Comparing Dog Foods
Provided by Purina
Types of Dog Foods
The three main types of dog foods are dry, soft-moist and canned products. These
vary in a number of characteristics including moisture, cost, palatability and amount
of nutrition delivered per pound or ounce of food. Evaluating a dog food diet should
include consideration of all these factors. In spite of these variations, with today's
advanced technology, all types of dog food products can be formulated to provide
complete and balanced nutrition for dogs.
Canned Diets
These diets offer the highest palatability when compared to the dry and soft-moist
products. Once a can is opened, unused food should be stored in the refrigerator
in a covered container for no longer than three days.
Dry Diets
Dry products consist of crunchy kibbles, which help reduce the build-up of plaque
and tartar on a dog's teeth. Dry foods also have the advantage of staying fresh
longer than soft-moist and canned products once the package is opened.
Soft-Moist Diets
Soft-moist dog foods generally offer higher palatability as compared to dry diets,
are convenient to serve and store easily. They can be more expensive to feed than
dry diets.
Targeted Nutrition
These foods are specially formulated and proportioned to meet the special nutritional
needs of certain dogs.
Diets designed specifically for puppies usually contain higher levels of the nutrients
puppies need during their period of rapid growth and development. Some dog foods
are formulated to have higher levels of protein and calories to provide extra energy
for puppies, working and hunting dogs. Other dog foods are formulated to be lower
in calories and fat to help less active and older dogs maintain normal body weight.
