Your dog's nutritional needs are different from ours. What we think is healthy, is not necessarily good for them. To keep you dog healthy, you will need to understand their particular needs and how to address them.
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.
All animals need five basic nutrients to survive: protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Without the proper balance of these five nutrients, they can provide the different functions necessary to sustain the health and well-being of your pet.
Proteins consist of amino acids and are the building blocks of your dog's health. Although some of these amino acids can be synthesized by the dog, not all are. That is where your dog's food come into play - they must contain the essential amino acids that the dog cannot produce.
When choosing dog foods, ensure there is an adequate amount of protein to keep your dogs healthy. And the majority of the protein source needs to be from an animal source, not grain. But too much protein, however, can cause obesity as excess protein is converted to fat.
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 nutrients which are converted into energy for your dog. The best source of carbs for your dog are whole grains as they have the most nutrients still in them. Inferior dog foods will use grain by-products (left-over parts from other food processing) which tends to boost carb and protein ratios, but really has very little nutritional value for your dog. These grain by-products are also common allergy triggers for dogs. Look for minimal grain by-products in your dog food, and if your dog has allergies, stay away from common allergy triggers such as corn, wheat, and soy.
Vitamins and Minerals are necessary for optimal health and should naturally be supplied by your dog food. Most dog foods have vitamins and minerals added in. However, these diminish in both quality and quantity the longer the dog food is opened. So your dog may not be getting enough by the end of the bag of dog food. Which is where specially formulated vitamin supplements for dogs come in to play. These ensure your pet gets all the elemental vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. - 29895
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.
All animals need five basic nutrients to survive: protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Without the proper balance of these five nutrients, they can provide the different functions necessary to sustain the health and well-being of your pet.
Proteins consist of amino acids and are the building blocks of your dog's health. Although some of these amino acids can be synthesized by the dog, not all are. That is where your dog's food come into play - they must contain the essential amino acids that the dog cannot produce.
When choosing dog foods, ensure there is an adequate amount of protein to keep your dogs healthy. And the majority of the protein source needs to be from an animal source, not grain. But too much protein, however, can cause obesity as excess protein is converted to fat.
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 nutrients which are converted into energy for your dog. The best source of carbs for your dog are whole grains as they have the most nutrients still in them. Inferior dog foods will use grain by-products (left-over parts from other food processing) which tends to boost carb and protein ratios, but really has very little nutritional value for your dog. These grain by-products are also common allergy triggers for dogs. Look for minimal grain by-products in your dog food, and if your dog has allergies, stay away from common allergy triggers such as corn, wheat, and soy.
Vitamins and Minerals are necessary for optimal health and should naturally be supplied by your dog food. Most dog foods have vitamins and minerals added in. However, these diminish in both quality and quantity the longer the dog food is opened. So your dog may not be getting enough by the end of the bag of dog food. Which is where specially formulated vitamin supplements for dogs come in to play. These ensure your pet gets all the elemental vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy. - 29895
About the Author:
Just like with humans, dogs need a balanced diet - the correct ratio of proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals. And it is up to you to make sure his dog food is healthy. 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.
