| A dogs' nutritional needs differs from humans. What | | | | Buying Dog Food Tips |
| we believe as healthy for us often is not sufficient or | | | | Dogs need proper nutrition in order to be healthy, |
| appropriate for dogs. To ensure your dog receives the | | | | happy and for their coat to be soft and glossy. The |
| best nutrition you need to understand a dog's specific | | | | cost of any dog food and its brand is only important if |
| needs and how to address these needs. Taking care | | | | dogs could read or pay for the meal. The easiest and |
| of man's best friend does take a little preparation and | | | | best way to find out which food is best for your dog is |
| know-how. | | | | to observe how their response is to the food they |
| There are essential nutrients needed to grow, go and | | | | take in. |
| glow. If your dog does not receive correct nutrients it | | | | The following are tips you should remember when |
| will possibly result in poor health, stunted growth in | | | | feeding dog kibbles, nibbles or any kind of treats. |
| puppies, lethargy and a shortened life span. | | | | - Chocolate is lethal to dogs. The major components |
| Dogs need five basic nutrients for survival: | | | | are methylxanthine alkaloids and theobromine in regular |
| carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. | | | | chocolate and are digested and excreted by humans |
| These serve different functions in sustaining the health | | | | in under 3 hours but the same compounds when |
| and well being of the dog and out guide will help you | | | | ingested by dogs stays inside them for 18 hours and |
| ensure your dog receives these nutrients. | | | | this has been proven to be fatal. Symptoms of |
| 1. Proteins | | | | chocolate poisoning include vomiting, excessive |
| Proteins are the health building block; they are | | | | urination, hyperactivity, diarrhea and these can be |
| chemicals made of amino acids. Your dog can | | | | followed by seizure, coma and ultimately death. |
| produce some of these chemicals in their own bodies | | | | - Read the label of hte product. Dogs must have a diet |
| but the rest need to be supplied through food intake. | | | | rich in meat protein,so when you purchase canned |
| The best sources of these amino acids are meat and | | | | foods look for chicken, turkey, any red meat, pork or |
| its by products. Dogs can extract proteins from these | | | | other animal by products as these keep the dog's coat |
| a lot easier than it can with plant sources. Repeat: | | | | smooth and healthy. Dogs prefer meat-based diets |
| meat. | | | | because they are easily digestible and is a great |
| Choose foods that have an adequate amount of | | | | source of energy. |
| protein to help your puppies and dogs grow. | | | | - Don't give a dog just any bone. Contrary to popular |
| 2. Fats | | | | belief, feeding bones to dogs is not necessarily a good |
| Fat is something everyone tries to avoid it because it | | | | idea. Small soft bones gnawed and eaten by dogs can |
| can cause many health problems, but dogs, however, | | | | splinter inside their throat and cause them to choke. |
| just like man, also have a need for the nutrients | | | | Chicken necks do not splinter, neither does the brisket |
| contained in fat. | | | | bone of any animal, so these are good to give the dog |
| The right amount of fat is necessary to promote good | | | | as they also provide gum and teeth care when the |
| skin health and to carry fat-soluble vitamins. Fats are | | | | dog gnaws on them. Dogs have short digestive tracts |
| also essential to kidney function and reproductive | | | | and also they have no saliva amylase, the enzyme |
| health - and they make food more tastier too. Too | | | | that humans have that is used to pre-digest starch. |
| much fat will result of course in obesity and lethargy. | | | | - Dog food supplements are unnecessary only if you |
| 3. Carbohydrates | | | | are sure that your dog receives a regular intake of |
| Fifty percent of your dog's diet must consist of | | | | complete and balanced food nutrients. Good sources |
| carbohydrates, necessary for energy. Corn and | | | | of carbohydrates include rice, corn, oatmeal, wheat. A |
| soybeans are two of the more popular sources of this | | | | highly specialized nutrition diet is only necessary if your |
| nutrient. If this source is clean and of good nutritional | | | | dog does not have enough physical activity or is |
| quality then ensure you dog's diet contains at least | | | | currently undergoing a stressful routine change. |
| 50% of these. Other carbohydrates include cooked | | | | - Raw fish and eggs are forbidden in a dog's diet. |
| rice and the dry cereals prepared specifically for dogs. | | | | Consistent consumption of raw eggs makes a dog's |
| 4. Vitamins and Minerals | | | | skin flaky as eggs lessen the biotin available in their |
| A dog needs an exact amount of vitamins and | | | | body and the usual results are dermatitis and hair loss. |
| minerals to be healthy, and although your dog may | | | | Raw fish creates a thiamine-deficiency in a dog, and |
| receive these nutrients from its general food intake, | | | | its effects are loss of appetite, abnormal posture, |
| vitamin supplements for your dog should be | | | | weakness and sometimes death. |
| considered. Today the formulated commercial dog | | | | Feed your dog a healthy diet as outlined above and he |
| feeds also make it easier for owners to ensure their | | | | will have always a beautiful coat and give you many |
| dogs receive good nutrition. | | | | years of companionship. |