What Kinds of Dog Food Are Bad for Dogs?

Ingredients

• Dog food ingredients, like the ingredients of human food, are listed in order from the most in quantity to the least in quantity. Any dog food with corn, soy, or another vegetable listed as the first ingredient is a poor choice for feeding your dog, as those ingredients provide nothing but an excess of empty carbohydrates and can lead to an increase in the amount of excrement produced by the dog. If at all possible, meat or a meat by-product should be the first ingredient in a quality dog food. That can be cost prohibitive for some; at the very minimum, meat should be within the first five ingredients, according to Woodhaven Labs.

Added Nutrients

• Dogs require certain nutrients in their daily diets. According to the American Association of Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO, growing or reproducing dogs need their diet to contain a minimum of 22 percent protein, 8 percent fat, 1 to 2.5 percent calcium, and 0.8 to 1.6 percent phosphorous.

  An adult dog that has finished growing and is not reproducing requires about 18 percent of its diet to be protein, 5 percent fat, 0.6 to 2.5 percent calcium and 0.5 to 1.6 percent phosphorus.

  The package of your dog food should list the minimum and maximum amounts of those nutrients in the food's recipe. Choosing one that closely resembles the AAFCO's nutritional requirements is an easy way to ensure your dog is getting the proper amount of nutrient.

  The activity level of a dog also plays a significant part in what specific nutrients a dog needs. A working dog or dog that has a higher energy level will require more nutrients, and thus more food, while a less active dog requires fewer nutrients and food.

Labeling

• Labels regarding the safety and nutrition properties of dog food should be taken into consideration. Look for dog food with an AAFCO-certified label that guarantees the food meets nutritional requirements for each stage of a dog's life--puppy, adult, geriatric. AAFCO determines those requirements by laboratory or computer analysis and by feeding trials.

  Famous brand names do not necessarily indicate that a dog food meets the minimum nutritional standards a dog needs to maintain health, nor does a generic brand not. Beware of labels that claim to do certain things, such as improve the quality of your dog's coat or decrease obesity. Those claims often cannot be substantiated. There's also no way of substantiating the words "premium," "quality," or "natural," so do not choose based solely on these words alone.

Considerations

• The source of ingredients does not so much matter. Animal, vegetable or mineral should not be a concern, unless there is a chance of food allergies or other adverse reactions. Your veterinarian is in the best position to inform you of such hazards and counsel you if and when they occur. Your vet can also make a recommendation as to a quality food and what to avoid when feeding your dog.

Nutritional Supplementation

• Nutritional supplementation should not be necessary if your dog is receiving a quality food that meets all of its daily nutritional needs. Added nutrients can cause a variety of musculoskeletal problems, conditions of the nervous system, and an overall decline in the health of your animal. A veterinarian will tell you if and when a nutritional supplement is needed.