How to test whether dog food is good or not?
With the booming pet economy, dog food is an important part of dogs' daily diet, and its quality is directly related to the health and lifespan of pets. The topic of dog food quality has been a hot topic on social media and pet forums lately. So, as pet owners, how do we test the quality of dog food? This article will provide you with a detailed inspection guide.
1. Appearance inspection
First of all, we can initially judge the quality of dog food by observing its appearance. High-quality dog food usually has the following characteristics:
| Test items | Characteristics of high-quality dog food | Characteristics of inferior dog food |
|---|---|---|
| color | Uniform color without excessive pigmentation | Colors are too bright or dull |
| particle shape | Consistent particle size, no debris | Particles vary in size and have many debris |
| smell | Natural meat flavor, no pungent smell | Has chemical additives or rotten smell |
2. Component analysis
The ingredients of dog food are key to judging its quality. High-quality dog food usually has its main ingredients clearly labeled and uses meat as the main ingredient. Here’s a comparison of common dog food ingredients:
| Ingredient type | Premium dog food | Poor quality dog food |
|---|---|---|
| protein source | Clearly label meat (e.g. chicken, beef) | Vague labeling (such as "meat by-products") |
| Grain content | Little or no grains | Large amounts of grains (e.g. corn, wheat) |
| additives | Natural preservatives (such as vitamin E) | Chemical preservatives (such as BHA, BHT) |
3. Nutritional indicators
The nutritional index of dog food is an important factor in ensuring the health of dogs. The following are the nutritional standards that high-quality dog food should have:
| Nutritional indicators | adult dog standard | puppy standards |
|---|---|---|
| crude protein | ≥18% | ≥22% |
| crude fat | ≥5% | ≥8% |
| crude fiber | ≤5% | ≤4% |
| Moisture | ≤10% | ≤10% |
4. Actual feeding test
In addition to the above methods, actual feeding tests are also an important means to detect the quality of dog food. The following are some points to note during feeding:
1.Palatability: High-quality dog food is usually actively eaten by dogs, while low-quality dog food may be rejected by dogs due to smell or taste issues.
2.Digestion: Observe the dog’s defecation situation. High-quality dog food is well digested and absorbed, and the defecation volume is small and well-formed; low-quality dog food may cause diarrhea or constipation.
3.Hair and skin condition: Dogs fed high-quality dog food for a long time will have shiny hair and healthy skin; low-quality dog food may cause dry hair and skin allergies.
5. Brand and reputation
Choosing a well-known brand of dog food with a good reputation is also an important way to avoid inferior products. Popular dog food brands on social media recently include:
| Brand | Popular models | User reviews |
|---|---|---|
| royal | Special food for adult dogs | Good palatability and balanced nutrition |
| desire | Six fish recipes | High protein, hair improvement is obvious |
| birij | Natural grain series | No additives, good digestion and absorption |
Summary
Testing the quality of dog food requires comprehensive judgment from many aspects such as appearance, ingredients, nutritional indicators, actual feeding effects, and brand reputation. As pet owners, we should choose the most suitable dog food for our dogs to ensure their health and happiness. Hope this article can provide you with valuable reference.
check the details
check the details
en
