Feeding your dog a balanced diet is crucial for their overall health and development as they age. When choosing foods to provide our dogs proper nutrition, it is important that you do your research and select a high-quality food that is formulated to meet their unique needs at every stage in life. Here are five key elements to focus on so that your favorite furry friend is getting the nutrition that they need.
Plenty of Protein
The first thing that you should verify when choosing a dog food is that it is rich in protein. This nutrient is the building block of what dogs need for proper organ and cellular function, tissue maintenance, and more. You will find protein in a number of food sources, primarily through animal meats such as beef, turkey, and chicken.
When choosing the best food for your dog’s nutrition, you would be wise to consider looking into a raw dog food company. These companies will deliver the best food that you can find for your dog right to your doorstep, saving you the hassle and giving you the confidence that you need to know that your dog is getting the protein that it needs.
Carbohydrates are Key
Carbohydrates are the nutrients that deliver energy, playing a crucial role in your dog’s physical development. The right balance of carbs also keeps the intestine functioning correctly. While it is fairly easy to ensure that your dog is getting adequate carbs in its diet, you also need to pay attention to the glucose requirement for the size and breed of your dog. This glucose is what supplies energy to the brain and other organs. Too little of it will leave your dog lethargic, but too much long-term can lead to diabetes. Finding the right balance based on your veterinarian’s recommendations is key.
Fiber is a specific type of carbohydrate that maintains the proper balance of bacteria in the dog’s small intestine. This can help to mitigate the odds of diarrhea and other common intestinal problems. The best fiber sources are moderately fermentable because they encourage a healthy gut. Fibers that are too fermentable may lead to flatulence and other digestive issues. Moderately fermentable fibers include corn, wheat, and rice. Fiber is also a great way to keep your dog feeling full longer throughout the day.
Do Not Forget the Fats
The third important component in a dog’s nutritional plan is the fats. As the most concentrated source of energy, fats are particularly important for growing dogs. Fats deliver twice the energy amounts when compared to their protein and carbohydrates counterparts.
Fats are needed to produce hormones and to facilitate the absorption of vitamins. They also offer protection to internal organs at the same time that they provide insulation. This insulation is needed if your dog spends a lot of time outside in cooler weather conditions. If your dog is not getting enough fat in its diet, it may not grow as it should.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Just like humans, dogs need plenty of clean water to survive. Although some wet food includes water in it, this is not enough for your dog to stay properly hydrated. This makes it vital that you always ensure that your pup has plenty of fresh and clean water available to them. If you find your dog has a rusty coat around the eyes (which is especially common with white dogs), switching to distilled or purified water may reduce the production of this rusty color by eliminating minerals like iron in the water.
Water makes up about 60 – 70% of an adult dog’s body weight. A deficiency in water can have serious impacts. Even just a 10% decrease in body water can lead to severe health complications while a 15% reduction can lead to death.
Considerations for Senior Dogs
It should be noted that just as puppies have different nutritional needs, senior dogs also require special considerations. Most dogs begin to demonstrate physiological changes related to their age between 7 and 12 years of age. While you cannot prevent the aging process in your dog, feeding them the right foods can help to slow this down.
The main goal as your dog ages is to feed them enough food to maintain healthy body weight. Your pet’s size is generally the biggest factor when deciding when to begin to feed your dog a targeted senior diet. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on this process.
Conclusion
Making sure that your dog receives the adequate nutritional needs they have will be determined by a few factors. These factors include the age, weight, sex, and health history of your dog.
With the right research and nutritional choices, you can ensure that your dog has the food that they need to live a long and healthy life.
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