based on taste appeal to animals and cost to the consumer, their nutritional deficiencies often become apparent when dogs develop health problems.

The premium brands, by contrast, are typically formulated based on nutritional value -- specifically to promote health, performance and longevity. They tend to be more digestible and nutrient-dense, and contain all the essential proteins, vitamins and minerals. Consequently, it requires less food to satisfy an animal, and less remains are eliminated. Better quality nutrition can result in long term savings on veterinary bills, and can extend the lifespan of your dog.

Many premium brands also address dogs' changing nutritional requirements by offering diets formulated for young, adult, pregnant and aging dogs. Certain diets are also formulated to treat dogs with specific disease conditions such as bladder problems, diabetes, pancreatitis, dermatitis, constipation, food allergies and obesity.

Pets Unlimited generally recommends premium brand foods over popular and generic brands. Proper diet works to prevent illness and promote good health. We urge you to ask your veterinarian about your dog's diet during your next visit to Pets Unlimited.

Please do not give your dog nutritional supplements without the advice of a veterinarian, as this can result in harmful imbalances.