Things to Consider When You Buy Dog Food

Here are a few ideas that will help you save time and money and ensure you get the best food for your pet when you are buying dog food.

Buying dog food can be a bit of a nightmare. After all there are so many brands on the market, all claiming to be the best possible food, “complete nutrition” and so on. There are also many television and print advertisements, all showing happy and healthy dogs and screaming to you to buy their brand ahead of any other.However, if you go beyond the marketing hype there are a number of things you can do to ensure you get the best food for your dog or puppy. Not only that but you can save yourself some time and money as well.
Firstly, remember that the cheapest priced food will not always work out to be the most economical. Most of the lower cost brands contain cereals and other fillers that hold little nutritional value for dogs or puppies. That means that not only will your pet suffer health wise in the long run, but you will need to feed more. Because of that, you may find that your weekly food bill is greater than if you had used a better food in the first place. Remember too that poor food can create health problems that can mean bigger vet bills.

So don't just buy the cheapest. Look at the recommended daily feed allowance on the package and compare the average weekly cost. Remember too that many of the better brands offer loyalty plans where you can receive free bags; these should be taken into account when calculating the overall cost.When looking at ingredients, favor the foods that have a named meat (such as chicken or lamb) or meat meal as the first ingredient on the label. The ingredients to avoid include cereals, wheat, soy, beef (a major cause of food allergies in dogs), animal fats and by-products. Certainly also steer clear of any foods with artificial colorings, preservatives or flavorings. These can all be harmful.
Once you know the brand or brands you wish to buy you can keep an eye out for any special offers. Dogs do not usually have problems switching between foods as long as the foods are of decent quality.

When considering where to buy your dog food, remember that a very good option these days is online. If you know the brand you are looking for (or at least the type of ingredients you are after) then you can get some very good value through online shopping. These online stores do not have the same running costs as retail outlets so can often be cheaper. You also get the convenience of home delivery.With a bit of planning and research you can not only save time and money but you can ensure your dog or puppy has the healthiest and happiest life possible.