Most people have no idea what the dog food ingredients are, much less if the ingredients are safe. They just want to feed their Miniature Schnauzers the best dog food possible. They trust in the pet food manufacturers to know what they are doing and assume these manufacturers are doing what is best for their pets. This isn't always the case. Remember the pet food recall of 2007?
To help you better understand the information on your Miniature Schnauzer's dog food so you can choose the best dog food for him, here's my list of do's & don'ts when it comes to your Miniature Schnauzer's dog food. It's the easiest way for me to help you decipher it all out.
You will be able to eliminate quite a few bad dog foods once you start reading their labels. It’s amazing to see what goes in some of the commercial brands of dog food.
It's absolutely repulsive and unthinkable to me, that these are the same companies (who are suppose to have our pet's best interests in mind) and yet they add such disgusting and harmful things to our loving pet's food supply! Why? For big money $$$.
Don't fall for the cutesy commercials and testimonials. You must be proactive when deciding the best dog food for your Miniature Schnauzer. Do your homework and your own research. See for yourself and then decide. Remember the thousands of pets that died beginning in 2007 from tainted dog foods coming from these manufacturers who stated they had the best dog food? These manufacturers were adding melamine to pet food. Melamine is a chemical used to make plastic and fertilizers. It is not allowed in human or pet food. Can you believe this?
The best dog foods will not use these type of ingredients
And the old saying: "You get what you pay for!" definitely rings true when it comes to your Miniature Schnauzer's dog food.
Cheaper pet foods offer lower quality ingredients (corn, wheat, soy, generic protein sources, chemical preservatives, artificial additives, etc..) which in the long run, contribute to dog health problems, which then lead to expensive vet visits!
The dog food label is the best way to determine the food's quality.
dog health tip: Always make sure to check the expiration date on the package of food you're purchasing for your Miniature Schnauzer.
Look for a quality dog food that conforms to AAFCO(Association of American Fed Control Officials) standards. Also, the best dog food comes from reputable companies, who provide their phone number and/or website on their labels so you can get further information or call if you have questions.
How to determine the best dog food for your Miniature Schnauzer
Dog Food Ingredients: The Do's & Don'ts
Your Miniature Schnauzer’s food should have a good source of animal protein – chicken, beef, fish lamb turkey. NOT animal by-products.
Carbohydrates in their whole form – ie. oatmeal NOT oat hulls.
Fats from specified animals – ie. chicken fat NOT poultry fat.
Oils - Salmon oil is better than flaxseed or canola - NOT vegetable oil.
Avoid sugars - Sugars & corn syrup not only add on the pounds, but can contribute to unwanted behaviors.
NO chemicals or dyes
Natural preservatives only, like Vitamin E - NOT bad chemical preservatives like BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin, propylene glycol, propyl gallate, gallic acid, propyl ester and menadione (a synthetic form of Vitamin k). These chemicals are suspect in causes of liver disease and cancers.
Also make sure there is NO wheat gluten.
Understanding the Guaranteed Analysis - Dog food labels usually list *Crude Protein & *Crude Fat minimums. The term *crude refers to the specific method of testing the product, NOT to the quality of the nutrient itself. (Schnauzer Nutrition and Nutrient Needs)
And always make sure to provide your Miniature Schnauzer a fresh supply of water daily.
dog health tip: When changing your Miniature Schnauzer’s food, take it slowly. Your Miniature Schnauzer's digestive system needs time to adapt to the new foods. Otherwise, a quick change in your dog's diet can lead to intestinal upset.
Iams Dog Food Practices Inhumane Tests
Yet one more thing to consider when purchasing the best dog food for your Miniature Schnauzer...........
Buy dog food that does not test on animals!
Iams inhumane practices continue to be well documented on such sites as www.peta.org and www.iamscruelty.com both of which sponsor boycotts of Iams products. If you are using Iams products, watch this video. I bet you won’t want to feed your Miniature Schnauzer Iams ever again.
Get an answer back from a Veterinarian or Vet Tech(often within minutes). Experts on call to answer your questions every day, at all hours – when you need them most! Fees are typically only $9 - $15. And you pay only for the answers you like!
What an easy and fast way to get a second opinion from a dog expert!
PLUS its 100% satisfaction guaranteed!
note: In the event of a medical emergency – contact your veterinarian or emergency pet hospital immediately.