Dogs Need Good Food Too - Your Guide To Your Dog's Diet
Jack Russell
Dogs' nutritional needs may differ from ours. What we deem as healthy for us might not sufficient or appropriate for them. To give your dog the best nutrition available you will have to understand their specific needs and how to address them. After all, taking care of man's best friend does take a little preparation and know-how.
Your dog needs the essential nutrients to grow, go, and glow. If your dog does not receive proper nutrients it may result in poor health, stunted growth, lethargy and shortened lifespan.
Dogs like most animal life forms need the six basic nutrients for survival: carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients serve different functions in sustaining the health and well-being of your dog. This guide will elaborate on dogs' need of these nutrients.
1. Proteins: the building blocks of your dog's health Proteins are chemicals made of amino acids. Your dog can produce some of these chemicals in their own bodies. The rest has to be supplied through food. The best sources of these amino acids are meat and its byproducts. Dogs can extract proteins from these sources a lot easier than it would with plant sources.
Choose feeds that have an adequate amount of protein in them to help your puppies and working dogs grow. Too much of this, however, may cause kidney problems and has been known to cause temperament problems.
2. Fats: delivering other nutrients to the body Fat sound like a bad word - everyone tries to avoid it because it causes tons of health problems. Dogs, however, just like man, also have a need for these nutrients - albeit in a moderate amount.
The right amount of fat is needed to promote good skin health, and to transport fat-soluble vitamins. Fats are also essential to kidney function and reproductive health. They make food tastier too. Too much fat will result in obesity and lethargy.
3. Carbohydrates: doggie fuel Fifty percent of your dog's diet should consist of carbohydrates since they need it for their energy. Corn is one of the more popular sources of this nutrient, along with soybeans. If this source is clean and of good nutritional quality then that should be fine as well.
4. Vitamins and Minerals: keeping your dog healthy It would have been easier if your dog only had to splurge on vitamins and minerals to get optimal health. However, the opposite is true. Your dog needs an exact amount of vitamins and minerals to be healthy. Although, your dog may receive these nutrients from food, vitamin supplements for your dogs could be helpful. Specially formulated commercial feeds also make it easier for dog owners to give their dogs good nutrition.
About the author: Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! http://www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare
The latest information and news on Dog Care Advice :
Night vigils to search for dogs responsible for killing dozens of sheep and an ostrich are carried out by Kent Police.
Woman strangled pet dogs in bath (BBC News)
A mentally-ill woman strangled two dogs in the bath at her home after hearing voices, a judge is told.
Dogs Have No Comment on Bark Ban (NBC4 Los Angeles)
Owners face fines of up to $500 under an ordinance designed to silence noisy dogs.
Melbourne?s runaway dogs terrified by fireworks just want to go home (Leader ...
DOZENS of petrified dogs have fled their homes in terror during a spate of illegal fireworks set off by New Year's Eve revellers.
Three new police dogs graduate (Capital News 9)
The streets of the Capital Region are three dogs safer after a police K-9 graduation at the Rensselaer County Jail on Tuesday.
Exclusive Hotel for Dogs Clip (Coming Soon)
ComingSoon.net has your exclusive first look at a new clip from DreamWorks Pictures' Hotel for Dogs featuring Don Cheadle (upcoming Iron Man 2 and The Avengers ). The comedy adventure, opening January 16, co-stars stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon.
Life With Ferris: Dogs Are Trouble (The Chattanoogan)
I don?t know what I?m going to do with my dogs. Really. They are a workout. I am not the ?pack leader,? but instead a namby-pamby, semi-master who can only make them sit at one specific time, and in one specific area. Immediately after dinner, they will sit in the kitchen.
Missing Dogs (WABI Bangor)
BANGOR - According to Bangor P.D., there have been two reports of dogs being stolen on Union St. in four days. Erwin McTigue lives on outer union street. He says he tied his dog Duke to a dog house New Year's Eve.
Alert over theft of ?designer dogs? (Gulf Times)
By Mark Blunden ANIMAL rights campaigners are worried a pet-stealing ring is operating in London after two ?designer? dogs were snatched by burglars. The miniature pinschers, worth £650 each, were stolen on Boxing Day while their owner was out.
Showing of Hotel for Dogs to benefit homeless canines (The Citizen of Laconia)
LACONIA - Those attending the Jan. 17 showing of the Nickelodeon movie "Hotel For Dogs" at Regal Cinema on Loudon Road, Concord, will have an opportunity to assist the N.H. Humane Society of Laconia and Happy Tails Dog Park in Belmont.