Your Dog"s General Nutritional Needs
We often think of our pets as family members, but dogs aren't people and dog nutritional needs differ from those of people.
They need proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals just like we do, but they're needed in different ratios to ours.
All dogs need protein, but some need more than others.
Puppies and working dogs will require more to meet their energy needs.
Your dog should get his or her protein from meat and meat byproducts, but be very careful about the dog foods you buy.
Read the labels to be certain you know what's inside the food.
Warning - some of it may horrify you.
One of the most misunderstood factor dog nutrition needs revolves around fats.
Yes, fats can make your dog fat if he gets too much, but fats are also vital for normal functions.
Fats help keep your dog's coat from drying out and his or her skin healthy.
Fats also allow fat soluble vitamins to be used by the body.
About half of your dog's diet should consist of carbohydrates.
This can be in the form or rice, corn, oats, and definitely vegetables.
No onions though - they're deadly for dogs.
If your dog has skin problems or develops any - he or she may be allergic to a particular type of carbohydrate and you might need to switch to another.
It really helps to know exactly what carbohydrates your dog is getting, so you can narrow it down easily.
If you're giving him or her a commercial food with different types of carbohydrates in it, you may need to do an allergy test at the vet's.
Do you take a daily vitamin? Does your dog? Dogs need vitamins and minerals too.
Basically all the vitamins we need - C, A, E and minerals like zinc, magnesium and calcium (to name but a few) are necessary for our dog's health.
And just as with humans they need to be given in the right amounts.
Your dog should be getting many of the vitamins he needs from his or her food, but there are liquid supplements out there that shouldn't be overlooked if you want a healthy, happy, energetic pet.
When buying a commercially made dog food to feed your pet, you want to be sure it isn't loaded with preservative and rubbishy grain fillers.
That's giving your dog the equivalent of a bad hamburger.
Your best bet is to read the ingredients list and find out what is actually in the product.
There are plenty of all natural varieties on the market today that may be more suitable.
The higher priced dog foods will most likely have the better quality ingredients inside.
They may be more easily absorbed and used by your dog's system.
Although they may cost more, any decisions on food really shouldn't be based on cost.
I'm not advocating that expensive is better - but which do you think would cost more - fresh, lean meat and vegetables with fresh yoghurt, raw egg and kelp - or those grey pellets full of wheat, ground up meals and all sorts of preservatives? However - there are now places in many cities that sell fresh nutritious food for cheaper than the commercial varieties in the supermarket.
We just need to find them! You are what you eat, and so is your dog.
They need proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals just like we do, but they're needed in different ratios to ours.
All dogs need protein, but some need more than others.
Puppies and working dogs will require more to meet their energy needs.
Your dog should get his or her protein from meat and meat byproducts, but be very careful about the dog foods you buy.
Read the labels to be certain you know what's inside the food.
Warning - some of it may horrify you.
One of the most misunderstood factor dog nutrition needs revolves around fats.
Yes, fats can make your dog fat if he gets too much, but fats are also vital for normal functions.
Fats help keep your dog's coat from drying out and his or her skin healthy.
Fats also allow fat soluble vitamins to be used by the body.
About half of your dog's diet should consist of carbohydrates.
This can be in the form or rice, corn, oats, and definitely vegetables.
No onions though - they're deadly for dogs.
If your dog has skin problems or develops any - he or she may be allergic to a particular type of carbohydrate and you might need to switch to another.
It really helps to know exactly what carbohydrates your dog is getting, so you can narrow it down easily.
If you're giving him or her a commercial food with different types of carbohydrates in it, you may need to do an allergy test at the vet's.
Do you take a daily vitamin? Does your dog? Dogs need vitamins and minerals too.
Basically all the vitamins we need - C, A, E and minerals like zinc, magnesium and calcium (to name but a few) are necessary for our dog's health.
And just as with humans they need to be given in the right amounts.
Your dog should be getting many of the vitamins he needs from his or her food, but there are liquid supplements out there that shouldn't be overlooked if you want a healthy, happy, energetic pet.
When buying a commercially made dog food to feed your pet, you want to be sure it isn't loaded with preservative and rubbishy grain fillers.
That's giving your dog the equivalent of a bad hamburger.
Your best bet is to read the ingredients list and find out what is actually in the product.
There are plenty of all natural varieties on the market today that may be more suitable.
The higher priced dog foods will most likely have the better quality ingredients inside.
They may be more easily absorbed and used by your dog's system.
Although they may cost more, any decisions on food really shouldn't be based on cost.
I'm not advocating that expensive is better - but which do you think would cost more - fresh, lean meat and vegetables with fresh yoghurt, raw egg and kelp - or those grey pellets full of wheat, ground up meals and all sorts of preservatives? However - there are now places in many cities that sell fresh nutritious food for cheaper than the commercial varieties in the supermarket.
We just need to find them! You are what you eat, and so is your dog.
