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Dog Food
 Ask a dozen people what dog food is the best, you will get a dozen answers. The elusive Absolute Best Brand has not yet revealed itself. However, there are better and worse choices. Feeding a quality dog food means your dog will be healthier from the inside out - from a stronger heart and bones to a shinier coat with less shedding and itching. The little extra money spent on a better food is more than made up for in fewer Vet visits. Nutritionally balanced dogs get sick much less often, fewer ear infections, fewer outbreaks of worms, fewer UTIs, and even fewer injuries. There is even evidence that better food makes for a better behaved dog, as well! A quality dog food will have meat as at least the first 2 ingredients and little or no corn as a filler. If your dog has a dull coat and flaky skin, it could be her food!
Ingredients
Dogs are omnivores; they eat both plants and animals. However, their diet is comprised mainly of meat. Dogs need meat protein to stay healthy. The best dog food choices have meat as at least the first 2 ingredients. The first 3 is even better. "Meal" is considered a meat, so if you see chicken meal, that counts. "By-products" do not count as it can be anything from beaks to feet.
Corn is the source for a lot of the problems caused by poor diet. Dog food companies use corn as a filler because it's cheap. Some dogs are allergic to corn, and this leads to itchy flaky skin and almost constant scratching. Corn is also the likely culprit for behavior problems caused by diet. It's rather like feeding a child candy bars for supper every day. Corn is high in sugar, has little nutritive value, and is difficult to digest. Because it is difficult to digest, your dog will have more bowel movements, leaving you more to clean up! Soy has a similar affect. Rice and oatmeal are much healthier choices.
Preservatives are chemicals, and studies have linked some preservatives to certain types of cancers in dogs. Avoid foods containing BHA, BHT, and ethoxoquin. Vitamin E can act as a preservative and is safer for your dog. Incidentally, it is safer for you, as well! Red dyes are another source of problems, both physical and behavioral, in dogs as well as humans. They serve no purpose and should be avoided.
Glucosamine and chondroiton can help keep joints strong and healthy. This is especially important for large breeds and those prone to hip dysplasia and arthritis.
Quality
Pet foods are regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Ingredients must be pure and wholesome and contain no harmful substances. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), an advisory body of state and federal feed regulators, works with the FDA to regulate pet foods. Look for a food that has the AAFCO label certifying that this food meets their standards. Having the AAFCO label doesn't mean it's the healthiest food, but it does mean that it's at least fit for consumption. Some dog food companies use the four Ds for their food to save money; Disabled, Diseased, Dying, or Dead. This is the meat that does not meet standards for human consumption. Premium dog foods use meat that is safe for humans, which means that it is also safer for your dog.
By law, ingredients have to be listed in descending order according to weight. So, the first ingredient is the most predominant, and it goes down from there. Dog food companies know that the word is out about corn, so they try to make it look like there is less corn in their food by breaking it down into smaller parts. That way, corn doesn't have to be listed as the first ingredient. However, ground whole corn, corn gluten meal, and any other way you say it is all corn. A dog food with corn as the main ingredient is a very low quality dog food.
Quantity
In addition to the right type of food, your dog also needs the right amount of food. This is a case where you can get too much of a good thing. Being overweight causes health problems in dogs just as in people. Since dogs have a shorter life span than humans, the ill affects are even more severe for them. Overweight dogs are not happy dogs. Lucky for them, it's much easier for them to follow a diet than it is for us. We control their access to food. They can only eat as much as we give them. The dog food bag tells you how much to give. Even that is too much for some dogs. Observe your dog's weight and adjust the amount you feed her accordingly. A dog is at her ideal weight when you can easily feel the ribs and can see the outline of the ribs when the dog turns sideways. She is underweight if you can count her ribs easily, and overweight if the ribs and hip bones are not easily felt and she has no waist.
Feed your dog a measured amount on a schedule, preferably twice a day, rather than free feeding. Feeding twice a day will help avoid a number of problems. Obesity is one of them. Also, many dogs inhale their food. This can lead to a very serious condition known as bloat. Giving smaller meals is one preventative measure. Don't let your dog run and play right after eating as an extra precaution. Scheduled meals also helps with housetraining because it leads to more predictable potty needs. Feeding scheduled meals will also help your dog recognize that you are the leader and avoid many behavior problems. Small breeds may need 3-4 meals per day to keep their blood sugar regulated.
Taste
You may choose the food with the highest possible quality ingredients, but your dog doesn't like it. Your dog won't starve herself to death, so some people will tell you to make her eat it anyway. I think that is highly unreasonable, considering that she eats the same thing every day. If your dog won't eat her food until she is just too hungry to pass it up, try a different food. It may not even be the taste that bothers her. There could be something in the food that makes her feel bad. So, try something with different ingredients. If she doesn't like lamb and rice, try chicken and oatmeal instead. I tried 5 different foods before finding one my dog likes. For the curious, the winner was Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul. The first FOUR ingredients are meat, it contains no corn, and it is naturally preserved. Always switch gradually to a new food by mixing the old with the new and slowly weaning off the old to avoid stomach upsets.
Additional ResourcesA Vet's Opinion
The FDA explains labels
Ingredients Analyzed
Corn, wheat, and soy free dog foods for the allergy sufferer
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