Nutritional Requirements for Dogs

Whether you buy your dog food or make it yourself, your dog needs a balanced diet to stay healthy. That includes a mix of:     Proteins     Carbohydrates     Fats     Vitamins     Minerals     Water To make sure the dog food you buy has the right mix of nutrients, look for the words "complete and balanced nutrition" on the label. You might also see "Meets the nutritional requirements of dogs established by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)" or "Complete and balanced nutrition for dogs based on AAFCO feeding trials." Both dry and canned dog food will give your dog good nutrition. Some experts prefer dry food because it may help keep teeth and gums healthy. If you make your own dog food , use recipes created by nutritionists to be "complete and balanced." Essential Nutrients Proteins: Body tissues are made of proteins. Your dog's body makes only 13 of the 23 amino acids that are the building blocks of p...

A groomer friend of mine recently recounted the story of a client who feeds her dog a limited, four-ingredient fresh food diet due to food intolerances. While limited-ingredient diets are common for dogs with food sensitivities , the client was not adding any supplementation for fear of causing the dog a reaction. I was floored, because no four foods can provide all of the dog nutrition a pup needs to live a long, healthy life. Without supplements to fill in the nutritional gaps , this well-intentioned dog guardian is unwittingly causing her canine companion more harm than good. All living organisms need a wide variety of nutrients — substances from food that provide energy and enable our bodies to function — to survive. There are six major classes of nutrients for dogs and people: water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Let’s take a closer look at dog nutrition and six essential nutrients your dog needs to eat: 1. Water Water being poured into a dog bowl. W...

Macronutrients for Adult Dogs Macronutrients are the first piece in nutrition where they are necessary for optimal health. There are three primary macronutrients which include protein, lipids (fats), and carbohydrates. Each macronutrient is in nearly all foods and supply calories for energy. Recommended Daily Allowances for Macronutrients Macronutrients are a class of chemical compounds which are consumed in large quantities and provide the bulk of energy within the diet. Protein Fat Carbohydrates Water accounts for a large portion of the total amount of food ingested in a normal raw diet. Water does not provide any nutritional value. However, water is an essential nutrient necessary for optimal canine health and nutrition. Micronutrients for Adult Dogs Additionally, puppies have different micronutrient requirements in comparison to adult dogs. Puppies have higher requirements for amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals in comparison to adult dogs. Therefore, there must be a supply o...

Dogs have very specific nutritional demands for healthy growth and development.  From puppies to old dogs, every life phase will bring with it different requirements of protein, fat, carbohydrates and other nutrients. As an increasingly developed niche, pet food specific to different age groups are considered to have great market potential. However, special care must be taken with the ingredients to be used in this type of formulation so that the nutrients are available to be absorbed and used effectively by the dogs.  In this blog post, we will know more about the nutritional demands specific to each stage of a dog's life and how this will be reflected in the formulation of animal feed.  The nutritional needs of puppies In general, a dog is considered a puppy until the 6th or 7th month of life, when it is still growing. However, some larger breeds can continue growing up to 1 year or more.  Weaning, in which happens the transition from breast milk to other types of...

No sensible person would feed a newborn baby the same diet as an adult. Indeed, our nutritional needs change dramatically depending on our life stage, including youth, adulthood, pregnancy and old age. And the same goes for dogs. A puppy has different nutritional requirements from an adult dog , a reproducing dog and an older dog. And, as a pet owner, you'll have to take account of these changes and adjust the diet as necessary. First, it's important to be aware of the basics of a dog's diet . All dogs need an adequate amount of six things to thrive: protein, fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and water. Proteins provide amino acids. Of the 22 amino acids protein can supply, 10 of these are essential, because the dog can't synthesize on its own. In addition to making food more appetizing, fats provide several nutritional benefits. They help maintain a healthy skin and coat, and are important for digesting fat-soluble vitamins. Although dogs are omnivores an...

 Three of the most important aspects of dog ownership include socialisation, training and providing them with the best nutrition possible!  A healthy and balanced diet has a positive impact on a dog's current and future health, and also helps to reduce the chances of behavioural issues from occurring.  In fact, a dog’s diet can play a larger role in their overall quality of life than many dog owners realise. Did you know that a large percentage of serotonin is produced in the gut, rather than the brain? This means that a healthy microbiome can have a direct impact on how happy and relaxed a dog is. But if you’ve never owned a dog before, getting to understand the ins and outs of feeding can be tricky.  We’ve put together a short guide, complete with a dog’s nutrition chart to get you going. While this is a great starting point for finding out more about a dog’s diet, please remember that you should always seek specific nutrition advice from your dog's vet. Dog Nutrit...