For dog food ingredients, is fresh or dehydrated protein better?

Higher protein is much better for highly athletic dogs. If your dog is more of a couch potato I would not recommend it. I DO, however, always prefer deboned meat to "meal". "Meal" regardless of the source is usually the off-cuttings of the butchering process.

I am so glad to help you! In my opinion, the best choice is a commercial kibble like Royal Canin. Royal Canin does have veterinary nutritionists on staff. I'd also recommend Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Iams. They also have veterinary nutritionists. I personally feed my dog Iams.

Unfortunately there is not an easily accessible table and this is very much a grey zone. You must also take a manufacturer's claims with a grain of salt. Here are some helpful links with good information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/all-about-protein-in-pet-food/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/protein-requirements-for-good-nutrition-1/ In my opinion, the best way to judge the quality is to examine the company who makes it. Companies that conduct research and have minimal to no issues with recalls are generally going to produce a better diet. You can also watch your dog's body. When pets produce a lot of stool or are gassy, have dull hair coats or experience frequent GI upset, these can be signs of a poor quality food. The brand I recommend is Royal Canin. They meet all the criteria for a high quality pet food including pets producing small bowel movements with good stool quality. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I apologise if my answer sounded dismissive but there are lots of aspects to consider in food brands. It would be easier if you mentioned a few specific brands that you find you can afford and I could have looked at them and checked if any were suitable for a neutered adult female dog. Does she do any specific activity ? And is she a large breed ? These factors should be considered when choosing an appropriate diet.You would ideally look for high quality meat based protein, of at least 18%, low carbohydrates in form of potatoes or rice, high in natural fat and oils such as essential fatty acids n-6 and n-3 in a ratio of 5:1., vitamins and minerals should be added. You should see the indication on the bag for a complete dog food, which should mean all vitamins and minerals are added for dogs of that age.The lower amount of preservatives the better. Normally dry food has only 10-14% moisture and rely on this for its preservation.

You have a lot of flexibility since she's a young/middle age adult, and I'm assuming she's healthy. Basically any food made by a reputable company is going to be fine for her. There has been more and more evidence coming out recently that grain-free diets aren't healthy for dogs (linked to a particular type of heart failure called Dilated Cardiomyopathy) and raw food also presents risk of salmonella and e.coli to both the dog and family around the dog, so I'd generally recommend staying away from both of those options. The brands I like are Hills, Purina, and Royal Canin because they have veterinary nutritionists on staff, have good quality control, and generally make solid products. I hope that helps a bit!

Dry food labels give the amount of nutrients that are contained in the finished product. Period. Be aware that pet food marketing is a serious business. And unfortunately, buzzwords and trend diets are generally used to sway your views towards whatever product is attempting to be sold to you, and these buzzwords don't have your pet's best interest at heart. I would encourage you to explore some sites published by those who have dedicated their careers to advancing veterinary nutrition. This is a great article about raw food: http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2016/01/raw-diets-a-healthy-choice-or-a-raw-deal/ Scroll down to the 2nd 1/2 of the page for some common questions regarding pet foods. http://www.acvn.org/frequently-asked-questions/#choose This one is a bit long, but has some really good information: http://dels.nas.edu/resources/static-assets/banr/miscellaneous/dog_nutrition_final_fix.pdf Thank you for asking PetCoach!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. My top recommendations of veterinary diets include Hill's Science Diet, Purina, and Royal Canin. These are well-known brands that are stocked in veterinary hospitals, and are AAFCO formulated to be balanced and appropriate. I recommend avoiding grain-free, boutique diets from other brands, as these are not regulated and often are do not have balanced nutrients. I hope this is helpful!