Does your canine friend have a poor health condition, or are you having trouble feeding him whatever food you are giving them? Maybe the problem is with the food they are getting and probably not liking it.
Dogs are more active than cats, and you need to pay attention to what food you are giving them. But what type of foods are more suitable for your dogs and their nourishment?
The type of ingredients plays a vital role in your dog’s growth and health. That’s why, in this Heart To Tail dog food review, I will explain 3 dog foods along with their features, pros, and cons.
Top 3 Heart To Tail Dog Food Reviews
Dog foods come with several different ingredients. Each of these ingredients serves different purposes. Let’s start this Heart To Tail dog food review with the Shep Heart Beef Flavored Sticks!
1. Shep Heart to Tail Dog Treats Beef Flavored Sticks
Dogs love treats, and that’s why Shep has brought beef-flavored treats for them. These treats have the taste of real beef, and dogs thrive on them. It does not contain any ingredient that might be harmful to dogs.
This food contains real beef. Beef has a high amount of protein, iron, and zinc, etc. It boosts the energy of your dog. It also helps with your dog’s digestion system and nourishes the skin as well.
There is no artificial flavor or color added to these treats. So, it is safe to say that your dog’s health concern should be at bay when they are having these stick treats.
Chewing on the treat sticks is also healthy for your dog’s oral hygiene. It helps keep the teeth and gums clean and prevents your dog’s bad breath.
I also picked it for its reasonable price. I’m pretty sure any dog owner can purchase this dog treat as they are very affordable.
Pros
- Made with nutritious ingredients
- It contains real beef and beef flavor
- High in protein
- It helps to boost your dog's energy
- Cage-free chicken fat is suitable for your dog's heart
- Easy to eat and helps with digestion
- Good for oral hygiene
Cons
- It may not be suitable for all dogs
2. Heart to Tail Pure Salmon and Sweet Potato Treats
Feeding your dog can be fun sometimes. And you can add some extra fun to it with the advent calendar in this Heart To Tail package. The advent calendar comes with salmon and sweet potato flavored special treats for your special friend.
This is like any other advent calendar, except behind each perforated door, there’s a treat in a small plastic bag. And while the regular advent calendar lasts till Christmas Eve, this dog advent calendar comes with an extra and special treat for Christmas Day.
Now let’s come to the ingredients and go through them a little bit. The first ingredient is salmon, and it is very beneficial for a dog’s health.
Salmon contains omega-three fatty acids, which boosts immunity and keeps your dog’s coating shiny. It is a suitable substitute for chicken protein.
The next main ingredient is the sweet potato, and it contains a high amount of fiber. Thus, it improves the dog’s digestive system and provides other benefits as well.
But do note that these are just treated for your dog as rewards. They are not to be fed as substitutes for daily meals.
Pros
- The package contains an advent calendar with 25 days treats
- Real salmon and fresh potato with original flavor
- Treats contain omega-three and omega-six fatty acid
- They are high in protein and fiber
Cons
- Customers often face a slight issue with the calendar packaging
3. Shep Heart to Tail Dog Treats Bacon Flavored
Bacon is salty and contains a high amount of fat. And none of these are suitable for dogs as dogs are often prone to salt and salty food. But, dogs like bacon!
So, it is okay to spoil your dog with bacon-flavored treats at least once a year. And, the Shep Heart To Tail bacon-flavored treats are one such thing.
The curlz contains about 16% crude protein, along with 5% crude fat and 3.5% crude fiber. All of these ingredients make the treats healthy and helpful for the dog’s nourishment.
It also boosts the energy, makes your dog more active and happier. But if it seems that your dog isn’t coping well with the treats, you need to stop feeding them right away.
As for moisture, the level is 28%. So it makes the treats easily digestible. And dogs love food with added moisture as it helps them chew more enthusiastically.
Another ingredient used in these treats is wheat flour. Wheat flour is a source of gluten, which is good for dogs. But, if your dog is gluten intolerant and has allergies, wheat flour treats are the last thing they need.
Pros
- Rich bacon flavor with real bacon treats
- Nourishes dogs and easily digestive
- It contains crude protein, fat, and fiber
- They are high in protein and fiber
- Affordable price
Cons
- Bacon is not suitable for dogs
- Wheat flour contains gluten, which is terrible for gluten intolerant dogs
How To Buy The Best Dog Food?
While buying dog food, there are a few things that you need to consider first. That’s why I have picked up some of the crucial things for your checklist.
Your Dog’s Age, Weight, Breed:
A puppy needs more calories per day than an older dog. That’s why you can’t give a puppy the same food you are to give to an adult dog. And just like that, the type of food you should buy depends on your dog’s weight, breed, and health condition as well.
Ingredients:
The ingredients of the food ensure nourishment. So, while buying dog food, look upon the pack to see what ingredients they contain. The elements should contain enough protein, calcium, and carbohydrates.
