Is there a difference in quality between cheap and expensive dog food?
You want to make sure your dog is getting the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients but should you be buying pet food from the supermarket, or should you be feeding your dog premium quality dog food? Just what is the difference between premium and supermarket dog food anyway?
As with most foods, human and pet food alike, a quick peruse of the ingredients label will reveal all.
When next your browsing the supermarket pet food aisle check out the ingredients on the back of the packaging to see the truth about what you are feeding your dog. Cheaper pet foods will have lots of grains, grain by-products, and meat by-products. The higher up the scale you go in terms of quality will see fewer grains and by-products, with more quality meat content and even quite a few extra premium foods including whole vegetables.
Supermarket vs Premium food
There are a few advantages to buying supermarket quality dog food but they are not necessarily in the dog’s best interests. Of course, they are cheaper and more convenient but that’s where the advantages end if you want your pet to have the best quality food. Just about all supermarket brands use lower quality ingredients with lots of non-nutritional fillers such as cheap grains or even feathers to keep costs down! What’s even worse is that the ingredients can change from batch to batch, causing poor old Fido no end of stomach troubles or allergy problems.
Premium quality dog foods are a little harder to find but still not difficult as pet food stores can be found just about everywhere. There is also the fact that many stores allow you to order online and have their products delivered to your door. While the cost may be higher on a kilo for kilo basis, premium pet foods also pack in more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. This can help offset the cost somewhat, as you should be able to feed your dog less than you normally would with a cheaper product, due to the quality over quantity principle. The difference in price can be very little on a weekly basis if you have a smaller breed such as a Poochon.
Health issues
If your dog is suffering from skin conditions or allergies, other than a visit to your vet, the next thing you should consider is taking them off a supermarket diet and putting them on something a little more premium. Unfortunately, many of the additives used in supermarket foods can cause problems with a dog’s physiology so a premium pet food for a dog with special dietary needs may be all that is needed to clear up that rash.
The fact that a premium quality dog food will also keep your animal in premium health should also go a long way towards convincing you to switch, simply because fewer visits to the vet are always good for the bank balance.