Cheap Dog Food

Is cheap dog food good for my dogs?

Cheap dog food, is it any good for my dogs?  The answer is most of the time you get what you pay for.  However, there are always exceptions to the rule and it primarily depends on your expectations as a dog owner.

Cheap dog foods are generally formulated with higher levels of grain, grain by-products and vegetable protein sources.  Some of these ingredients may include corn, wheat, wheat middlings, soybean meal, and corn gluten meal.  If your expectations are to meet the maintenance needs of your dog, he does not suffer from food alergies and generally does not enter the house.....then one of the more value priced dog foods may fit your needs.

Dogs that are expected to perform, either athletically,  reproductively, or otherwise, will certainly benefit from a higher quality dog food.  Of course higher quality generally means more expense.  It is important to realize that there are other benefits to feeding a higher quality dog food.  Generally the quantity and quality of the stools will improve.  This means much easier cleanup weather you are cleaning your fenced in back yard or the pens of several dogs in a kennel environment.

With that said, there are certainly alot of dogs that are fed cheap dog food.  When properly formulated cheap dog food can provide a source of balanced nutrition for your dog.  That nutrition will come from cheaper sources of protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

For example:

A premium formulated dog foods would more than likely derive most of its protein from a source like chicken or chicken meal.  A cheap dog food will most likely get it's protein from products like soybean meal, corn gluten meal, and others.

Premium dog foods generally source their minerals from sulfate or proteinated forms of minerals such as zinc, iron.  The cheap dog foods may source their minerals from the oxide forms of minerals such as zinc and iron.  There is nothing wrong with any of the forms of minerals.  However the protienated and sulfate forms are more bio-available than the oxides.  This means that the dogs digestive system is capable of absorbing the sulfates or protienates easier than the oxides. So, the nutritionist may adjust the mineral levels in the formulation  to compensate for the absorption properties of each.

Gennerally there is absolutly nothing wrong with most cheap dog foods.  They are almost always nutritionally balanced for your dog.  If your dog does not exhibit alergies or digestive upsets and he maintains good hair coat and body condition while feeding the cheap dog food then everything should be ok.

If your dog is expected to perform athletically or is a part of your breeding program then the cheap dog food may not provide the level of nutrition required for your dog to reach their potential.  As with any athlete or performer, proper nutrition plays a huge role in the overall health and ability to perform.