Pet food meant for dogs are prepared by several people consisting of ingredients bought from the health food or grocery store. However, others depend on dog food, which is available in the market. Best diet suitable for dogs is based on several recommendations.
Despite the number of commercial dog foods and articles about their superiority, there are a lot of dog owners who still believe that the traditional method of feeding dogs table scraps is the healthiest way to go. After all, they argue, commercial pet foods have only been around 100 years, and who knows what poor-quality ingredients they might contain? Plus, given the contents of most commercial dog foods, owners claim dogs can’t receive enough nutrition from them.
It’s usually less expensive to purchase dry pet food. Per pound, it is much more cost effective than its canned or semi-moist relatives. Dry food generally only contains 6-10% moisture whereas canned foods are 78% moisture. It appears that dry food which contains more actual food ingredients and less water is the better value here. Dry food is also instrumental in your pet’s dental health in that it prevents the build-up of tartar. Canned foods which are opened and served at mealtimes mean fresher food for your pet. Unless you have a large, airtight container to keep your dry food in after you open the package, the canned food will p
rovide the freshest diet.
Pellets of dry pet food, called kibble, are primarily produced by one of two methods- extrusion and baking. During the extrusion process, cut dough or a mixture of raw materials is fed into an expander, while pressurized steam or hot water is added. When removed from the high pressure that results, the pellets puff like popcorn. The resultant kibble is allowed to dry, then sprayed with vitamins, fats and oils, or any other ingredients that are not heat-tolerant.
If not properly sealed, it is possible for dry food to lose its quality. Oxygen is known to react with components added after initial preparation, altering the taste. Further, the heat involved in shipping the wellness dog food can also have negative effects before it even hits store shelves. Another alternative comes from the Burns company.
Pet owners that want a food that is more natural and digestible usually look towards baked kibble. The heating process is slower during baking, as a result of a lengthy, low pressure cooking process. This means that fats present in the kibble are slowly cooked in instead of sprayed on at the end. The baking results in a longer shelf life than extruded kibble. Baked kibble will also last longer when the package is opened by the pet owner. The effects of baking versus extruding are subject to much discussion.
Some people purchase ingredients from health food or grocery stores and feed their dogs pet food they have made themselves. Many other people depend on buying commercially manufactured dog food. There are a variety of recommendations concerning what the best diet is for dogs. If the extruded kibble is exposed to air or the elements for too long or not stored properly, the fats and oils added to the kibble can go bad. The vitamins and minerals in wellness dog food could be destroyed if exposed to heat during shipping or during storage. One very popular dog food is Burns Dog Food.
– Melinda Smith
