🐾 REVEALED: What You Need to Know Before You Buy More Dog Food

Choosing the right food for your dog can feel overwhelming. Type “best dog food” into Google and you’ll be hit with thousands of results, each claiming to be the healthiest, most sustainable, or vet-approved option. Ask five different vets and you might even get five different answers. No wonder so many dog parents feel stuck.

This guide breaks it down clearly and calmly, without judgement. Whether you’re buying supermarket kibble, exploring fresh feeding, or looking for sustainable dog food in Australia, you’ll leave with the knowledge to make confident, informed choices for your four-legged family member.

🌿 Why Nutrition Matters More Than Hype

At the heart of every good feeding choice is one principle: dogs need a complete and balanced diet. Their age, breed, activity level, and health all influence their nutrient requirements.

There isn’t just one way to feed a healthy diet, just like there isn’t one way to eat well yourself. You can feed a balanced diet through quality commercial food, fresh or raw diets, home-cooked meals, or a mix of these. What matters most is that the diet is nutritionally sound, digestible, and suited to your dog’s needs.

🧠 Age and Breed Considerations

Puppies need diets higher in calories, protein and fat to support rapid growth. They also benefit from highly digestible ingredients that are kind to developing digestive systems.

Senior dogs, on the other hand, often need fewer calories and fat to maintain a healthy weight and avoid age-related issues like obesity or inflammation.

Breed also matters.

• Large breed dogs need balanced calcium and phosphorus to support healthy bone development.

• Smaller, more active breeds often need higher protein and fat to match their energy output.

This is why feeding a vet-recommended dog food in Australia that is designed to meet your dog’s life stage and breed requirements is essential.

🥣 Commercial Dog Food (Kibble)

Kibble remains the most common feeding choice for Australian dog owners. It’s convenient, affordable, and widely available. When you choose a quality Australian made dog food, you’re selecting a nutritionally complete option that’s formulated to meet your dog’s daily needs.

However, not all kibble is created equal.

• Some cheaper kibbles rely on fillers and starches that can be difficult for dogs to digest.

• Many contain low-quality proteins and little transparency about sourcing.

• Some can be 50 percent or more processed starches, which may contribute to chronic inflammation and weight gain.

Look for brands that name their protein sources clearly, provide transparency around ingredients, and avoid unnecessary fillers.

👉 Feed For Thought’s insect protein kibble is formulated with novel, single-source protein that’s both highly digestible and sustainably produced. Shop our 5 kg bags or 10 kg bulk option to give your dog optimal nutrition while reducing your environmental impact.

🐓 Fresh and Raw Feeding

Fresh and raw feeding is growing fast in Australia. It involves feeding raw meat, organs and bones, often with added vegetables or oils. Many owners see improvements in coat quality, stool consistency and energy levels.

Fresh food diets offer:

• Less processing, which can improve nutrient retention

• A more natural feeding approach that mirrors ancestral diets

• Flexibility for dogs with allergies or sensitivities

But there are risks and responsibilities:

• Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli.

• Nutritional balance can be tricky without expert guidance.

• Proper storage and handling are essential for safety.

If you’re interested in fresh feeding but don’t want to DIY, pre-made balanced options are available through many Australian pet suppliers. Hybrid feeding, mixing fresh food with kibble, is also a great way to introduce variety while maintaining convenience.

👉 Consider pairing fresh feeding with Feed For Thought’s air-dried insect protein rewards to boost nutrient diversity without handling raw meat.

🍳 Home-Cooked Meals

Home-cooked diets give you total control over ingredients, which is a major win for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs. By combining muscle meat, organ meat, bone content, vegetables and healthy oils, you can create nutritionally rich meals tailored to your dog’s needs.

Just remember: balance matters over time. Unlike commercial food, home-cooked meals may not provide complete nutrition every day. You’ll likely need to add supplements to meet micronutrient requirements.

Home cooking works well alongside a quality base kibble or air-dried food. It’s also a great way to gradually reduce your reliance on heavily processed foods while still ensuring your dog gets everything they need.

🐶 Hybrid Feeding: The Best of Both Worlds

Hybrid feeding simply means combining commercial kibble with fresh or home-cooked foods. For many owners, it’s the most practical way to upgrade their dog’s diet.

For example, you might:

• Feed a balanced kibble in the morning

• Add fresh meats and vegetables at dinner

• Use air-dried insect protein rewards for training

This approach allows flexibility, keeps costs manageable, and gives your dog the benefit of both scientifically formulated and whole food nutrition.

👉 Many of our customers use Feed For Thought as their daily base and top up with fresh or home-cooked meals. It’s an easy, sustainable way to boost freshness without worrying about balancing the meal.

🌾 Allergies, Sensitive Stomachs and Novel Proteins

Food allergies and intolerances are becoming more common in dogs. Symptoms like itchy skin, chronic ear infections, loose stools or persistent tummy issues are often linked to common proteins such as beef, chicken or lamb.

This is where novel proteins like insect protein dog food shine.

Black soldier fly larvae protein is:

• Naturally low allergen, making it ideal for sensitive dogs

• Rich in essential amino acids

• Highly digestible (more so than chicken)

• Environmentally sustainable

Switching to a single protein dog food in Australia can help reduce allergic reactions by limiting exposure to multiple potential triggers. Many vets recommend elimination diets using novel proteins to pinpoint allergens.

👉 Explore Feed For Thought’s insect protein range which offers a novel, sustainable protein source ideal for dogs with sensitivities.

🌏 Sustainability and Ethics

Australians are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their pets. Research shows almost half of pet owners are open to changing diets for ethical or environmental reasons.

Traditional meat-based pet foods are resource-intensive to produce. By contrast, insect protein dog food uses far less water and land, and upcycles food waste into a valuable protein source.

Choosing sustainable dog food made in Australia supports local supply chains, reduces transport emissions, and aligns with values many eco-conscious families hold dear.

👉 By switching to Feed For Thought, you’re supporting a circular food system that’s good for dogs and the planet.

🩺 Vet-Recommended Choices You Can Trust

Ultimately, every dog is different. What works for one may not work for another. That’s why vet guidance is invaluable, especially for puppies, seniors, or dogs with medical conditions.

Feed For Thought works with qualified veterinarians specialising in companion animal nutrition. Our products are vet-formulated and nutritionally complete, so you can feed with confidence.

Dr Heidi feeds her large breed puppy a commercial diet that meets his growth requirements, including grains for heart health. She uses air-dried insect protein rewards for training.

Our founder feeds Max a mix of Feed For Thought and home-cooked meals with insect protein, ensuring both whole food variety and complete nutrition. It’s practical, sustainable, and vet-endorsed.

📝 Key Takeaways

• There’s no single “right” way to feed your dog, but there are better choices.

• Focus on nutritional completeness, digestibility, and suitability for your dog’s age, breed and sensitivities.

• Consider novel proteins like insects for allergies, digestion, and sustainability.

• Don’t underestimate the power of hybrid feeding.

• Vet-recommended dog food in Australia gives you peace of mind that your dog’s diet is balanced.

• Choosing sustainable, Australian made dog food supports both your dog’s health and the planet.

🚀 Ready to Make the Switch?

Whether you’re seeking a more sustainable diet, trying to solve allergy issues, or simply want a vet-backed, balanced option, Feed For Thought has a solution.

👉 Explore our range of sustainable insect protein dog food
👉 Shop 1 kg, 5 kg and 10 kg bags
👉 Learn more about why insect protein is the future of pet nutrition