Lets Talk about Nutrition IV - the Food
- Meir Shilo
- Sep 1, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 18
How to Choose the Right Food for Your Dog
Choosing the right food for your dog is not easy — and there isn’t just one right answer.
Every dog is different, and every owner has their own experiences, beliefs, and priorities.
What I’m sharing here isn’t the way — it’s what I’ve learned through years of living, raising, and caring for my dogs.
Protein First
Look for named meat sources (like chicken, fish, or lamb). Avoid “meat meal” or “animal by-products.”
Clear ingredient list — with percentages.
Transparency means seeing numbers: “Fresh salmon 30%, sweet potato 15%, peas 10%...” not just a decorative list of names. If a company doesn’t show how much of each ingredient is inside, it usually means they’re not proud of it.
For example, one of the most well-known and popular dog food brands - Royal Canin - does not provide a clear ingredient percentage list anywhere on its packaging.
Even more concerning, many of their formulas include ingredients we’ve already discussed as ones to avoid, such as chicken by-products. And this is found even in their puppy formulas - food meant for the most crucial stage of a dog’s growth and health.
Chicken by-product meal, brewers rice, corn, chicken fat, wheat gluten, dried plain beet pulp, natural flavors, fish oil, vegetable oil, sodium silico aluminate, monocalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, fructooligosaccharides, sodium tripolyphosphate, vitamins [DL-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), niacin supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C)....
Summery
Eggs & fish are generally the best quality proteins for dogs.
Poultry (chicken, turkey) = lean, digestible, but watch for allergies.
Red meats (beef, lamb, venison) = richer in certain nutrients, better for active dogs, but less digestible and sometimes fatty.
Novel proteins (duck, rabbit, kangaroo) = best when dealing with multiple allergies.
Eggs as a Supplement
Protein content: 1 large egg (≈50 g) → about 6–7 g of protein, ~70 kcal.For a 15 kg dog, daily protein needs are roughly 25–35 g, so one egg is only about 20–25% of daily protein.
Nutrient value: Eggs don’t just add protein — they also bring fatty acids, vitamins (A, D, E, B12), minerals (selenium, iron), and lecithin that support skin, coat, and overall health.
Digestibility: Egg protein is highly digestible (the “gold standard”), so the body absorbs it very efficiently.
How Much Is Safe?
Small dogs (5–10 kg): ½ egg, a few times a week.
Medium dogs (10–20 kg): 1 egg, up to daily (but better 3–5x per week).
Large dogs (20–35 kg): 1 egg daily is usually fine.
Very large dogs (35+ kg): 1–2 eggs daily is generally safe.
The key is that eggs should not replace the main food but serve as a supplement (ideally <10% of daily)
