Dog foods have many variations be it their brands, special ingredients or depending on the breed. The market is now beaming with a variety of pet foods that can be fed both to the domesticated as well as stray dogs. Generally, we can group them into the following categories:
10 CATEGORIES OF DOG FOODS AVAILABLE ON MARKET
Dog Biscuits
Dog biscuits are generally used as supplementary food to proper to the dog’s diet regime. It is a dry part of the dog’s diet. You can consider them as a snack item for the dogs. They are hard in texture, which helps to exercise the dog’s jaws further promoting canine oral hygiene.
Wet Dog Food
Wet dog foods are mushy inconsistency and are characterized by a distinct smell that makes them especially palatable for dogs. The formula is generally better suited for puppies (who tend to be picky eaters) as compared to dry dog foods or kibble. Dehydration can be a common problem in dogs, but the natural water content of the wet dog food is higher, which resolves this issue.
Semi-moist Dog Food
Semi-moist dog food is more expensive than its dryer counterpart and contains about 60-65% water in it by weight. They are more hydrating and help in easier absorption of nutrients by the dog’s body. However, it should also be borne in mind that due to the higher water content, semi-moist dog foods are also higher in preservatives, salt and sugar. Therefore, they should be used with discretion.
Dry Dog Food
Dry dog food is also known as kibble and comes in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. With this kind of dog food, it is easier to feed the dogs and balance the portion sizes based on the dog’s needs, however, they can also cause dehydration. Dry food is by far the best option for dogs as they help in providing proper nutrition like carbohydrates, proteins, and fibre to the dog without any preservatives. However, dogs’ water consumption needs to be monitored well to avoid any chance of dehydration.
Canned Dog Food
Canned dog food mostly has water by weight. This helps the dogs to enjoy larger portion sizes of the food without having to compromise on health. Dogs usually prefer the taste of canned dog food over kibble. But, this type of dog food is not always fresh and may contain quite a large number of preservatives.
Food for Puppies
Puppy food is made especially for growing puppies. You should feed puppy food to your puppies rather than giving them adult dog food. The fact that the puppy is still growing is a significant consideration in choosing the ingredients for the puppy food.
Vegetarian Dog Food
This is an option to consider while deciding your dog’s diet. Many Indians are vegetarians, which means they might have qualms about feeding meat to their dogs. But it is quite possible to sustain a dog on a vegetarian diet as well. There are many dogs who suffer from meat-induced allergies, such as fleas or rashes. A vegetarian diet can eliminate this particular problem. However, we should always keep in mind that a dog’s natural diet includes meat, which means switching to a vegetarian diet may lead to a lack of supply of protein or any other essential nutrients.
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Read our article on “5 advantages of having pets at home“