If you own a miniature or full size poodle, dog food that is appropriate for your pet should be one of your primary concerns. Poodles have thick, curly and lustrous coats of fur, but in order to properly maintain them, they each need a well balanced diet that is rich in different types of nutrients. In addition to appearance, the food that you give to your poodle to eat will have a tremendous impact on his overall health. It can mean the difference between a dog that lives a long and healthy, happy life and one that is riddled with health problems from an early age.
The Best Poodle Dog Food
In truth, there is no single dog food that is best for a poodle. Fortunately, there are a number of manufacturers of different types of dog foods that each create excellent foods that are well balanced in terms of nutrition, and fully prepared to give your pet the nutrients and health benefits he needs. This is compounded by the fact that not every animal requires exactly the same thing; your pet's age, overall health and gender may influence the type of food that you give to him or her just as much. For this reason, it's more beneficial to examine how to find the best food for your dog in particular.
Qualities of a Good Food
The higher the quality of the overall ingredients in your poodle's dog food, the better it will be for your pet in general. This is particularly the case if your dog is developing as a puppy. Generally speaking, it's a good idea to invest a bit of money in a high quality, trusted name brand of food for your poodle. This food can be either dry or canned; different dogs prefer different things.
One benefit of dry food over canned food is that the hard kibble pieces can help to break up and clean off plaque from your poodle's teeth. However, canned food is often full of a wider mixture of different ingredients and nutrients for your pet.
Special Cases
If your poodle has some sort of a sickness or a medical condition, you may want to look for specialized foods that are designed to help accommodate that condition. Many dog food brands manufacture foods that are designed to address obesity, heart problems, diabetes, liver damage and much more. With the proper combination of the appropriate food and a good set of supplements or medicines, you can preemptively deal with a variety of different health concerns that may come up for your animal.
For a better idea of how to select a food that works best for your particular dog, speak with a vet. Most vets will have specific brands of food that they'll recommend. Beyond that, choose a food that your pet enjoys eating.