What should you feed your dog?

Dogs have had 15,000 years to evolve from being primarily meat-eaters into omnivores capable of digesting both animal and plant nutrients. When it comes to nutrition, dogs are a lot like people. They can live healthy lives while eating a variety of food. Meats, vegetables, and grains, all can be a part of your dog's diet.

If you want to get technical, dogs actually belong to a category of meat-eaters called "facultative carnivores," which is so close in functional behavior to the omnivore category that it is hardly distinguishable.

People are very passionate when it comes to the subject of what they feed their dogs, and with good reason. A good, nutritional diet can contribute to a long and healthy life and psychological well-being for our furry friends. So what is the best food to feed domesticated dogs?

It is hard to sort out the truth from marketing.

Grain-free dog foods are currently very popular. But are they really healthier for your dog than other types of dog foods? A grain-free or meat-based dog food naturally contains fewer carbohydrates than grain-based foods. Some grain-free dog foods replace the grain with other types of starch like potato, sweet potato, tapioca, or green peas. The benefit of a grain-free dog food is that they mimic a dog's natural ancestral diet, and they tend to be considered hypo-allergenic, which is good for dogs that have food allergies.

The most common grains are wheat, rice, oats, corn, barley, millet, oatmeal, and quinoa. All grains are a good source of carbohydrates, which provide the body with energy. Some pets do better on diets with quality grains because of their high fiber content. Fiber in the diet is good for the overall gastrointestinal health of your pooch and may help some dogs keep their weight down. However, too much fiber in your pooch's diet can interfere with the digestion of other important nutrients in the food and result in loose stools.

Recognize that each dog is different, just like humans.

It comes down to one important concept; nutritionally, the most important aspect of a dog food is whether the food provides complete and balanced nutrition for your furry friend. And this is true regardless of whether the food contains grains or not.

Deciding between wet and dry food for your pooch can also be tough. Dry kibble is easier to store and serve. Wet often contains fewer grains and more protein.

Wet food is roughly 70 to 80 percent water and contains more protein, which can be beneficial for some dogs. Since it also contains more moisture, it is good for hydration and the urinary tract, and many dogs find it more palatable.

Dry food is only about 10 percent water and is easy to store and measure out. It benefits your dog's teeth and gums, helps ensure firm stools and is lower in cost per serving.

If you have a dog with special issues, it is best to consult your veterinarian for food recommendations. Dogs, like people, react differently to different diets. Some need mostly protein, some need lots of carbohydrates, so some benefit most from dry kibble and some from canned food.

Whether dry or canned, check the label to make sure that it is a nutritious diet for Fido. In some ways, the labels on the food you eat and the food your dog eats aren't so different.

One thing to look for is the Association of American Feed Control Official (AAFCO) seal of approval that will tell you that the food is nutritionally complete and balanced.

To really choose the best food takes some research or requires finding someone knowledgeable who you trust to advise what is right for your dog. Typically your vet or a trained nutritionist is the best resource to help you make decisions for your dog.