Deciding what to feed your dog – or anyone in your care for that matter – isn’t something you should take lightly. Apart from exercise and mental health, diet is the biggest contributor to wellbeing. Feeding a healthy dog food is really important. The eating habits we set up can mean the difference between a long and healthy life and programming our loved ones for failure. I’d like to share with you some of the most important principles that I apply in pursuit of the perfect canine diet.
Why is a healthy diet important?
First and foremost, feeding a healthy diet means feeding a healthy you. That is because a balanced diet ensures you’re getting the proper nutrients you need to look and feel your best. Plus, as we know, a healthy diet can keep us healthy too. A great diet can help control your weight, improve your digestion, and even improve your immune system. There are a lot of factors that go into having a nutritious diet for your dog. These include weight, size, age, breed, lifestyle and what you consider “healthy”, to name a few. For most breeds, the bulk of the work is done by the parents (the mother and father) during pregnancy. They will choose a diet that will support the infant’s development and immune system.
What to feed your dog?
Your dog’s size Be very specific about the type of food you are feeding. Dogs vary in size and bone structure, so how much meat you feed them depends on their height, weight and bone structure. Feeding food specifically tailored to their size, breed or weight (as described in our article) will make a difference to how healthy and full they are and how quickly their weight will get better. Organic foods Organic food is the key to ensuring you are feeding food that can reduce inflammation and help your dog stay healthy for as long as possible. Organic foods are usually made with natural ingredients and aren’t made using chemicals and additives. Your dog will never get an ingredient he isn’t allowed, and you can be sure that the animals’ final life will not be short and miserable.
What not to feed your dog?
This list of doggy foods I would never feed to my own dog contains “acceptable” foods that are nutritious and nutritious, and other foods that I would not feed. I want to underline that the foods on this list are not necessarily bad for your dog – if your dog doesn’t have health concerns, you can feed all these products – but, because they are not nutritionally complete, they are not good enough for your dog’s needs. Note that I am not qualified to give advice on foods your dog could eat if you have an extreme nut allergy – my advice is based on mainstream dog diets which I’ve tried with my own dog, and advice from experts. Why am I the only person in the universe who would not feed these food products to their dog?
Healthy dog food choices
Protein The main source of protein in your dog’s diet should be chicken, beef or turkey. Remember, dogs have a much smaller storage capacity for protein than humans do, so the amount they need to be able to get all their essential protein from a food is based on their body weight. Carbohydrates Dogs will need a healthy carbohydrate portion such as carrots, sweet potato, spinach, or rice. Protein / Carbohydrate ratio You want to avoid a diet that is too high in either, especially in an older dog that may have other health issues. Read more: Dog food with an animal protein blend Maintain a healthy weight Studies have shown that dogs with high protein levels in their diet live longer and have less weight gain.
How to make sure your dog eats well
There is so much information out there about which foods are best and which ones are bad for your dog. Unfortunately, some of that information has been in circulation for decades. An article that I particularly like – Why Dogs Are So Proud of Their Food – can explain things really well. It's been around for a while now and might explain why people are often so confused about what their dog is eating. Read on for more. Dogs eat grass. That's the foundation of dog food. Obviously they can't digest grains or rice, but there are many grains that can be converted into digestible by-products that can be eaten. There is a spectrum of these by-products from cheap to expensive so you don't have to spend a fortune to make your dog eat well. Yes, you can start feeding your dog snacks.
Conclusion
Your dog deserves an excellent diet as much as you do, and I hope the tips I’ve provided here are a valuable starting point. Feeding your dog a healthy, balanced diet is very doable and very rewarding. The best thing you can do for your dog is to treat them with respect and remember the most important rule about dog food: eat it sparingly. This article was originally posted on www.pettydog.com Pete has been practicing medicine in Africa for 3 years. He sees people who've never seen a doctor before and as a consequence, live horrible lives with horrible diseases.
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