Читать книгу The Complete Book of Dog Breeding - Dan Rice - Страница 39

Some labels state that the foods meet or exceed recommendations of the NRC (National Research Council). That statement may apply only to canine maintenance requirements and may not consider the increased energy demands of breeding, pregnancy, or lactation.

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When purchasing dog food, be selective! Don’t fall for TV ads showing a beautiful litter of puppies or a happy bitch. Those are paid actors; they are marketing tools.

Labels may specify the quantities of available nutrients, not the bioavailable nutrients. If an essential element is fed to a dog in a form that is not bioavailable (that is, the amount that is assimilated and metabolized by the animal), it might as well be left in the bag. Always look for the source of protein. The ingredient list should give you that information. Vegetable protein sources such as corn or soy flour may provide an excellent analysis on the package, but that may be misleading.

Labels stating that a food meets or exceeds requirements for growth and maintenance mean just what they say. Such products should not be fed during breeding, gestation, or lactation.

Foods labeled with statements that they meet or exceed NRC recommendations for all stages of life are what you want, right? Getting close, but still not enough. Keep looking.