The furry children at home are as important as family members, so you must be careful when choosing dog feed. In particular, there are hundreds of recommended dog feeds on the market, and there are four categories of staple food: dry feed, canned food, fresh food, and raw food. Each one has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. How to choose the best feed for your furry baby at home? Next, let us help you sort out recommendations for common dog feed types and teach you the key points!
What are the types of dog food? Are there any food recommendations for furry babies of different sizes?
The common types of dog food on the market include: dry food and canned food. But you know what? In recent years, more and more owners have advocated feeding fresh or raw food, so that fur babies can also enjoy high-end food. Let’s take a look at the food instructions for feeding fur babies!
Dry food | Different particle sizes are provided according to the size of the pet.
Dry feed is the most common staple food choice for raising fur babies, and its pellets are designed according to the size of the dog breed. Not only can it provide the nutrients dogs need, but the high-temperature heating makes the moisture content of dry food very low, so it is very easy to store and convenient to feed. However, due to the complicated processing process, there are usually more additives and carbohydrates. Dry feed can be divided into two types: grain-free natural grain and general commercial grain. Due to cost factors, the ingredients used in general commercial grain are usually inferior to grain-free natural grain.
Canned food | Delicious food, hydrating and nourishing your furry child in one go
Generally speaking, canned food for furry children can be divided into: staple food cans and non-staple food cans.
Staple food cans can be eaten as main meals, while non-staple food cans are more like snacks or nutritional supplements outside of meals. Compared with dry feed, the advantage of canned food is that it has a higher moisture content. For dogs who drink less water, it is also a good source of water from food. The disadvantage is that it is more expensive than ordinary dry food, and you may not like the taste, but your dog will love it.
Fresh food｜Cook with your own hands to ensure hygiene and source of ingredients
The so-called “fresh food” refers to cooked fresh food. Many pet owners believe in providing original ingredients for their pets, so they cook the food themselves, which is fresh and does not have to worry about food safety issues. However, the disadvantage is that cooking and purchasing are time-consuming. If you do not pay attention to supplementing the necessary nutrients for your dog after eating for a long time, it will easily lead to nutritional deficiencies and uneven intake.
Raw food｜Retains nutritional value but is expensive
Over the years, more and more people are choosing to feed staple foods made from raw meat. Its main purpose is to reduce high temperature damage and retain the nutrients of the food itself, so the nutritional content is high and the moisture content is better than that of dry feed. However, due to the high production threshold, the price is also more expensive than dry feed. Therefore, there are also: frozen raw food, freeze-dried raw food, and air-dried meat slices on the market.
How to choose feed? Are there any recommended steps?
When selecting dog feed, the focus of selection can be based on the ingredient list, the pet’s eating habits and the degree of product processing. Here are some simple selection methods for you:
Read the ingredient list on product packaging
Basically, the feed ingredient list is arranged in descending order of the main ingredients with a high proportion. Therefore, the earlier the ingredient is marked, the higher the content. It is recommended to choose feed with meat as the main ingredient. In the name of the ingredients, it is best to clearly indicate the meat used. For example: mutton, chicken, beef, etc. are all better than poultry and other vague statements.
Don’t be nervous if the ingredient list contains offal. In fact, it contains offal, bones and other ingredients, which can provide rich vitamins and trace elements. Of course, this condition must be based on the use of high-quality meat. If the ingredient list says meat by-products, it means that this part is inedible by humans, and its quality will be poor and requires more attention.
Choose Dog Food with high protein and meat content
Most people think that dogs are omnivores, but dogs evolved from wolves, so their main food is still meat. After tens of thousands of years of domestication, dogs can tolerate small amounts of carbohydrates. Therefore, in terms of providing calories to dogs, protein and fat are still the main sources. Under the concept of “returning to nature”, conforming to primitive food habits is the dietary rule leading to health, and high meat content is a reference indicator.
The manufacturing process is simple and the degree of processing is low
The manufacturing process of general dry feed usually involves extrusion under high temperature and high pressure. Compared with other staple foods, the degree of nutritional retention is lower, because the lower the processing, the more complete the nutritional retention. If there is dry feed processed with special low-temperature technology, it will also be a better choice. It is recommended to choose a big brand with a guaranteed reputation, as the safety of the manufacturing process is more guaranteed.
The ingredients are of high grade and natural origin, and do not contain preservatives or chemical fragrances.
