Nutrition For Dogs: What Your Dog Needs

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.

Your dog needs certain essential nutrients to grow and thrive. Without these nutrients, your dog is more likely to have many health and allergy problems. It can even lead to stunted growth and a shorter lifespan.

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 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.

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 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.

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