Nutrition For Dogs Keep Your Dog Healthy
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Your dog’s health is largely dependent on the dog food you are feeding them. Understanding your dog’s nutritional requirements will go a long way in keeping them healthy and happy.
If your dog does not get the proper nutrients from his food, the result can be stunted growth, shortened lifespan, and a greater susceptibility to illness and allergies.
Dogs, like any other animal, need five basic nutrients to survive: protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients provide different functions and are necessary to sustain the health and well-being of your pet.
Proteins are the building blocks of your dog’s health. Proteins consist of amino acids and are necessary in an animal’s diet since animals cannot synthesize all the amino acids they need. They must obtain essential amino acids from their food.
You need to make sure your dog food has an adequate amount of protein, mainly made up from animal, not grain, sources. But like all things, too much is not good and can lead to obesity (since protein that is not used is converted to fat) and has been linked to temperament problems in dogs.
Fats are a very necessary nutrient for a healthy dog. Fats are what deliver fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) to cells. They are also necessary for proper kidney function and for a healthy coat. But just like with humans, it is the types of fats and amounts, that can cause or prevent health problems and obesity.
Carbohydrates are a main source of energy for your dog. But not all carbohydrates are created equal, and some are more common allergy triggers in sensitive dogs. Corn, wheat, and soy are common carb sources in dog food. By themselves, they are acceptable sources. However, if your dog is only getting by-products of these grains, they are not getting all the nutrients they need.
Vitamins and Minerals are the last area of necessary nutrients for your dog. These should be supplied naturally through your dog food. However, some dog foods will need to add in a lot of vitamins and minerals because they get destroyed in the manufacturing process of the food. But these vitamins and minerals will start to diminish in both quality and quantity the longer the bag of food is opened – so you won’t get as much by the bottom of the bag as you do when you first open it. To ensure optimal health for your dog, you should provide a specially formulated vitamin supplement.
To learn more about healthy dog foods and how to read dog food ingredients, visit the Healthy Dog Food blog – helping you learn how to keep your dog healthy through nutrition.
October 27th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
the dog foods that we use are certified organic as we do not want to use those dog foods contaminated with chemicals”‘`
November 14th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
i always look for those calcium fortified dog foods because they make my dog healther ;;’