By Heather Zorn P.A.S
A question I was asked the other day from a newsletter that I write for: Should I change my brand of dogs food?
My answer: Absolutely, and regularly!
Unless you are home cooking for your dog, chances are fairly certain that your dog gets two bowls of (commercial) dog food a day, every day, for the rest of his/her life. Open the bag in the morning, scoop it into a bowl for dog to eat, rinse and repeat. Sound familiar? This is the way of life for our furry companions.
Now, let me ask you a question: How would you feel about eating the same thing each and every day?
I should presume it would get pretty boring. Variety is the spice of life, right?
Boring aside, think about it in nutritional values. If there is a deficiency in the particular brand of dog food you are feeding (and there are deficiencies in all commercial dog food), that deficiency can be long term, or even life long if you never switch dog food brands.
For example, if you are feeding Brand X dog food, because it has good ingredients, specifically named animal source proteins but has few vitamins, your dog will end up with a severe vitamin deficiency. Switching from Brand X to Brand Y, which is equally as good but includes the missing vitamins, is a terrific idea. But, keep in mind Brand Y will also have its own deficiencies.
For some helpful guidelines in picking dog food, read: Ingredients to look for and avoid, What should I feed MY dog and Do you know what you are feeding your dog?
I recommend rotating dog food a few times a year. Find at least three or four good quality dog foods that your dog enjoys and rotate them. Adding a supplement is also a good idea and highly recommended.
Animal Nutrition Solutions Canine Gold was specifically designed to provide essential ingredients lacking in a commercial dog food diet. It includes vitamins, minerals and amino acids, which are most likely deficient in a commercial based diet. There are no fillers, and has a high Omega 3 flax seed base, which can be added to a commercial dog food, but no longer remains effective or beneficial once the dog food has undergone its cooking process. Therefore, it is important to make sure your supplement includes Omega 3’s in a stabilized/cold pressed carrier.
True to form, Animal Nutrition Soultions always reveals each of its ingredients, as well as an educational break down on each of the ingredients. We love Canine Gold for our own dogs!