How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Vizslas
The strikingly beautiful Vizsla is a hunting breed. Sometimes referred to as a Velcro dog, the Vizsla is deeply bonded to its family on whom it eagerly lavishes all of its affection and love.
The Vizsla’s original roots trace to Hungary where hunters desired to produce a dog that could do the work of both a Pointer and a Retriever. One of the most important traits these hunters desired was a dog that would never roam far on a hunt. As a result, the Vizsla of today prefers the close companionship of its owner to anyone else.
The Vizsla was intended to be a working breed. Highly intelligent, this dog must be kept mentally and physically exercised in order to be truly content. Though the breed was developed to hunt, Vizslas also excel at many different activities including hiking, running, therapy work, or dog performance sports.
Vizslas are renowned for being vocal and possess a wide range of unique noises. These vocalizations often express the dog’s emotions, and most owners find them highly entertaining.
A highly active breed, the Vizsla requires vigorous daily exercise. Its intense activity requirements ensure that this breed is not predisposed to weight gain. However, it is recommended that the Vizsla’s meals be measured and all intake monitored to ensure a healthy body condition.
The best dog foods for the Vizsla contain a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Vizslas
It can be challenging trying to determine how much of the best dog food for Vizslas to feed to a dog. The best course of action is typically to consult the suggested serving sizes listed on the side of the packaging. These suggestions prove an excellent starting point. Owners can adjust the food with the dog’s weight, age, activity level, and appetite serving as helps until the right portion is found.
Free feeding the Vizsla is strongly discouraged.
Dietary Requirements for Vizsla Dog Foods
Vizslas, like all dogs, require a diet based on a lean meat to thrive. Whole meats are the best option, but meat meals also offer a powerhouse punch of nutrition to fuel energy reserves and promote strong and healthy muscles. The best dog foods for Vizslas avoid the use of inferior ingredients such as by-products, plant-based proteins like corn, wheat, and soy, and chemicals, additives, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors.
The Vizsla is a breed that can be prone to allergies. For dogs that have expressed sensitivities to grains in the past, a grain-free diet may be best. Otherwise, carbohydrates can come from whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Of primary importance in any carbohydrate included in a diet for the Vizsla is its high amount of fiber and antioxidants.
Healthy fats assist the Vizsla with maintaining excellent coat and skin health and enjoying good reserves of energy. These fats are best found in animal sources such as chicken fat or oily fish. Plant-based oils such as safflower, canola, and coconut also offer ample amount of these vital nutrients.
Supplements boost the effectiveness of a food. The best supplements for the Vizsla are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Vizslas
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Vizsla:
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Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The Vizsla requires a diet that is based on a lean meat to enjoy optimal health and wellness. Whole meats are the preferred option, but meat meals are also an excellent choice. Things to avoid include by-products and the plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to the Vizsla. Diets containing any of these items are best left on the shelf.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
All foods can benefit from the addition of helpful supplements. This enables the diet to work its most effectively. The most beneficial supplements to look for in a food for the Vizsla are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Vizsla should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.