Picking the best meat for your dogs – things to consider
There are multiple factors pet owners need to account for when picking the best meat for their dog. To help you decide we have created a brief list for you to follow:
Taste
One of the biggest factors is going to be ‘does your dog love it?’. If your dog is not a fan of certain meats it may not be worth trying to feed them instead of their preferred flavours. Often dogs prefer stronger smells as they do most of their tasting with their noses.
Expense
Not all pet owners can afford the luxury of a freshly caught salmon everyday to satisfy their pooch. You will find that meats such as wild caught tuna and salmon often are a lot more expensive than other meats. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective meat for Fido then choose something that’s poultry based like chicken or turkey.
Quality
The quality of the meat can often be more important than the type of meat when trying to pick the healthiest for your pet. Human grade or even free-range meats will usually be of higher quality and avoid those with added hormones or chemicals.
Healthiness and your dog’s specific needs
Obviously a big factor is how healthy the meat is and we’ll explore more of that in this article. Its important to realise that some dogs, either because of their genetic build up or a medical condition, may be better suited to some meats compared to others. Dalmatians for example need meats with low levels of purine like white meats, while dogs with renal disease may benefit from lower phosphorous meats like red meats. Those dogs carrying a little extra lumber will do best on leaner meats. If your dog has an existing health condition, asking a vet or nutritionist can help avoid any difficulties.
Environment and ethics
You may consider the ethical and environmental impacts when thinking about which meat to feed your pet. Pescatarian pet owners for example will obviously favour fish while others may be concerned about overfishing of certain stocks and choose a farmed meat. In terms of environmental effects beef typically has a much larger footprint than chicken.