Dogs Need Good Food
A dogs' nutritional needs differs from humans. What we
believe as healthy for us often is not sufficient or
appropriate for dogs. To ensure your dog receives the
best nutrition you need to understand a dog's specific
needs and how to address these needs. Taking care of
man's best friend does take a little preparation and
know-how.
There are essential nutrients needed to grow, go and
glow. If your dog does not receive correct nutrients it
will possibly result in poor health, stunted growth in
puppies, lethargy and a shortened life span.
Dogs need five basic nutrients for survival:
carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals.
These serve different functions in sustaining the health
and well being of the dog and out guide will help you
ensure your dog receives these nutrients.
1. Proteins
Proteins are the health building block; they are
chemicals made of amino acids. Your dog can produce some
of these chemicals in their own bodies but the rest need
to be supplied through food intake. The best sources of
these amino acids are meat and its by products. Dogs can
extract proteins from these a lot easier than it can with
plant sources. Repeat: meat.
Choose foods that have an adequate amount of protein
to help your puppies and dogs grow.
2. Fats
Fat is something everyone tries to avoid it because it
can cause many health problems, but dogs, however, just
like man, also have a need for the nutrients contained in
fat.
The right amount of fat is necessary to promote good
skin health and to carry fat-soluble vitamins. Fats are
also essential to kidney function and reproductive health
- and they make food more tastier too. Too much fat will
result of course in obesity and lethargy.
3. Carbohydrates
Fifty percent of your dog's diet must consist of
carbohydrates, necessary for energy. Corn and soyabeans
are two of the more popular sources of this nutrient. If
this source is clean and of good nutritional quality then
ensure you dog's diet contains at least 50% of these.
Other carbohydrates include cooked rice and the dry
cereals prepared specifically for dogs.
4. Vitamins and Minerals
A dog needs an exact amount of vitamins and minerals
to be healthy, and although your dog may receive these
nutrients from its general food intake, vitamin
supplements for your dog should be considered. Today the
formulated commercial dog feeds also make it easier for
owners to ensure their dogs receive good nutrition.
Buying Dog Food Tips
Dogs need proper nutrition in order to be healthy,
happy and for their coat to be soft and glossy. The cost
of any dog food and its brand is only important if dogs
could read or pay for the meal. The easiest and best way
to find out which food is best for your dog is to observe
how their response is to the food they take in.
The following are tips you should remember when
feeding dog kibbles, nibbles or any kind of treats.
• Chocolate is lethal to dogs. The major
components are methylxanthine alkaloids and theobromine
in regular chocolate and are digested and excreted by
humans in under 3 hours but the same compounds when
ingested by dogs stays inside them for 18 hours and this
has been proven to be fatal. Symptoms of chocolate
poisoning include vomiting, excessive urination,
hyperactivity, diarrhea and these can be followed by
seizure, coma and ultimately death.
• Read the label of hte product. Dogs must have a
diet rich in meat protein,so when you purchase canned
foods look for chicken, turkey, any red meat, pork or
other animal by products as these keep the dog's coat
smooth and healthy. Dogs prefer meat-based diets because
they are easily digestible and is a great source of
energy.
• Don't give a dog just any bone. Contrary to
popular belief, feeding bones to dogs is not necessarily
a good idea. Small soft bones gnawed and eaten by dogs
can splinter inside their throat and cause them to choke.
Chicken necks do not splinter, neither does the brisket
bone of any animal, so these are good to give the dog as
they also provide gum and teeth care when the dog gnaws
on them. Dogs have short digestive tracts and also they
have no saliva amylase, the enzyme that humans have that
is used to pre-digest starch.
• Dog food supplements are unnecessary only if
you are sure that your dog receives a regular intake of
complete and balanced food nutrients. Good sources of
carbohydrates include rice, corn, oatmeal, wheat. A
highly specialized nutrition diet is only necessary if
your dog does not have enough physical activity or is
currently undergoing a stressful routine change.
• Raw fish and eggs are forbidden in a dog's
diet. Consistent consumption of raw eggs makes a dog's
skin flaky as eggs lessen the biotin available in their
body and the usual results are dermatitis and hair loss.
Raw fish creates a thiamine-deficiency in a dog, and its
effects are loss of appetite, abnormal posture, weakness
and sometimes death.
Feed your dog a healthy diet as outlined above and he
will have always a beautiful coat and give you many years
of companionship.
