If you want your canine companion to live a long and healthy life, you have to make sure they consume a nutritious and balanced diet. What you feed your dog has a direct impact on its health and well-being. Unhealthy ingredients and improper feeding can lead to cancer, canine diabetes, canine obesity, and gum and tooth disease.
To ensure your four-legged friend is healthy and happy, here are five healthy dog food tips:

1. Scrutinize the label
When choosing a healthy dog food, don’t just read the label, scrutinize the label, and look for ingredients that may not be healthy or beneficial to your pet. Dog food ingredients are listed by weight beginning with the heaviest. If the ingredient list begins with a type of meat, keep in mind that up to 75% of the meat is water. If it contains a “meat meal” such as beef, most of the water has been removed to concentrate the animal protein. The best choice of quality dog food is one that is labeled “complete and balanced,” which will meet your dog’s nutritional needs. Quality-made dog food will include a detailed ingredient list such as the Iams dog food ingredients list found on all of its pet food packages. You should avoid purchasing generic or low-cost pet foods without a detailed ingredient list.

2. Introduce whole foods
Introducing whole foods into your dog’s diet will go a long way in providing balanced nutrition for your pet’s nutritional needs. Look for dog foods that are made and contain whole foods and whole-food ingredients. Dogs need balanced nutrition that comes from whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and rice which will help your dog maintain a healthy coat, have a strong immune system, and sustain a healthy digestive system.

3. Don’t overfeed or over-treat
Overfeeding is something that many dog owners tend to do with their pets. How often you feed your dog will depend on factors such as age, size, breed, your dog’s lifestyle, and type of food. One thing that most dog experts agree on in regards to dog feeding is that most human food should be a no-no. You should never feed your dog sweets, foods high in unhealthy fats, and other unhealthy human foods. As a general rule, what’s bad for you is bad or worse for your dog. You should only give your dog the most healthy dog treats and food that’s made specifically for them. You should also limit the amount and number of treats you give your dog daily. To ensure your dog’s proper feeding, follow the serving guide on the packaging and purchase food that best fits your dog’s age and size. If you’re still in double about how often you should feed your dog, contact your vet for advice.

4. Look for food rich in antioxidants and healthy fats
Foods rich in antioxidants and healthy fats will improve your dog’s lifestyle and help them live a longer and fuller life. You should always look for a food rich in antioxidants and healthy fats. Pancreatitis is a condition that some dogs are genetically predisposed to developing if they consume extra amounts of rendered fats. However, even dogs predisposed to this condition can benefit from eating healthy fats in the right amounts. Omega-3 fatty acids, especially DHA, are essential to a dog’s cognitive and neurological development. Dog foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids are an essential part of your pet’s diet. Another crucial ingredient you should look for in dog food that will benefit your dog in many ways is antioxidants. Antioxidants can help prevent conditions and diseases such as heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer, cataracts, and other ailments.

5. Protect teeth and gums
Having your dog’s teeth cleaned by a professional is a crucial part of a good oral health care plan for your pet. In addition to regular teeth cleaning, you should also include canine dental chews as part of your dog’s oral care routine. Greenies are dental chews that help control and reduce plaque and tartar build-up by mechanical abrasion. Greenies are extremely popular among many dog owners because they don’t use chemicals to remove plaque and tartar.