| It is important to be aware of the nutritious value of | | | | People sometimes need vitamin and mineral |
| your pet's food. As people become more and more | | | | supplements. Does my dog need any? If you are |
| aware of the importance of a balanced diet, they | | | | giving your dog a balanced diet through their dog food, |
| begin to ask questions relating to the nutritional intake | | | | they should be getting all the proper vitamins and |
| of their pets. Here are a few answers to commonly | | | | minerals they need. Because people need different |
| asked questions about dog nutrition: | | | | levels of vitamins and minerals than dogs, supplements |
| Does my dog need to have a nutritionally balanced diet | | | | can actually be quite harmful to your pet. If you are |
| like me? Dogs require a total of 39 nutrients in their | | | | concerned about your pet's food and their vitamin and |
| daily diet, dosed in correct proportions. Some of these | | | | mineral intake, contact your veterinarian with any |
| nutrients include: protein, fats, amino acids, vitamins and | | | | questions you may have. |
| minerals. In addition to these nutrients in their food, | | | | How often should I feed my dog? Puppies should be |
| water is also equally, if not more beneficial in a dog's | | | | fed two to three times a day, because they are |
| every day diet. | | | | rapidly growing and need the food to keep up with |
| Should my dog have protein in their diet? Dogs are | | | | their energy and metabolism. Most owners feed adult |
| officially classified as omnivores. This means that they | | | | dogs one or two times a day, depending on their |
| thrive on both meat and vegetable diets combined. | | | | personal preference, the recommendation of their vet, |
| Protein aids in the growth of bone and muscle in | | | | or on their dog's activity level. |
| puppies, and keeps them strong as adults. | | | | When considering food quantity, how much should I |
| Should my dog have fiber in their diet? Fiber is | | | | feed my dog? The best guide to go by is the |
| beneficial to your pet's digestive tract. It aids in | | | | instructions on the dog food packaging. Know your |
| constipation, weight loss, and helps keep their colon | | | | pet's age, weight, activity level and size, and the |
| clean. However, too much fiber can be harmful to your | | | | instructions will tell you the proper amount of food to |
| pet by causing increased size and quantity of stool | | | | feed your pup. |
| production, which can be painful or uncomfortable. | | | | As increased awareness about nutritional health |
| What about a fat-free diet for my dog? Dogs need | | | | makes its way through social circles, people begin to |
| fat. Fats provide more energy than carbohydrates and | | | | wonder about the nutritional health and needs of their |
| protein and they also make the food easier to eat and | | | | pet. Remember, if you have any specific questions |
| swallow. Fats also provide necessary fatty acids that | | | | about your pet's nutritional intake, make an appointment |
| help your pet's skin to remain healthy as well as adding | | | | and ask your vet. They will be able to help you |
| shine to their coat. | | | | determine the best diet for your dog. |