Nutritional health is about feeding your dog with the essential building blocks and energy components which allow them to improve, reach their full potential, and remain active throughout their lives. There are numerous ways to feed your dog and many different food options to pick from. Many people choose to feed their dogs dry and canned pet food for convenience and cost. However, for owners who are open minded about their pet’s diet there are other options to dry and canned dog food that may offer better nutrition for your particular pet.
We at Newport Harbor Animal Hospital, we’ve spent decades teaching pet owners on the proper nutrition for dogs of all breeds, ages and their conditions as well as lifestyles. Since canine nutrition plays significant roles in the quality of your dog’s life so we’d like to share some veterinary insight with you about the proper nutrition of your dog no matter if you’re seeking recommendations for puppy food or adult and senior dog nutrition advice.
The secrets to the nutrition of dogs
The following dietary elements are the key ingredients to canine nutrition
- Proteins: Proteins are chemical compounds comprised of amino acids, which are the building blocks of cell growth, maintenance , and repair. In companion animals like dogs one of the largest demands for protein comes from maintaining fur and hair, which can use up to 30 percent of the dog’s daily protein intake.
- Fats: The fats are most energy-rich source in the canine diet. They also provide acid fatty acids that are essential ingredients for the production of vital substances and essential to maintaining healthy, normal cells.
- Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are broken into smaller pieces by the digestive system and transformed into glucose, which can be used as an energy source. Carbohydrates in the form whole grains provide iron as well as minerals and fiber and other nutrients.
- Vitamins Organic substances of the vitamin family or synthetic derivatives thereof necessary for normal organ function. They also aid when it comes to the transformation of fats to energy, the improvement of immunity and other body processes
- Minerals: Minerals are inorganic nutrients that make up less than 10% of a dog’s body weight but are crucial to many vital functions, for example, the growth of bones, strong bones and healthy teeth
The combinations and amounts of these components depend solely on the dog’s age or weight, physical or medical condition, and lifestyle. This is the reason there are a variety of dog food available for every stage of your dog’s life.
What is the best puppy food?
Puppy food Nutrition for Dogs is specifically formulated with the nutritional needs of dogs who are still maturing into adulthood. Puppies need about twice as much calories per pound of body weight as an adult dog with the same breed. The ideal time to start feeding puppies nutritious, scientifically-formulated puppy food around 4 weeks of age, which is when mother’s milk is no longer sufficient.
Puppy food should be fed in multiple, well-spaced meals every 2-3 days. In general, all puppies less than 10 pounds need to be fed 3 times a day and those above can be gradually introduced to two meals a day. Feeding on a schedule will aid in getting your body into the habit of eating regularly, which will aid in house training. Certain breeds can overeat if provided with too many calories. Therefore, it’s ideal to keep an eye on their weight gain . You can ask your vet to determine whether their growth rate is in line with the norm or if your puppy’s growing too quickly and/or gaining too much weight. You should feed a puppy diet that has 25-30 percent protein. Rememberthat the adult size of a dog’s body is determined geneticallyand not by how quickly he or develops. Therefore, avoid feeding too much puppy food to increase a puppy’s growth rate. Growing too quickly can actually cause problems with the joints of dogs.
The breeds of puppies vary greatly with size, rate of growth and inclinations to overeat and more. There are many factors to consider in relation to caloric and nutritional requirements of puppies. That’s why we recommend getting the advice of one of our veterinarians.
What is the most effective dog food for a dog that is an adult?
Every dog is unique, and that is why there isn’t one dog food that will work for all dogs. It is generally recommended to feed the best quality brand such as Hill’s Science Diet is a safe option for all dogs. They have many choices of proteins as well as diets (canned dry, canned). There are several premium breeds of food for dogs that are good options.
Select an adult dog food that is specifically balanced to provide the caloric as well as nutritional requirements needed for health, happiness , and wellness. It is important at this stage in a dog’s life to use portion control regardless of whether you are using timed or free choice eating methods.
