Dr. Bob Barnes: Pet preference is key in food choice – Greenfield Daily Reporter

Barnes
A very common question is, “What type of food is best for my dog?”
Very seldom is the question in regards to cats because they are so particular that, unless there is a reason to change, the food eaten by our feline patients is mostly the one the cat will eat consistently.
Commercially available dog foods in most stores are all basically the same. There are different protein sources (beef, chicken, salmon), different carbohydrate sources (soy, corn, beet, barley, rice) and various flavor enhancers that all manufacturers use within the industry. Unless one wants to cook or prepare food at home from scratch, the market is full of great options to choose from.
Think of the difference between hamburger and a Ribeye steak, both coming from the same cow but one is preferred over the other.
The individual dog’s taste plays a major role in the decision. Every dog, just like cats and humans, have particular likes and dislikes with the food they consume. However, dogs will eat a lot of things that humans or cats would not – roadkill, mulch, rocks, sticks, shoes, etc. We are aware that there are certain flavor profiles that one dog will prefer over another. If your dog doesn’t care for the flavor of a certain food, they may not eat it consistently or even refuse it totally.
The next big issue is toleration of food. Does that particular food cause a consistent, chronic issue of vomiting, diarrhea, or gas? There is a difference between a toleration issue and an allergic issue with food. Allergic reactions are not common as most think, and can only be diagnosed by testing. If your pet has problems with a certain food, then that food is not good for that pet.
A third concern with food is the cost. There is not a problem with any commercial-grade food and providing adequate nutrition to your pet, provided that the bag or box states “complete balance and nutrition.” The price difference from the highest to lowest cost of food is quite dramatic but makes no difference to your pet. The dog either likes the food and does well on it, or it doesn’t. It is up to the pet to tell us, as owners, what is preferred.
The final issue is availability. With online ordering and big box pet stores, this is not as big of an issue as it has been in the past. Most of us are able to find food when needed. There have been some supply chain issues with the pet food market in the past few years, just as in almost every aspect of our world. The major brands seem to have had less issues with this compared to small companies.
The choice of what food is best for your dog is vast. The most important factor, however, is the pet and how it likes or tolerates a food. There is not “the best” food for dogs, it’s what food is best for each individual animal.
Dr. Bob Barnes is the owner and practitioner of Mt. Comfort Animal Hospital, 5537 W. U.S. 40. The office can be reached at (317) 894-2800.
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