Dog food

Dog food is food intended for consumption by dogs or other canine.

Some people make their own dog food, feed their dogs meals made from ingredients purchased in grocery or health-food stores or give their dogs a raw food diet. Many others rely on commercially manufactured dog food.

Types of dog food

1.  Dry dog food

Many dry foods can be less expensive, per pound, than their canned (wet) or semi-moist counterparts, and do not spoil as quickly as an open can.

In addition, dry food is more nutritionally dense than canned food because of the canned food’s high moisture content (anywhere from 60%-90%, depending on brand).

This means that more canned food must be fed to meet the dog’s requirements, compared to dry. However, dry food generally contains a higher percentage of fillers such as corn and wheat. Generally less expensive dry dog and cat foods have more fillers and less meat.

2.  Wet dog food

Wet or canned dog food is significantly higher in moisture than dry or semi-moist food.

Because the food is sterilized after being canned (sometimes it is also cooked in the can), it is often easier to ensure the sterility of wet food.

A given wet food will often be higher in protein or fat when compared to a similar kibble on a dry matter basis (a measure which ignores moisture), however, given the canned food’s high moisture content, a larger amount of canned food must be fed than with dry food.

Grain gluten and other protein gels may be used in wet dog food to create artificial meaty chunks, which look like real meat

3. Alternative dog food

In recent years, new types of dog food have emerged on the market that differ from traditional commercial pet food.

Many companies have been successful in targeting niche markets, each with unique characteristics. A non-alcoholic “beer” for dogs (Kwispelbier) is made in the Netherlands from beef extract and malt.

Popular Alternative Dog Food Labels:

• Frozen or Freeze-Dried, comes in raw or cooked (not processed) form. The idea is to skip the processing stage traditional dry/wet dog food goes through. This causes less destruction of the nutritional integrity. To compensate for the short shelf life, products are frozen or freeze-dried.
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• Dehydrated, comes in raw and cooked form. Products are usually air dried to reduce moisture to the level where bacterial growths are inhibited. The appearance is very similar to dry kibbles. The typical feeding methods include adding warm water before serving.
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• Fresh or Refrigerated, produced through pasteurization of fresh ingredients. Products are lightly cooked and then quickly sealed in a vacuum package. Then they are refrigerated until served. This type of dog food is extremely vulnerable to spoiling if not kept at a cool temperature and has a shelf life of 2–4 months, unopened.
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• Homemade Diet often comes in a bucket or Tupperware-like package. In the past this was thought to be a diet that owners create themselves. However, recently, many small companies have begun to home-cook dog dishes and then sell them through specialty stores or over the Internet. Many pet owners feed dogs homemade diets. These diets generally consist of some form of cooked meat or raw meat, ground bone, pureed vegetables, taurine supplements, and other multivitamin supplements. Some pet owners use human vitamin supplements, and others use vitamin supplements specifically engineered for dogs.
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• Vegetarian dog foods are manufactured by several companies. They are usually balanced and contain ingredients such as oatmeal, pea protein, and potatoes instead of meat to supply protein. A dog owner may choose to feed a vegetarian food for ethical and/or health reasons, or in cases of extreme food allergies.

4.  Raw dog food

Raw foods produced for dogs and sold in pet stores are commercially safer than raw meats purchased in grocery stores.

The acceptable level of bacteria in meats sold at grocery stores is 30% or less because it is meant to be cooked. The acceptable level of bacteria in a produced raw foods for dogs is 2% or less because it is meant to be fed raw.