Choosing the Right Dog Food

Choosing dog food can be a bit overwhelming, right? You want to make sure to get the best possible food for your pup that fits with your lifestyle (and budget), but there are so many choices! Here’s how we help you figure out what will work best for your pooch. Why do you want to switch dog food? Did something happen that made you decide to switch food? Does your co-worker swear by a brand, so now you want to give it a try? Are there ingredients you want (or don’t want) to feed your pup? Has your dog started getting sick? We take all of this into consideration before recommending few food options for Fido. What are you currently feeding your dog? Which brand are you using? Are you happy with it? Once we know what you’re feeding her, we can narrow down your options. If your dog is having some issues and the first few ingredients are grains, corn or soy then you might want to switch foods. It could be easier on your dog’s digestive system to stay with the same brand, but if you need to switch, we can help with that too. Your dog's belly will appreciate easing into a food change slowly no matter what direction you choose. Do you prefer dry, canned or raw food? They each have their benefits, but if there is one you like best let's make sure to stick with it. Does your dog have any allergies? Dog allergies are quite common, but that doesn’t make them any less frustrating! Unsure if your dog has allergies? Here are common symptoms to look for:

• Itching, red, moist or scabbed skin
• Increased scratching
• Itchy & goopy eyes
• Ear inflammation & infection
• Paw chewing/Swollen paws
• Constant licking

If so, and you don’t yet know what she’s allergic to, the first step will be to we will try to narrow down to foods with a limited ingredient diet. Do you prefer to be grain free? Keeping in mind grain free kibble doesn’t mean carbohydrate free, most high quality grain free kibble will yield a higher protein % coming from a meat source and not a vegetable source.   Some benefits you may see when switching to a grain free diet include:

• Feeding less per meal
• less gas (ahem)
• May reduce canine food allergies
• smaller stools
• less shedding
• more energy

How old is your dog? Some foods are for mature dogs only and not suitable for a growing puppy, so it’s important to know what age dog we are talking about. What’s your budget? This will help us narrow it down to find the best options for you and your dog. As you can see there’s a lot that goes into choosing the best food for your pup. Here are Bend Pet Express, we have helped thousands of dog parents find the food that works for their pet. We will take the time to listen to you and find the best fit and work with you until you do.