Find the best dry food for dogs with our buyer's guide!
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What is the best dry dog food in 2024?
It's essential to choose the right food for your dog in order to maintain their weight and keep them healthy. Discover what dry dog food is the best with our buyer’s guide.
From food for neutered dogs to grain-free kibble to atopic dog food, there are meals suitable to every animal’s needs. If you have an adult dog, you need to feed them the type of food that provides all the necessary nutrients and vitamins.
When choosing food for your dog, check its composition on the bag. It should be made from ingredients rich in vitamins and nutrients, but cereals are not necessary. If you prefer wet dog food, make sure to carefully measure the amount you give your pet and don't hesitate to ask a vet for advice!
Did your puppy just turn one? Are you adopting a small adult companion from a local shelter? In this comparison, we’ll help you choose the best dry dog food.
Summary
Why buy dry dog food for adult dogs?
Puppies and mature dogs have different nutritional needs. Baby dogs are still growing and therefore require a high protein diet. This is not the case for adult dogs, so their dry food needs to be adapted to their energy requirements and to any health issues they may have. For example, there is special dry food for atopic dogs, which helps alleviate the symptoms of dermatitis. It is also important to respect your dog's age when choosing a balanced diet for them. If you continue to feed your adult dog their puppy food, they will get too much protein and fat for their body. This can lead to rapid weight gain. Ask your vet for advice on which brand of dry food is best for your doggo.
How do I choose dry dog food suitable for my pet?
To choose the ideal kibble for your adult dog, you need to take into account their tastes, but not only that. Food is particularly important for a dog's health, and so it must contain all the necessary nutrients. There is also special food for neutered dogs, which is suitable for sterilised animals that tend to gain weight.
What types of adult dog food are available?
There are two main categories of dog food: wet and dry. Wet dog food is perfect for dogs who don't drink much because it is 80% water. This kind of food is also very popular with bitches during the lactation and with dogs recovering from illness. Before serving it to your pet, you should prepare it with lukewarm water. Beware that such foods do not keep for long once the bag has been opened!
Dry dog food forces the animal to chew, which makes their jaws work harder and reduces the build-up of tartar on their teeth. Dry food provides good digestion and has a long shelf life. Whatever your dog's age and needs, dry kibble will give them all the necessary nutrients.
Do I have to feed my dog store bought dry food?
Most owners feed their dogs dry food. However, there are other types of nutrition: home cooked rations and BARF. BARF is a diet based on raw meat, just as the ancestors of our companions used to eat. For a well-balanced ration, you should also add a few vegetables, vegetable oils and some fruit. It is important that the meat is raw to promote good digestion and preserve the vitamins.
As for the home cooked diet, it is a matter of preparing "home-made" meals for your dog. The list of ingredients includes starchy foods, vegetable oil, cooked vegetables, a mineral food supplement and animal proteins. The most difficult thing in this case is to balance the ration. The cooking itself is also very time-consuming.
What is the difference between wet and dry dog food?
The main difference between wet and dry food is the moisture content. Canned food is 60-85% water, while dry dog food is only 3-12% water. If you feed your dog wet food, you should give them three to four times the amount of dry food they’d need. Otherwise, your dog will not be satisfied and will not get all the energy they need. In addition, wet food does not keep for long, unlike kibble. Wet food is great for older dogs with teeth problems or for animals that do not drink enough. Dry dog food forces the animal to chew, which makes the jaw muscles work. This type of food also significantly reduces the build-up of tartar on the teeth. Dry food is cheaper than wet food and is easier to handle.
