We know we’ve reached the “crazy dog ladies” stage. Not everyone can or should make their dog’s food themselves.
What everyone can do is read. Read the ingredient lists. Read the country of origin. Read where the ingredients come from (where they’re “sourced”) as well as where the food is processed.
If it’s good dog food – the manufacturer should announce all these things loudly and proudly on the packaging.
Never buy any dog food or treats made in China. Just don’t.
We actually saw this on a major retailer’s site:
Important Made in USA Origin Disclaimer: For certain items sold by W****** on W*******.com, the displayed country of origin information may not be accurate or consistent with manufacturer information. For updated, accurate country of origin data, it is recommended that you rely on product packaging or manufacturer information.
So even though you’ve done some research online – when you pick up that package of dog food, you still have to read it.
Actual ingredient list from a huge retailer’s store branded dog food.
And, once you’ve zeroed in on a particular dog food, you still can’t relax. You have to read the ingredients every time you buy a new bag – manufacturers are under no obligation to let you know if their formulas or recipes have changed. We have a friend who keeps seven different kinds of dog food in jars in her kitchen. To insure some consistency, she feeds her dogs from a different jar each night of the week. If her dogs react to a new recipe, they still have a few others to rely on. She’s a crazy dog lady, too.
The internet is both a blessing and a curse for research. You can support for any opinion, regardless of facts. One resource we think is pretty reliable is http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/ This website reviews all kinds of commercially available dog foods and gives a star rating to each. You can also sign up for email notifications about dog food recalls.
You don’t have to buy the most expensive dog food. But don’t buy the cheapest, either. With a little research you can find the right combination of nutrition and price that’s right for your family. Please do. Your dog depends on you.
