Healthy Diet, Happy Dog!

H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S

WRITTEN BY: KATE LANCASTER Hollywood Feed, Marketing Content Coordinator

One of the most frequent questions we at Hollywood Feed get from our customers is “What is the best food to feed my dog?” The answer is typically never simple. While we carry some of the highest quality pet foods available, there is not a one-size-fits-all formula. Does your pet have any food sensitivities or allergies? Is your dog at a healthy weight? Are your dogs picky about certain types or textures of food?

All these considerations are essential to determining the right food for your pet and the proper diet can be crucial to your dog’s health and well-being. Like with humans, a healthy digestive system generally equals a strong immune system. Feeding a nutritious, well-balanced diet will help maintain both.

Today, the pet food industry is continuing to grow and the availability of healthy diet options is at an all-time high. Whether you decide to feed dry dog food, canned, raw, dehydrated or freeze-dried foods, there are benefits to each type of food. Dry dog food was developed in the mid-1800s as an alternative to raw meat and has been optimized over time. It is the easiest type of diet to feed as it requires no prep. Dry dog food is nutrient-dense and contains very little moisture, allowing for a long shelf life. It is also the most cost-effective option.

Most dry dog food brands make a range of formulas with different protein sources and a similar base mix. This makes rotational feeding – switching your dog’s food to provide nutritional variety – simple. Changing the formula from one bag to the next within the same brand also decreases the likelihood your dog will get bored with the food. Wet or canned dog food contains around 60 – 80% water. This makes it a good choice for dogs who require extra hydration. Canned food is also usually more palatable because of higher protein and fat content so it is often preferred by finicky eaters.

Raw dog food was first developed in the 1990s with the goal of mirroring what dogs would eat in the wild. Over the past few decades, raw diets have been developed to also include vegetables and fruits. Raw diets are minimally processed, making them highly digestible and palatable. Dehydrated dog foods were developed as an alternative to dry foods. Dehydrated foods are slow-cooked using low heat in order to preserve the nutrients in the raw ingredients. They do not require refrigeration and are easy to store. Freeze-dried foods, like raw and dehydrated foods, were designed to keep processing at an 11 minimum and nutrient retention high. Freeze drying removes around 95% moisture to make freeze-dried foods shelf-stable and lightweight. Dogs with low appetites are often enticed by freeze-dried diets. Any of these diet options could be suitable for your pup. It’s important to note that one diet is not necessarily better than the other, but your dog might prefer one over the other. Your dog’s stool might be firmer, coat shinier, or energy level heightened on one diet versus another. Trying different options until you find the one most beneficial to your dog is worthwhile. Perhaps most important is knowing what is in your dog’s food. The quality of ingredients can play a significant role in your pup’s overall health, so take the time to look over ingredient panels. Lots of commercially available foods contain ingredients that are possible carcinogens, such as food dyes and preservatives like BHA or propylene glycol. Others contain unspecified meat ingredients, like meat and bone meal or poultry by-products. If you examine the ingredients and they don’t sound like something you or your family should eat, then they may not be good for your dog. Using this same rule regarding treats is also important. Overall, treats with short and simple ingredient panels are best. Treats and chews that are labeled “Made in the USA” must be comprised of ingredients sourced in this country. That typically means the ingredients used are fresher as they haven’t been shipped in from other countries. Selecting a healthy, high-quality food will be one of the most important decisions you make for your pet. With over 55% of American dogs being considered overweight, making sure you adhere to the feeding guidelines recommended on your dog’s food is a close second. Your dog’s serving size based on age and activity level is often a lot less than what you would expect and an easy way to avoid overfeeding is to use a measuring cup. Higher quality foods require less to be fed to meet your dog’s daily nutritional requirements. This, in turn, means less waste is produced. Regardless of the type, ensuring the food contains only wholesome ingredients makes for a healthier dog and a happy pet parent. ■

In the 1950s, Hollywood Feed began on the corner of Hollywood Street and Chelsea Avenue in Memphis, TN. We started as a local feed store and ultimately grew to a trusted neighborhood purveyor of pet supplies. Today, we offer high-quality foods, USA made treats, toys, beds, and more. We continue to grow, but our philosophy never changes. We strive to provide unmatched service and honest values to our loyal customers offering only the best products that we ourselves test and believe in.

WEST ASHLEY

1129 Savannah Highway (843) 718-2680 Across from Whole Foods!

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC

921 Houston Northcutt Blvd (843) 654-9462 Next to Whole Foods!