Your Dog's Nutritional Needs

The dog shares many of the human nutritional needs, but its optimum level of minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, carbs, protein, fat, and fiber are different from humans’.

All dogs need protein to provide amino acids, the building blocks of all body tissues and the enzymes that support the body’s chemical reactions. The most natural source of protein is meat.

Dogs also need fat, the most energy-dense nutrient, with more than twice as many calories per gram as protein. Fat transports fat-soluble vitamins around the body and contains essential fatty acids that a dog can't produce itself. Recent nutrition studies show that the type and amount of fat your dog eats affect not only its weight but also the efficiency of its immune system.

Carbs are not a natural source of energy for dogs, however, dogs are able to convert carbs to the sugar glucose which is used to produce glycogen. It is stored in muscles as a source of energy.

Vitamins and minerals are essential for energy conversion, enzyme activity, and bone growth. Fiber promotes good digestion.

Each individual dog has its own unique requirements for each of these nutrients.

Note: never give any food or nutrients in excess. Avoid meat-only diets, especially with fussy eaters such as small dogs. Meat alone is deficient in a variety of essential nutrients, especially calcium and phosphorus. Use healthy snacks such as Dehydrated Chew Duck Neck which is an excellent source of calcium or any DOGDELI dehydrated treats with benefits.  

Providing a wholesome, well-balanced diet is the best way to achieve and maintain your dog's good health. Feed a nutritious diet of what is good for dogs, which is not necessarily the same as what is good for humans. All dogs thrive on a balanced basic diet. Careful selection of the ingredients may also enable you to enhance your dog's immune system and help to avoid illness.