Nutrition Requirements For Dogs - A Brief Guide

Most people are taught from a young age that a
healthy diet is very necessary. People have
fairly specific nutritional needs, and while
one's diet may not be excellent most healthy
individuals make a point to at least attempt to
meet those criterias. Of course, humans aren't
alone in these dietary requirements. Most
animals have specific demands as well, and while
wild animals have natural diets that provide them
with all the fundamental proteins, vitamins and
minerals, pets such as dogs are dependent on
individuals who provide them with all of their
food items. However, many pet owners and even
pet food manufacturers don't put a lot of
thought or energy into what goes into a dog's
diet. For far too many men and women, a
practical dog food is pretty much anything a dog
is willing to eat, even if that food fails to
satisfy some of the dog's basic dietary
requirements.

Dogs actually have most of the same nutritional
requirements as people, so one would imagine that
making sure that a dog is eating the right foods
should be relatively simple. While the
recommended nutritional requirements for a dog
can differ depending on factors such as the
dog's age and its breed, one good way to ensure
that a pet is eating well is to buy food that
approved by the Association of American Feed
Control Officials, or the AAFCO. Many good and
healthy pet foods carry disclaimers that state
that they are approved by the AAFCO, so look for
that on the packaging. A responsible pet owner
will still need to take into account factors
such as the dog's breed or its age and purchase
the appropriate food, but looking for a
disclaimer from the AAFCO is always a great
place to start.

For those who want to be more active in making
sure that their pets receive the most nutritious
diet imaginable, there are some easy ways to make
sure that a dog is eating well.

First of all, every pet should have a bowl of
fresh, clean water available at all times. This
water will help to transport nutrients and
wastes throughout the body.

Most of the calories in a dog's food should come
from protein. Protein is responsible for tissue
growth, repair and overall health. Meat meal is
the best source of protein in most kinds of dog
food.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are very
important for healthy skin and fur, and they add
flavor and texture to food. A good dog food
should have plenty of both of these fatty acids.

Despite the fact that dogs are carnivores, they
still need at least some carbohydrates to
maintain healthy digestion and bowels. These
should come from from fruits, vegetables and
whole grain brown rice that can be found in the
best AAFCO dog foods.

The food should have plenty of vitamins and
minerals. Especially important for canine health
are Vitamins B and C since they are water-soluble
and need to be replaced daily. Important minerals
for canine health include calcium and phosphorous
for healthy teeth and bones and magnesium,
potassium and sodium to help maintain the body
systems properly.

One more thing that is always important that
many pet owners sadly disregard when feeding any
pet is portion size. Dogs can overeat just like
humans can, and they can suffer from the same
ill health effects because of it. A responsible
pet owner should make sure that a dog is not
receiving portions that are too much for it.
This of course depends on the breed and age of
the dog, but nearly all foods have serving sizes
on the packaging that should be heeded at all
times.

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This article provides some simple guidelines to
correct nutrition for your dog. Resourced
http://www.chudleys.com

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