Don’t run to the store and pick up the first dog food brand that meets your eye. Feeding your dog the wrong dog food can cause sickness and even death. You need to understand dogs’ dietary needs in general, the specific requirement of your dog’s breed, plus any specific wellness concerns or risks of your own particular pet. There are many products on the food market today claiming to be good, healthy options for your pet, but you can’t always trust the advertising.

For instance, Hills Science dog food, as you can infer from its name, is marketed specifically as a scientifically formulated, nourishing dog food that has the best nutritional interest of your pet in mind. However, many people have reported cases of dogs vomiting regularly after beginning to eat Hills Science Diet, and some pets have had heavy allergic reactions to some of the ingredients. For that matter, none of the first five ingredients are particularly healthy for dogs. Dogs don’t naturally eat corn, the first ingredient, nor soybean oil or beet pulp, and animal fat and chicken by-products are not things you’d feed your children, so why would you want to feed them to your beloved puppy?

One of the things you’ll want to consider is the relative amounts of meat, grain and vegetables in the food. Canidae dog food has a respectable meat content, although it may not be as high as it once was. Meat “meals” are the best form of meat to look for in your dog food, rather than by-products and non-human-grade proteins. You should avoid food with high cereal contents, and all grains are not created equal. Look for whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal rather than corn, soybean or wheat products. Merrick dog food is also a good option. It contains a large number of different vegetables, though it’s meat content leaves something to be desired. On top of looking at the types of food in your dog’s diet, you should consider other things as well. Many people have begun to switch to dog foods that are entirely grain free. Others buy organic formulas that are pesticide-free and are also more environmentally responsible.

But don’t take my word for all of this. Do your own research on the internet and speak to a trusted vet. Look for reputable sources from which to get your information, just as you should with any research. Yes, it’s good to look at the manufacturers’ websites, but you need information that is unbiased to go from. Check out websites created for dog owners by dog owners, or reputable organizations pages ending in .org.