Choosing a Dog or Puppy Food
There are many different types of dog food that contain a wide range of ingredients with varying qualities. The quality of the food affects how easily the dog will digest it. You should look for food with ingredients that provide your dog with the highest nutrition available.
Digestibility
To determine the digestibility of dog food, closely examine the ingredients. You can learn a lot about dog food from the order in which the ingredients are listed. Ideally, meat such as beef or chicken will be the first ingredient, but you might find instead that rice and corn and artificial flavors top the list. These filler ingredients are added to the food so that the flavor will appeal to dogs. You'll notice that very few dog foods list meat as their first ingredient. Premium dog foods generally cost more, but you feed significantly less because they have fewer fillers. By choosing one of these dog foods, you're boosting your dog's intake of vital nutrients that will give him energy and protein, not just giving him a tasty meal and calories.
AAFCO Guidelines
When you look for a premium dog food, look for one that is from a recognizable name and that meets or exceeds the American Association of Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) guidelines. This organization sets the standards on what is nutritionally complete and balanced. Their seal of approval will help you choose a food that satisfies your dog's nutrition requirements. For convenience, you should choose a brand that's carried in most pet stores. Not only will it be easier for you to find in case you suddenly run out, but you're also guaranteed to find it on sale every now and then. Not all pet foods meet AAFCO guidelines, although many do.
Lamb-and-rice dog food was once thought to be hypoallergenic because it contained a protein source not usually included in a dog's diet. It became a regular ingredient in dog food, and many dogs developed allergies to the rice and lamb because of it.
The more digestible dog food is, the more premium it is. Dog food that is over 80 percent digestible is generally considered premium, but don't assume that a dog food is premium because it meets AAFCO standards. You must still look at the label and find out what the digestibility of the product is. Dog food manufacturers seldom print digestibility on their labels, but most have toll-free numbers you can call to ask.
The Right Food for Age and Activity Level
Choose a dog food appropriate for your rottie's age and activity level. Most premium dog foods have age-related foods such as those geared to the puppy, adult, and senior. Several also have activity-level foods like active, maintenance, light, and performance. A few even have breed-specific related food, like those for toy breeds, large breeds, and medium breeds.
If you've picked a dog food that has all these varieties, try the food that takes your rottie's age, activity level, and size (large or giant) into consideration. Once you see how he does with the food, you can then decide if he needs more protein and fat than what that food provides. Most active adult foods contain approximately 26 percent protein and 15 percent fat, and most puppy foods contain approximately 28 percent protein and 18 percent fat. These figures will vary according to breed and activity levels. If your rottie is too skinny, you may have to switch to a performance food. If your rottie is too fat, you may have to switch to a maintenance or light food.
