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Why is a Dog's Diet Important?
Image by PourquoiPas from Pixabay
Is there an appropriate species diet for dogs? And does it matter?
You love your dog. You want it to live a long and happy life, yes?
Well then, your dogs' diet is something you should pay attention to.
Giving your dog a species-appropriate diet that comes from high-quality ingredients is vital in ensuring your dog is fit and healthy and is at a lower risk of disease.
Poor food choices
Humans are arguably the sickest animals on the planet. We have epidemic levels of metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes. We suffer from diseases of civilization that are not seen anywhere else in the animal kingdom.
Well, that is a lie. They are found in other animals… animals that are our pets.
Is it no coincidence that dogs and cats suffer the same diseases humans do under our care? Yet their wild cousins are free of those diseases in the wild.
This is because we feed them using the same principles that we provide ourselves, leading to many problems.
Warning signs
Dogs are generally happy and loving creatures, and they love their food. They will usually eat whatever you give them, and they will look like they are excited to have it. So, it is essential that you look out for any warning signs that may suggest what you are feeding your dog may not be suitable:
- Overweight: Obesity increases the risk factor of all diseases in humans, and the same is true in dogs. It will help if you keep your dog at a healthy weight appropriate for its breed. For example, you should be able to see some ribs on a Saluki. If they are overweight, then consider how much you are feeding your pet and how often. You need to include treats in this calculation.
- Energy Levels: Your pooch should be full of life and energy. They should be full of vitality and do the types of things expected of their breed. Working dogs should be able to be out in the fields all day, and Greyhounds should be able to sprint. If your pooch seems lacking in energy, depressed, and gets tired on walks. It could be a sign they are not getting the correct nutrition.
- Digestion: Let's talk about poop, haha. If there is an issue with your doggies' diet, this is an excellent place to spot it. Are they regularly constipated, or do they often have loose stools? Do they seem to be straining, or is pooping causing them distress? These things could suggest that the food you are giving them is causing gastrointestinal issues, and a change may be needed.
- Skin, Teeth & Allergies: Does your dog have skin issues, like dry, flaky skin, or dog eczema? Is their coat not as shiny as it should be? Do they have yellow teeth or bleeding gums? Or are they often struck by allergies and ill health? These are typical signs of underlying health issues caused by a bad diet or certain ingredients in their food. Yes, Vets can provide medication to help these issues, but sometimes a simple diet change could dramatically improve their situation.
What should a healthy diet include
It is no coincidence that humans and dogs have made good bedfellows over the years, as we need similar nutrition and for similar reasons. Dogs need adequate sources of:
- Protein: There are ten essential amino acids that dogs require daily basis. They can be derived from plant foods but are more bioavailable from animal sources. Like Beef and Chicken. Protein is essential for cell building, maintenance, and repair.
- Energy: The food needs to contain enough power, so your dog can do those great walks you have planned. Dogs can get ability from protein through gluconeogenesis, from fat and carbohydrates. Usually, if you are giving them too much energy, they will put on weight. If they are not given enough, they will lose weight.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Dogs have vitamin and mineral requirements to maintain essential functions like the immune system and metabolic processes. Things like potassium, magnesium, Iron, and Zinc.
Wet and dry food
The two most common ways dogs are fed, is prepacked wet or dry food—for example, tinned or bags of kibble. There are advantages and disadvantages to this feeding style, but the reason they are so popular is that they are the easiest.
They should all come with a good ratio of protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. So, it can take a lot of the worry out of how you feed your beloved dog.
Quality is essential. Buy the brands with the best quality ingredients with the least amount of chemicals and preservatives.
If you notice any of the warning signs from the above checklist, do not be afraid to change brands and suppliers. All dogs and breeds can be different, so what works for one dog may not work for another.
Other options
Dogs can digest a wide range of foods, but they are primarily scavenging carnivores. They have highly acidic stomach acid and a short small in no small intestine ratio of 1:6. In comparison, a Sheep, for example, has an alkaline digestive system and a remote to the large intestine ratio of 1:27. This all means dogs do very well digesting meat and fish but are less efficient at digesting grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Some people consider the implications of this and try to replicate what a dog's ancestral diet would be in the wild, hoping that it results in a healthier dog. Similar to a Paleo or Ketogenic Diet for humans. If this is something you would like to try, then there are two main ways to attempt it:
Here are our recommendations for dog foods
Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food
A dry dog food specially formulated to fuel the energy needs of large breed adult dogs
Supports your grown dog's joint health with natural sources of glucosamine & chondroitin
Natural Balance Fat Dogs Low Calorie
Made with targeted levels of L-carnitine to help maintain a healthy weight
Contains a special fiber and protein blend to help your dog feel full and satisfied
NUTRO ULTRA Puppy Dry Dog Food
Features Trio Of Protein From Chicken, Lamb, And Salmon—Chicken Is The #1 Ingredient—Specially Formulated For Puppies (Except For Growth Of Large Size Dogs 70Lbs Or More As An Adult)
- Prey Diet: This diet tries to replicate what a dog would eat in the wild. It is a raw meat diet, where no fruits, vegetables, or grains are fed. You would give your doggo full animals to eat, including the bones (horror stories about dogs eating bones relate to cooked bones, dogs are very well adapted to digest small raw bones). The most straightforward example would be to give them a full rabbit to eat. However, if you wanted to make up your plan from standard cuts of meat and fish, you can ensure the correct ratio of protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals by mixing meals to a rate of 80% muscle meat, 10% organ meat, and 10% edible bone. Many companies provide these meals prepacked nowadays.
- BARF Diet: Stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. It is similar to the Prey Diet, including meat, fish, organs, and bone. However, in the edition, it factors that dogs occasionally eat fruits and vegetables in the wild, usually through consuming the stomach contents of an animal they have caught. A typical breakdown is 70% muscle meat, 10% organ, 10% bone, and 10% fruits and vegetables.
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Further advice
If you are still unsure of how and what to feed your dog, I recommend you take some professional advice. Most Vets will be happy to discuss nutrition with you. There is also a vast range of supplements you can buy, which might put your mind at ease, especially if you have a puppy or an elderly dog.
A healthy diet will result in a healthy and happy dog. There is much responsibility on an owner's shoulders to feed a dog correctly.
For the most part, a dog is not expected to go out and source their food, so they can only eat what you give them. Therefore, it is essential that you put some thought into it. Do not just go out and buy the cheapest bag of kibble you can find and presume that it is ok. Try to consider how much they are given and how high the quality is.
To give a dog its best life, give it the best food possible.
