Question

I just got a rescue named Casey. He's my first dog, a three-year-old lab mix, and I want to make sure he's as happy and healthy as possible. How am I supposed to know what to look for in dog food? There's so much information, and it's hard to know who to listen to and who's just in it for the money.

Answer 1

I agree that it's hard to know what to look for in dog food. I went through the same thing when we got our baby, Izzy. I try to use information from organizations that are out there to help animals, and not to sell something, so I stay away from websites of dog food producers. I subscibe to Whole Dog Journal. Every year they put out a list of their top 10 foods, along with a list of criteria. You can either go to their website and subscribe to get the 2012 list, or you can find some of their old lists, like from 2011, online.

Answer 2

What to look for in dog food:

meat as the first ingredient

healthy grains such as rolled oats, barley, quinoa, millet, and brown rice

no animal fat or by-products

no chemical preservatives like BHT or BHA

no added salt or sugar

holistic formulas

Answer 3

Look for things like meat being the first ingredient, and no by-products. A lot of foods use fillers like corn or wheat, which a lot of dogs are allergic to.