The meat comes from a natural, pollution-free environment, and the animals are naturally grazed and humanely raised. The meat is healthier than cage-fed, and the meat is relatively firm. No other chemical ingredients such as preservatives are added, making it suitable for both cats and dogs. Eat with peace of mind.
When selecting ingredients, it is best to use fresh cuts of meat as raw materials, rather than discarded trimmings. Good-quality fresh meat has high nutritional content and is paired with a production method that does not destroy nutrients, which can reduce the need for special additives.
📝 Key points in dog food selection:
✅Confirm ingredient list
✅High meat content and low carb
✅Made at low temperature to avoid nutritional damage and minimal processing
✅Select ingredients from high-quality, natural sources and do not contain preservatives or chemical flavors.
Q1. How should dogs be fed during the adaptation period of changing their feed?
It is recommended to allow 1 to 2 weeks of adaptation time and gradually allow the dog to adapt to the new feed ingredients.
| Feed change transition period | ||
| Days | New Feed | Raw feed |
| 1~2 | ¼ | ¾ |
| 3~4 | ½ | ½ |
| 5~6 | ¾ | ¼ |
⚠️Please note: If your pet has normal defecation, it can be completely switched. Otherwise, you need to observe it for a few more days and wait for the dog to fully adapt before completely switching. If your dog continues to have soft stools or diarrhea, it is recommended to stop eating and seek help from a doctor to understand the cause.
Q2. How much food do dogs need to feed every day? How to calculate?
First of all, we need to understand the calculation of the calories a dog needs in a day.
Calculation formula = RER X demand factor =70 X weight (kg)0.75 X demand factor
RER: It is the caloric requirement of the resting state of the furry child. It has the same meaning as the basal metabolic rate that we often hear. It is the heat required to maintain the basic operation of the body.
| RER comparison table | |||
| body weight/kg | RER | body weight/kg | RER |
| 0.5 | 42 | 6 | 268 |
| 1 | 70 | 8 | 333 |
| 1.5 | 95 | 10 | 394 |
| 2 | 118 | 12 | 451 |
| 2.5 | 140 | 15 | 534 |
| 3 | 160 | 18 | 612 |
| 3.5 | 179 | 20 | 662 |
| 4 | 198 | 22 | 711 |
| 4.5 | 216 | 25 | 783 |
| 5 | 234 | 30 | 897 |
Demand factor: The caloric requirements required according to the age, pregnancy, neuteration and activity level of different dogs.
After calculating the required calories, convert the calories per gram according to the nutrition label on the feed. Then divide the calories required by the dog ÷ the calories per gram of the feed to know the daily feeding amount!
Take Peak’s air-dried raw meat slices as an example: (assuming the dog is 10 kg and the adult dog has been neutered)
Q3. How to store dog food?
▎Dry feed
It is recommended to consume within 6 months after opening. Due to the humid climate in Taiwan, it is easy for bacteria to breed or get damp. If you open the feed bag every time you feed, the feed will be exposed to air and slowly oxidize. It is recommended to find a feed box, put the entire bag of feed in it for storage, and place food desiccant to maintain the freshness of the entire bag of feed.
▎ canned food
It is recommended to consume within 2 to 3 days after opening. Because canned food is wet food, if it is not eaten immediately after opening, it will easily deteriorate if left for a long time. Therefore, when the meal is not finished, it needs to be refrigerated, but never put the whole can. When the can comes into contact with air after opening, the metal is prone to oxidation and the food will deteriorate. You can find a crisper or glass jar to seal and store it. Not only will it be convenient to microwave in the future, but it will also avoid refrigerator odor or contamination.
▎ Fresh food
It is divided into frozen storage and normal temperature storage. Frozen fresh food should be thawed according to the required feeding amount to avoid overfeeding and reheating. If fresh food is not eaten immediately, it needs to be refrigerated. Refrigeration is recommended for no more than 2 to 3 days.
▎ Raw food
Frozen raw food needs to be stored in the freezer and defrosted before feeding before taking out the feeding amount. The feeding environment needs to be kept at a low temperature to prevent bacteria from multiplying rapidly. If the dog has not finished eating, it is safer to discard it. It is recommended not to exceed 2 days for de-icing in the refrigerator; freeze-dried raw food and air-dried raw meat slices can be stored at room temperature after opening. If freeze-dried with water, it is recommended not to store them at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
The feedback brought by dog food will be reflected on the dog after a long period of accumulation. Use the above dog food purchasing tips to ensure that your furry child eats delicious and healthy food.