The processed food dilemma in America is not only causing obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer in humans, but canines too. I feed my dog, Finnigan, Blue Buffalo. I admit I may have fallen victim to strategic marketing, and attractive packaging. However, Blue Buffalo is one of the best brands you could feed your dog. It is a bit more expensive than brands sold at your grocery store such as Iams, Kibbles and Bits and Purina. But, the nutritional benefits are entirely worth the extra five or ten dollars. I feed Finnigan dry food in the morning, and for dinner he eats wet canned food. Blue has wet food in many different flavors, so dinner is a real treat for them. The key to selecting a healthy brand, is by turning the bag around and reading the ingredients. The first ingredient should be protein, as it is the most essential and important part of a canines diet. A dog’s DNA is only .2% different from that of a Grey Wolf. In today’s cheaper brands of dog food, the first ingredient (which is the ingredient most prevalent in the package) is corn meal, which is a cheap filler. The low quality vegetable proteins replace more expensive, meat source proteins and ingredients. Brands tend to find creative names to call a gluten ingredient, so that it is not the first ingredient but the second, fourth and fifth. Combined those ingredients far outweigh natural meat protein, which should be the most prevalent ingredient. A dog does not have any need for grains or carbohydrate, in fact their pancreas is unable to secrete the enzyme needed to break down gluten. This inability to digest proteins that don’t contain amino acids causes obesity and diabetes. A dogs diet should be close to 80% protein. Here are a few more brands that compare well to Blue Buffalo and that are very high in protein. -Artemis -Brothers Complete -Nature’s Logic -Timberwolf Platinum And here are a few brands that are still very good options, but a little less expensive. -Beavercreek -California Natural -Evolve -Eagle Pack Brands to stay away from, even if the price is tempting! -Kibbles n’ Bits -Beneful -Pedigree -Purina Every day you make a conscious decision of eating healthy or unhealthy. Your dog doesn’t have that luxury. Therefore, you should provide the best care to your dog that you can. Cut back on going out one night, so that you can buy the more healthy food for your dog. In college, I know money is tight, but that is a problem that should be evaluated before you decide to adopt or purchase a dog. Think about if you can maintain the costs of a healthy lifestyle for you pet, if you can’t, maybe wait until you are more financially stable to adopt. In the meantime, you can apply to be a foster parent at a local shelter. This works much the same way as foster a child, the pet would live with you, and the shelter would pay for care costs. Head over to my adopt your own page to learn more!