- Timed Feeding: A timed feed is when you make portions of dog food available for a specific period of time. For example, food can be put in the dog’s bowl for 30 minutes. After that time, if your dog has not eaten the food, it’s taken away. It is a standard procedure to feed puppies of various breeds that don’t tend to overindulge themselves.
- The process of feeding a meal: The meal is when you feed a specific amount twice daily. Most dogs overeat when allowed timed feeding or free-choice eating. This is why we recommend Meal eating most frequently.
- Free-Choice Feeding Free-choice feeding allows dog food to be available throughout the day, whatever amount your dog wants and whenever would like it. This is not a ideal as you might think because many dogs tend to overeat and gain weight.
The majority of the guidelines for dosages of dog food on food bags aren’t enough in calories.
The risk for middle-aged dogs is greater of being overweight than puppies. Therefore, choosing a balanced and nutritious adult dog food, and adopting responsible feeding guidelines, decreases adverse health consequences caused from poor nutrition or excessive consumption.
Choosing the right senior dog food
Generally, we consider a dog to be senior after eight years. Each senior is unique in their aging process and needs for nutrition. If your dog’s senior is doing well on its diet, then there might not be any reason to alter the food regimen. However, some senior dogs may have issues with their health that they’ve developed over time that Nutrition for Dogs need special diets. The majority of senior dogs will have needs for less calories but still require very high quality diets. Certain senior diets tackle this issue by reducing the calories in the diet while maintaining protein levels. They have less ability to take in protein and for this reason need the highest quality protein options.
Starting a senior dog’s diet regimen is contingent upon the breed and size of your pet. For example:
- Small breeds and dogs that weigh less than 20 pounds – 8 years of age
- Medium breeds and dogs that weigh 21 to 50 pounds – 8 years of age
- Large breeds and dogs weighing up to 90 pounds or more – at least 6 years old
- Giant breeds and dogs that weigh up to 91 pounds or more five years old
There are times when supplements are beneficial for senior canines. It is possible that this will be specific for your dog’s needs. It is best to be transparent and disclose to your veterinarian any supplements you’re taking or like to give.
Dog food recommendations for overweight dog breeds.
The problem is that obesity has become an epidemic in dogs. As with human beings, obesity could cause harm to a dog’s health. An overweight dog has many extra stressors placed on his their body and is at a higher risk of:
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Joint pain
- Exercise intolerance
- Energy inefficient
Obesity is a condition that occurs when the amount of energy consumed (or food intake) exceeds energy requirements (or the amount of calories burned during activity or exercising). The extra energy is stored as fat, and accumulated fat causes obesity. The majority of cases of dog obesity are due to eating too much and not enough exercise. The best method to stop and reverse obesity is :
- Make sure your dog’s diet is correct: Feed your overweight pet a low calorie high-fiber diet that includes minerals and vitamins to keep the health of your dog’s coat and skin during the diet. Your veterinarian should be consulted to discuss dog food and feeding suggestions. Candies are a great choice due to their lower in carbohydrates.
- Increase exercise: The duration and frequency of exercise should be intensified. Be sure to work at a pace that is consistent with daily or long exercises. Regular exercise helps burn calories, reduces appetiteand alters body composition, and can boost your dog’s metabolic rate.
- Modify the feeding habits of your dog: For you and your dog. This means keeping track of treats, cutting down on or cutting out human food and feeding smaller, more frequently-scheduled meals to prevent your dog from suffering from hunger pains.
Fats your dog needs
Fats are essential for maintaining healthy skin, fur Nutrition for Dogs eyes, and cognitive function and also provide valuable energy reserves. Along with protein, fats contribute to the dog’s ability to be palatable and assist in absorption of fat-soluble vitamins: Vitamins A as well as D, E and K.
Much like protein’s essential amino acids Fat has its own essential acid fatty acids (EFAs) that form the major component of each
It is vital to choose an animal food of high-quality that is rich in healthy fats and fat soluble vitamins. It is recommended to consult with your vet to determine if your pet is able to benefit from nutritional supplements.
