Check on Chewy<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nConsiderations in Buying Budget-friendly Dog Food<\/b><\/h2>\n
You have five options here for the best cheap dog foods, but which food should you buy? Part of it depends on your dog and part of it depends on the nutritional value and ingredients of the food, so let\u2019s look more into what to consider before you make your choice.<\/span><\/p>\nCheck out the design<\/b><\/h3>\n
The actual design of the package isn\u2019t a deal-breaker, but do make sure that when you look at the package of food, you can see the nutritional value. Packages that are too cluttered don\u2019t really tell you what\u2019s inside the package, which is often a problem in cheaper dog foods. But check for an ingredient list that describes more than taste and flavor, and make sure that the AAFCO statement ensures that your food has the minimum requirements for nutrition.<\/span><\/p>\nCheck Ingredients<\/b><\/h3>\n
Your vet can help you figure out which ingredients will be best for your dog. When you know what kind of ingredients your dog needs, you should check the back of the package. Try to find at least 18 percent protein, 5 percent fat, and not more than 5 percent crude fiber. Too much protein isn\u2019t always a good thing though, and can actually lead to more problems if you give your dog too much. Too much fiber can lead to problems like diarrhea as well, so while these high-fiber options are great, but do be sure to check that they\u2019re not all fiber and that they\u2019re something your dog can actually digest.<\/span><\/p>\nQuality Protein<\/b><\/h3>\n
Check out the type of protein that\u2019s on the package of your dog\u2019s food. The first ingredient should be some sort of high-quality protein and there should be no fillers that take up that first ingredient slot.<\/span><\/p>\nNon-Proteins<\/b><\/h3>\n
When it comes to carbohydrates, it is healthy for your dog\u2019s food to have at least some of those included. It\u2019s good to have carbs in the food but look specifically for whole grains, starchy vegetables, beans, and legumes. Avoid anything like corn or soy at all costs, since these are bad for your dog\u2019s digestion.<\/span><\/p>\nAlso, make sure that there are no by-products or fillers in your dog\u2019s food. While fillers may be cheaper, they\u2019re not worth it when it comes to the health of your dog.<\/span><\/p>\nPracticality<\/b><\/h3>\n
If you want to save money when buying dog food, try to buy in bulk. Buying larger bags will save you money in the long run. Of course, if you have a tiny dog and you don\u2019t have a great way to store your food, a huge bag may not be a smart idea. Be sure that you get the most bang for your buck and that you waste no food even if you do buy in bulk.<\/span><\/p>\nIn terms of actually buying your best cheap dog foods.\u00a0 check out any coupon options that are available to you. There are so many discounts available even just depending on the season, especially if you buy in bulk.<\/span><\/p>\nSwitching Foods<\/b><\/h3>\n
It is possible that your dog prefers one type of food, or that they\u2019re not used to eating dry kibble\u2014but it\u2019s also true that kibble is cheaper! Try mixing in the kibble with your dog\u2019s usual food at first to switch them over. Even if you never abandon the wet food entirely, you\u2019ll still save money in the end.<\/span><\/p>\nDog Nutrition Guidelines<\/b><\/h3>\n
Generally, you know what to look for now. But it\u2019s important for you to feed your dog well depending on their specific dietary needs. Some dogs can eat limited-ingredient diets or just fresh food, but remember that this is mostly for dogs who have food sensitivities. If you want your dog to eat healthy, let\u2019s learn more about what kind of nutrition your dog needs.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Your Dog Needs<\/b><\/h2>\n
Your dog will require a mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water to be healthy. We\u2019ll talk more about that in a second, but first know that when you pick up a bag of food, the words \u201ccomplete and balanced nutrition\u201d are a good indication that it has a balance of these ingredients. Finding the AAFCO certification is always a good sign too.<\/span><\/p>\nHow Much Meat?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Dogs are part of the carnivore group, so the question is how much meat they need. They can eat a combination of meat and plant foods, which are the most important part of their diet. But remember that which protein is perhaps less important than the digestibility of these components.<\/span><\/p>\nWater<\/b><\/h3>\n
Wet food has more water in it, while dry food is devoid of water. Your dog needs water either way, but feeding your dog on dry food means that you\u2019ll need to be sure that your dog drinks the appropriate amount of water with the dry food.<\/span><\/p>\nFats<\/b><\/h3>\n
The fats in your dog\u2019s food will give them the energy they need, and will also keep your dog\u2019s skin and coat healthy. Look specifically for linoleic acid, omega-6, and omega-3, since these will be some of your best options. It\u2019s not a good idea to keep fats out of your dog\u2019s diet since they really do need them to help your dog absorb vitamins, protects their internal organs, regulates the body temperature, and promotes a healthy nervous system.<\/span><\/p>\nEating Veggies?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Yes, your dog can eat vegetables, but really what your dog needs are the carbs. Carbs from grains and vegetables provide your dog with sugar, starches, and fiber to power the tissue in your dog\u2019s body. They\u2019ll also help your pooch\u2019s immune system work properly, but it\u2019s not good to have too much or it will upset the immune system instead.<\/span><\/p>\nJust be sure that your dog is digesting the proper carbs. Avoid options like corn that will not digest well, and be sure that you don\u2019t have an overload of grains in your dog\u2019s diet.<\/span><\/p>\nDon\u2019t Forget Vitamins and Minerals<\/b><\/h3>\n
Vitamins are an important part of your dog\u2019s metabolic function. They help with your dog\u2019s immune system and antioxidants, and also keep their nervous system functioning right. Look for all kinds of vitamins in your dog\u2019s food when you buy it.<\/span><\/p>\nThe same goes for minerals. Since the body cannot create minerals, make sure that you find them in your dog\u2019s food. They\u2019re hugely important in providing support for your dog\u2019s immune system and in helping with their bones.<\/span><\/p>\nFeeding Tips<\/b><\/h2>\n
You have your food, but how in the world do you get your dog to eat it? It can be more challenging than it sounds if you have a picky eater on your hands, but we do have a few tips to help your dog adjust.<\/span><\/p>\nHow Much?<\/b><\/h3>\n
How much you feed your dog depends on your dog\u2019s age, condition, and activity level. Puppies need enough food to grow properly, and food that matches their activity level. Check on how many calories your dog needs since that determines the amount of food.<\/span><\/p>\nHow Often?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Feeding your pup twice a day is usually best for adult dogs, while puppies will need to be fed 3-6 times per day. This helps keep their blood sugar up, but if you\u2019re unsure, check with your vet.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Bowl<\/b><\/h3>\n
The bowl itself really is important. Make sure that the bowl<\/a> is washed rinsed and dried well and that your dog is always eating out of a clean bowl. If you have a plastic bowl, it\u2019s never a bad idea to replace it periodically since it\u2019s more likely to get bacteria. For this reason, many experts recommend metal or ceramic bowls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nConclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n
It\u2019s important to feed your dog right, which means it\u2019s best to consider what type of food you buy before you place it down for your excited pup. Think about what your dog needs before you make your purchase, and what the best nutrition will be for them. You don\u2019t even have to break the bank to do it. Just pick out one of these cheap and nutritious options to keep your dog feeling good, looking good, and hopefully enjoying eating time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Owning a dog is one of the best things in this world. You just want to shower them with love and affection, not to mention the best of everything – including the best cheap dog foods. Not everyone can afford top-notch food though, but you don\u2019t even need to when there are so many great … Read More “5 Best Cheap Dog Foods Below $50”<\/span> »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":3013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3012"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3012"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3012\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4844,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3012\/revisions\/4844"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/topdoghub.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}