I expect many of you are familiar with the term “a dog is for life not just for Christmas” but are you familiar with essential dog food facts.

A vast majority of dog owners see their faithful companions as lifelong friends but did you know that the food you give your dog on an every day basis can inadvertently be a major contributor to both poor health and a shorter lifespan.

The price differential for good food is sometimes considerable - with higher quality dog food often twice the cost. But considering the effects on health you'll likely make up for it in lower vet bills, or at least a healthier dog.

The shine of the coat, the clarity of the eyes and other less obvious indicators will show in the long run. And, in the final analysis, the health of your dog is priceless
Nothing is more essential to good training and long life than good health. And the foundation of good health is a good diet. But do you actually know what goes into some dog foods?

One of the attributes that makes cheap dog food less preferable is the high percentage of 'waste' animal parts. When you see 'by products' on the label, it's better to avoid these brands. If it does appear on higher quality dog food, which is rare, it will be listed near the bottom indicating a small proportion.

By products often consist of ingredients that are considered “not fit for human consumption”! Whilst some of these dog food ingredients are not in themselves dangerous most if not all dog owners would be appalled if they were to find out just what these by products are.

Depending on your budget you may or may not be able to feed your dog a larger proportion of fresh meat, but at least be prepared to spend enough for a good dry food, and for the sake of your dogs health try to find out exactly what the ingredients in your dogs food really are.

For more information be sure and watch this shocking video report on dog food secrets that many companies would prefer you just did not know.