Take a good long look at your dog. No, really… for just a few seconds, lock eyes with your furry pal.
Now, who smiled first?
Owning a dog can instantly put a smile on any pet owner’s face. After all, they’re more than your pet. They’re your best friend, faithful defender, and loyal companion.
They have this superpower to comfort you without having to say a word. They’re never judgy, they never lie, and they will be faithfully yours until the last beat of their little heart.
With such undeserving devotion, as pet owners we want nothing more than to have our canine friends live forever.
In reality, dogs don’t live nearly as long as we do.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t do everything in our power to stack the deck in their favor…
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, feeding your dog the right “appropriate food” is one of the top four requirements in their Guidelines for Responsible Pet Ownership.
Which means choosing premium, healthy dog foods not only maintains proper balance for your furry pal’s overall health, but these foods have distinct health advantages for helping them live longer, happier lives.
That said… What is the best dog food for a longer life?
To answer that, we first need to look at…
Proper dog nutrition
Scientists and veterinarians have been studying dog nutrition and digestion for decades. What they’ve discovered is that our canine friends need several different kinds of nutrients to survive.
In a nutshell, these nutrients include:
- Amino acids from high-quality proteins
- Fatty acids
- Healthy carbohydrates
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- And of course, water
Research suggests that protein should make up 10% – 50% of your dog’s diet. But because our canine friends are omnivorous animals, they don’t need to eat strictly meat to achieve their protein intake (though they’d likely choose meat over a plant-based diet, if given the choice).
That said, it’s important to remember that each dog is unique, and their nutritional requirements will vary depending on their breed, size, age, and other biological factors.
Checking the nutrition panel on the back of your dog’s food is a great start to choosing the best food for your canine friend. But there are a few things you should know before we go any further…
