Canine Dietary Concerns
Long gone are the days of feeding your dog scraps off the table.
Heightened dietary concerns have led to great insight into what it takes to
keep your dog healthy in all of its life stages. According to Nutrition
for the Growing Puppy, the key to good nutrition is a “complete” and
“balanced” diet. This is a diet comprised of fats, proteins, carbohydrates,
vitamins and minerals. A key component is also, of course, fresh water.
A great resource for determining how much your dog needs of these
components can be found at: Your
Dog’s Nutritional Needs. Healthy dogs require lots of protein, as it
provides ten essential amino acids that they cannot produce by themselves. Fats
provide your dog with plenty of energy and are best for your dog when they are
derived from animals. Fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6 are extremely
important in a dog’s diet as it helps them maintain a healthy skin and coat as
well as fend off diseases. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches, cellulose, and
dietary fibers. These substances usually come from plants. Many commercial dog
foods tend to overuse carbohydrates due to their abundance and inexpensiveness,
so as an owner make sure your dog is ingesting only healthy amounts. In most
cases, it is better to focus on protein-rich dog food instead of food rich in
carbohydrates.
Vitamins and minerals
are important for a dog’s diet, but feeding them any additional supplements is
not necessary when they are eating a complete and balanced diet. To learn more
about vitamins and antioxidants and how they help your dog, consult this
article: Integrative Therapy in
Dogs with Nervous System & Other Disorders. It is also important to note that
many dog foods are tailored for a certain stage of the life cycle—Puppy, Adult,
and Senior. These labels should be adhered to so you can ensure your dog is
getting the nutrition it needs. You may also elect to feed a dog food designed
for all life stages.
It is reported that around 20% of dogs in the United States have
some kind of allergy. If your dog is allergic to its current food the best
course of action is switch to a natural dog food that contains fish as the main
ingredient, as it is considered hypoallergenic. To learn more about food
allergies in dogs, read up on Canine
Food Allergy. According to their report proteins in beef, dairy products,
wheat, chicken, egg, and soy products are most often linked to food allergies
in dogs. The report also notes that
although corn is not usually a source of allergy for dogs, it is indigestible
to dogs and should be avoided.
Make sure to do your research when deciding what to feed your dog,
and never assume that they can just eat “anything.” If your dog has a weight or
other health problem, make sure to take that into consideration when picking
out their dog food. A healthy, natural and balanced diet will surely increase
your dog’s lifespan and maximize the years you have together.
Here is an official list of dog food that has been recalled and
may be hazardous to your pet’s diet: Pet Food
Recall Products List