The first ingredient of dog food should be meat or meat meal. Because dogs are carnivorous animals, and meat is an excellent source of protein.
Quality:
The quality of the dog food definitely needs to be healthy enough. That is the whole point of going through the checklist.
The description on the package will tell you everything you need to know. But sometimes, it is better to avoid food that contains artificial colors or ingredients that are not suitable for dogs.
Price:
The higher quality of ingredients used in the food, the more expensive it will be. But costly food does not guarantee the best food. You can always choose the best ones even if you have a tight budget.
That said, dry foods are a lot cheaper than canned or frozen foods. So, you can weigh your options according to your budget before buying dog foods
Type Of Dog Food
Dogs don’t really care about what type of dog food you give them, as long as they enjoy eating it. However, different types of foods contain different health benefits. And here are the major dog food types:
Kibble (Dry)
This is the most trouble-free kind of dog food. Thus, it happens to be the most commonly fed dog food. It does not require cooking or needs to be unthawed like frozen foods. All you have to do is to scoop them up and serve them to your dog.
Dry foods like kibble come in various types, like flakes and biscuits. But sometimes, they contain meat as well. These foods contain low amounts of moisture and do not expire quickly like other foods.
Besides, chewing on kibbles keeps your dog’s teeth clean. And, as they are dry food, you don’t have to worry about your dog eating smelly food in case they are left out open for longer. It also comes at a cheap price.
Canned (Wet/Moist Food)
Though they are called canned food, this type of food comes in pouches and foil trays. And, after dry food, canned food comes to second as the most popular dog food.
Canned food contains about 75% water and helps keep your dogs hydrated. And, the food comes in different forms and textures due to the moisture. However, due to the amount of water, canned foods tend to be less healthy than dry foods.
Since canned foods come in various flavors, it helps to increase your dog’s food taste and maintain a healthy diet. In addition to that, it improves your dog’s digestive system and burns fat.
Raw Food
Dogs have strong stomach acid, and it allows them to digest raw food without any problem. And, as raw meat contains calcium and phosphorus, it gives your dog strength and healthy life. Other than these, chewing on raw meat is suitable for dogs’ dental health.
While you can get raw meat anywhere, sometimes you will find packed raw meat especially packed for dogs. But, I suggest you should consult your vet before giving your dogs raw meat.
Frozen
Here is a new and popular type of dog food. The frozen food can be both raw and semi-cooked. Sometimes you may need to add water with this type of food as freezing the food dehydrates it. So, eating such food can cause dehydration if your dog does not get enough water.
Foods That Your Dog Should Not Eat
It’s okay to want to spoil your fur baby sometimes. But as a pet parent, there are certain foods that you should not give to your dogs or keep out of their reach. And they are-
- Chocolate: It might look harmless, yet it does one of the worst damages to dogs. Chocolates, especially dark chocolates, contain theobromine. This toxic ingredient is responsible for food poisoning and kidney damage in dogs.
- Onions And Garlic: Anything that belongs to the onion family is toxic for dogs. Garlic may not hurt vampires for real. But they will undoubtedly hurt your dog if consumed in any form.
- Salty And Sugary Foods: We know sugar is not suitable for our health and is not good for pets. The same goes for salty foods.
- Milk And Lactose: Maybe not all dogs, but some dogs are lactose intolerant. Giving your dogs dairy products can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
- Cooked Bones: Dogs enjoy chewing and eating raw bones. They are good for your dog’s health as well. On the other hand, cooked bones should be avoided at any cost. It can lead to constipation and other issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
It would be best if you never overfeed or underfeed your dog. That’s why timely meals are essential. A puppy needs to be fed at least three times a day, while an adult dog needs to be fed two times.
But, the feeding times may differ depending on your dog’s age, breed, size, and activities. If you are confused or worried about it, it is better to consult a vet first.
The answer also depends on the same factors as the previous one. For small puppies ⅓ to ½ cup of dog food, a day could be enough. On the other hand, an adult dog may need 2 to 3 cups of dog food per day.
Sometimes dogs start to ignore the food they are regularly fed. So changing the type of food they consume becomes essential. But, dogs can be sensitive to a sudden change of food.
So it would be best if you made the change slow and gradual. Start adding a small portion of the new food in their regular meal and increase the amount every week. However, if your dogs react badly to the food or end up vomiting or having an upset stomach, you need to stop and contact a vet immediately.
Conclusion
We all want our pets to be playful and healthy. But, lack of proper and nutritious food is responsible for their declining health condition.
None of us want our beloved pet to die early or go through heartbreaking sufferings. So, ensuring the right food for their balanced diet becomes essential.
The purpose of this Heart To Tail dog food review is to make you aware of the benefits of the products, as mentioned earlier. Each of them serves the right amount of nutrition for your dogs. So you have to be the one to decide which food is better for your dog.
Related:
Human Food for Dogs: What Foods Are Safe for My Dog to Eat?