Why You Need to Understand the Nutritional Needs of Your Dog

Each dog has his own nutrition requirements. A lot of these requirements depend on the size and age of your dog. What might be a good source of nutrition for one dog may be completely inappropriate for the next. This is something that really needs to sink in.

If all dogs have different needs should everyone be buying the same for for their dog’s at the grocery store? This, in and of itself, is a great reason to discuss your dog’s nutrition and the type of food you should be feeding your dog. There is a reason vets carry those premium brands, they better meet the nutritional needs of your dog.

There is a direct correlation between a dog’s nutritional needs being met and his ability to be trained. Your dog’s welfare and life long health are directly related to what he is fed.

Dogs are meat eaters. They need to eat meat to keep healthy. His stomach enzymes are set up to break down meat and raw food. Just like humans, dogs need specific amounts of specific nutrients to be healthy and for their cells to work properly. The necessary nutrients are as follows: protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water.

Different breeds of dogs need different amounts of protein to stay fit. A busy or working dog needs more protein than a dog that sleeps most of the day. It is important to read the nutritional labels on the food you feed your dog. The largest ingredient on the label needs to be animal protein (chicken, beef, or lamb). Younger dogs need to be fed twice as much as an older dog as they growing and need the additional nutrition. If a dog does not have his nutritional needs met as a pup, he will have health problems later on in life.

Most minerals are lost in the processing of dog food products. As minerals are important in forming blood, bones, and a healthy nervous system, it may be necessary to add additional minerals to your dog’s food. There are mineral products available on the market.

Fresh, clean water provided on a daily basis is the most important element for your dog. Water is utilized for the digestion of food, sustaining his body temperature, moving toxic matter out of his body, and it stabilizes the acid levels in his blood. Canned, dry, or raw food all contain different amounts of fluid. The amount of water a dog will drink on any given day may depend on the type of food he is fed.

Matt Knacks is a dog enthusiast and the owner of http://www.homemadedogtreatsrecipes.com and invites you to find some new recipes for peanut butter dog treats here.

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