What dog food should I feed my dog? I'm confused by all the options.

If you ask 100 vets, 100 dog owners, 100 pet store employees you are going to get 300 different answers. It is personal preference and experience with certain brands. There are regular diets, prescription diets, organic diets, grain free diets, weight loss diets, diets for working dogs, etc. What are actually trying to determine? What, for you, is considered "best"? A diet with organic ingredients, an inexpensive diet, a diet with no grains?? I would give a different list for someone who wants their dog to lose weight versus someone who uses their dog for working or shows or someone who wants to feed an organic diet. Any list you get from any of the experts on this forum is just going to be personal preference. So, if you want to post again with more specifics we can try to help you better.

I would recommend a food intended for small breed dogs. The three brands I prefer when choosing a food are Hill’s, Royal Canin, and Purina. I think any of these would be a good choice. Additionally, if you are unsure of the age and history of your dog I would recommend taking her in to be examined by your veterinarian. You vet will be able to give an estimate of Bella’s age and recommend appropriate vaccinations as well. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lila. There is a lot of confusion regarding pet food and it can seem difficult to make a good choice. You need to keep in mind that every pet is different and what works for your dog may not work for someone else's. I recommend a food that is certified by AAFCO to start as this means that is meets minimum standards. Next, the puppy need to like it and eat it willingly. There needs to be no vomiting and diarrhea on the diet nor an excessive amount of bowel movements. A dog should defecate 2-3 times per day. More than this is abnormal. Finally, her haircut should be glossy and healthy. If she is meeting all of these requirements on her diet, then there is no reason to change. My only warning is to avoid grain free diets as there is recent research linking them to heart disease. I hope this information helps!

Decreasing her eating amount after a growth spurt is normal. They probably recommended large breed puppy so she wouldn’t grow to fast which can cause bone problems. Once she’s full grown I recommend regular adult food. No reason to do either large breed or small breed since she will be medium size. I don’t think grain free food is worth it. I like a well balanced dog food such as Hills. They do research on their food and include the optimum amount of nutrients, rather than excess. Your breed could become overweight so please adjust the quantity of food to keep her on the lean side. Hills does have some Natural foods, and many speciality foods such as those for sensitive skin and stomach, joints, weight management, and for medical problems also. My dogs start on Hills and stay on for life, changing the specific food as they grow, and even into their senior years, or with medical problems. There is a lot of advertising to sell different dog foods but I like to base my choice on scientific research, not hype. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bella.

Hello! All great questions and comments - and you're right, there's a lot of conflicting information out there regarding food. Some of the information you're going to find is based on personal preference or a value bias. Corn is a good source of digestible carbs, fatty acids, and protein - but these things are better digested in dogs than in cats (who are obligate carnivores), and some people prefer to minimize grains, so those people might state corn is "bad".... in my opinion, the focus on grains is based more on trends in human nutrition than evidence-based pet nutrition. Statements regarding what pet foods are "good" vs "bad" will also come from personal preference...your vet can probably explain what made them state that Purina is better than Merrick, and another vet might have their own input on the matter. I do personally like both Purina and Hills because I find their products consistent, reliable, and I like that those companies put a lot of their profits back into nutrition research to work on creating good foods - but that doesn't mean they're the only good foods out there. Raw food is another hot topic. I have worked extensively with dog mushers, and raw meat is a very common component to their food - and I'm fine with that. However, I also have a degree in Public Health, and know that raw foods increase the likelihood of foodborne illness such as salmonella both in the pets themselves, and in the humans who are in contact with them. So, again, there are going to be different sides to the conversation. It's confusing when there's conflicting information! Try to sort through what's based on research and evidence, and what is based on the personal opinions and biases of the speaker. Good luck! Hope this helps.

There is no one "best" dog food. Choose a brand that is easy for you to get, one that Opie will eat and one that doesn't cause GI upset or other issues. If you can find a food that satisifes these 3 things, that's the one to feed. Stay away from store or discount brands. They typically contain low quality ingredients and more fillers. Premium brands include Canidae, Orijen and Acana. The website www.dogfoodadvisor.com is an excellent resource for comparing diets. Always transition to a new diet slowly to prevent stomach upset.

Unfortunately, there is no one "best" food or treat for Snickers. There are higher quality diets such as Acana, Royal Canin, Canidae and a few others. The key to choosing a diet for your dog is to find one that he will eat, that doesn't cause any GI upset and is easy for you to buy. Choose a diet with a named protein source over diets with by-products and meat meals. Also, stay away from store or discount brands as these typically contain low quality ingredients and more fillers. The website www.dogfoodadvisor.com is an excellent resource for comparing diets.