Feeding commercial dog food

• When feeding commercial dog food scrutinize the labels. Ingredients are listed by descending weight. The first ingredient on the label should be something you’d consider eating like lamb, beef, trout. Look for whole grains such as oats or brown rice.

• Avoid foods which include by-products (Would you want to eat that?), digest, BHA, BHT and propylene glycol (chemical preservatives), artificial colors and flavors.

• Rotate between several very high quality brands of dog food every few months. Gradually introduce the new food by mixing the two products for a week or two.

• Look for terms like organic. 100% organic means human quality food free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics. “Organic” means 95% organic. “With organic ingredients” means 70% or more organic.

• Cheap food usually means cheap inferior ingredients and should be avoided.

• Buy from a store where food does not sit on the shelf for a long time. Naturally preserved foods have a shorter shelf life than those with chemical additives.

• Check the expiration date on the bag.

• Store open dog food bags in an airtight container.

• Add some high quality canned food to the dry kibble.