Dog Care - The Basics on Nutrition

"Dog owners ask about their dog's nutrition all the time. There are hundreds of choices to make when it comes to what type of food to give their pets. Below are the basic nutritional needs your dog needs. 

 The basics 

 You'll need to give your dog a diet that has a balanced amount of proteins, vitamins, fats, minerals and carbohydrates. Besides food, it's also important that you give them clean drinking water every day. This helps flush out toxins and helps hydrate the dog. Giving the dog the right nutrients can help keep them healthier and live longer. 

 Ingredients list 

 Carbohydrates 

 This acts like fuel. When carbs are digested, they turn to sugar and glucose which is a main ingredient that our bodies need for energy. Unlike people, dogs convert carbohydrates easier during digestion, so they really don't need a lot of carbs. Too much carbs can cause them to become too big and have health issues. You can give your dog rice, wheat, corn, oats and barley as a source of carbohydrates. 

 Protein 

 Dogs naturally live off protein. Wild dogs like wolves hunt down other animals for food and mainly eat protein in their diet. This is important for tissue repair and growth, cell integrity, body fluids, enzymes, immune elements and important amino acids. Not all types of meat have the same amino acid combination. Some are better than others in certain cases, so check with your vet if you're going to give your dog an all meat diet. For example, illnesses like dm in dogs, arthritis and joint problems can cause the dog to have problems if they eat too much protein. Choose cuts of meat from beef, lamb, pork, chicken and even fish. 

 Fats 

 You might think that giving your dog fats is a bad idea. After all, for use humans, our doctors would tell us to keep away from it to avoid health problems. But fats actually play a vital role when it comes to nutrition. It's a form of extra energy. It's important to have essential fatty acids present in the diet which helps break down to subunits for a number of metabolic functions. Fats also give your dog a good body shape and helps keep them warm. 

 Vitamins and minerals 

 To make it easier, there are food supplements available in most pet shops or even vet clinics that contain all the vitamins and minerals that your dog needs. Dogs that are feed home-made dog food may need these supplement more compared to dogs that are given pre-mixed dog food. Also, supplements help minimize the chances of the dog getting sick with a number of illnesses, namely dm in dogs, heart problems and even growth problems for puppies."

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