Ask any dog lover and he/she would unanimously admit that the cute pup with innocent eyes can cheer up their mood on any rainy day. This mute companion can express his love and care for the master in such beautiful ways which a lover or best friend might fail to do sometimes! No wonder then that dog lovers are so particular about their pups' health. Taking care of their food and exercises routines, taking them to veterinary specialists on a regular basis are a few things the devoted owner never fails to perform.

Talking of dog foods, it is very important to note what you are buying for your beloved pet. You must be visiting the market with the intention to buy the best pet food but are you sure of its superiority? You buy the packet with 'Natural' and 'Fresh' labels only to find it shockingly contaminated! There are commercial dog foods available in the market, which come with ingredients that cause more harm than good.

Therefore while buying the dog food read the label thoroughly. This is very important and can make all the difference between feeding your pup with a wholesome or incomplete diet. Discussed below are a few interesting facts about dog food ingredients that every dog lover should know:-

Protein should be the primary ingredient in your dog food which comes from chicken, beef, salmon and rabbit. Buy commercial dog foods that are made of meat "meal," i.e., either original dried fresh meat product, or ground-up animal parts, like hearts, livers, bones and feet.

Carbohydrates and grains can be fed in moderate quantity. Items like soy, beans, rice, oats, corn, wheat and barley contain these ingredients. Some commercial dog foods also contain carbohydrates and grains as the minor ingredient.

While going through the facts about dog food ingredients, one might not find much emphasis given on vegetables but these can be added to provide the dog with adequate vitamins and minerals. Never include onions, garlic or mushrooms as these can prove to be highly toxic for the pet.

Fruit is another unlikely ingredient to be added in a dog's food but you can feed your canine pal with apples and blueberries, from time to time to provide a good amount of fiber. Be careful of grapes or cherries, as these can prove to be hazardous for the dog's health.

Oils and fats are important ingredients that should be included in the canine's food in a balanced proportion. You can include chicken fat, cottonseed oil, pork fat, vegetable oil, soybean oil or fish oil in the dog's food to provide energy and help in vitamin absorption. While looking for processed dog foods, search the ones that contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which indicate superior quality dog food.

Apart from these, a few other important dog food components include vitamins, minerals and of course adequate quantity of water. If not aware of the basic facts about dog food ingredients then you might be endangering your favorite pet's health which is never desirable. Be steadfast and patient while analyzing different elements in your dog's diet. If in doubt, always consult a pet expert or veterinarian for expert advice.