How to Buy Dog Food

Tips on buying dog food

1. Begin by consulting your veterinarian about specific brands of food that might work best for your dog. If your dog has a medical condition, it’s of the utmost importance that you consult your vet for food recommendations! She will be able to tell you which foods have the highest amounts of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that work best for dogs with certain ailments or problems.
2. Select a dog food with a meat-vegetable-carbohydrate ratio of 40%-30%-30%. You should also be on the lookout to see if the first ingredient listed on the food you’re considering comes from an animal protein.
3. Many vets and pet food specialists will now tell you that specialized dog foods should be considered over commercial dog foods. They’re right! Many commercial dog foods contain trans-fatty acids and lots of starchy fillers. Go for the higher quality, specialized dog food (look for one with a 30-40% protein content) that you buy in a pet store.
4. Check the age chart on the dog food you’re considering—you don’t want to buy a puppy formula for a dog that’s ten years old!
5. Feed your dog twice a day, unless your vet tells you otherwise. Most dogs do just fine being fed in the morning and again in the evening (usually at around the same time you eat dinner). Be sure the amount of food you give your dog at these two times is in adherence with the amount listed on the dog food package.
6. Avoid dog foods that come with a high amount of preservatives, unless the preservative is Vitamin E.

Caution

Do not over-supplement your dog! Excess vitamins and minerals can actually be fatal for dogs, as some become toxic in dosages that go over the daily allotted amount.

Where to buy dog food

Here are three great spots (among many others) to go dog food shopping online—

Enter the dog section of Petsmart and find food for sale by life stage and brand. There are tons of other dog items for sale too, such as collars, carriers, treats, kennels, clothes, beds, and flea and tick control medications.

Create a free shopping account at Petco and make purchases on all sorts of dog food, including puppy, adult, large breed, and senior and special needs formulas. If you wish to not shop online, use the Petco store finder to locate a Petco shop near you.

"America’s pet store on the Web" is Pet Food Direct. Make purchases on wet and dry dog food by brand, plus biscuits, treats, food storage containers, toys and health care items.