Use these tips to feed your dog nutrient-dense food

How to make the life of your four-legged friends long, happy and healthy? In this article, we will give you some tips on proper feeding and caring about dogs because choosing nutrient-dense food is key to the health and longevity of your dog.

It is important to know about nutrition

All dogs need a healthy diet. So, when choosing the optimal diet,  it is necessary to remember that nutrient-dense food should contain a balanced amount of animal protein, fats, and trace elements. The dog also needs more than 50 nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin C, and phosphorus. There are two types of food for pets: natural food and ready-made food. Vetalogica.com.au does not recommend combining these two types since it is difficult to calculate the ratio of useful substances in the feed and the natural product. Therefore, excess or lack of certain substances may result.

When deciding to feed a dog with natural products, it is necessary to calculate the daily portion for the animal. You should take into account its age and breed. It is important to ensure that the selected products contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and other useful trace elements in the correct ratio. If there are difficulties with the calculation of the diet, consult with your veterinarian.

Advantages of natural feeding:

1. It becomes possible to exclude completely unsafe additives, dyes, and chemicals from the dog’s diet.
2. The owner can choose only high-quality and fresh products for the dog.
3. If a dog is allergic to a specific food product, it can be quickly excluded from the menu and replaced with an alternative product that does not cause such reactions.

It is important to remember that all food served to the pet should be fresh.

Feeding dogs with ready-made food

Most dog owners prefer ready-made food for their pets. It does not require cooking and performing calculations of the components, as it requires with natural products. In addition, modern feeds are developed by experienced veterinarians and nutritionists in close cooperation with dog handlers and professional breeders. This allows you to create a complete diet for the dog.

There are two types of ready-made dog food – dry pellets and wet canned food with various additives. If dry food is chosen for feeding the pet, the animal must have constant access to the water necessary to digest the food.

The range of products for animals includes a large selection of dog food from different manufacturers. All of them are divided into several categories: economy, premium, super-premium. Even cheap food is characterized by a balanced diet and a full content of all the necessary components for the healthy development of dogs. The differences can only be in the origin of the ingredients – fresh or freeze-dried products of long-term storage, frozen meat or brought directly from the farm, offal or selected parts of carcasses, etc. When choosing food, it is also necessary to consider the dog’s age, breed, and lifestyle.

It is important to remember: dogs should rarely if ever, be given human food. It often contains too many calories, and some foods can cause diseases and digestive disorders. Sweet, salty, spicy, alcohol, and caffeine are prohibited. The acid in citrus fruits can cause stomach upset. Onions, garlic, and grapes should also not be given to dogs.

Healthy foods for dogs

Carrots: They contain beta-carotene, converted into vitamin A, which is beneficial for good vision. According to AAFCO standards, its content in a dog’s diet should be at least 5000 IU/1 kg.

Peas: They contain antioxidants, including vitamin E. Consumption of peas has a good effect on strengthening the immune system and preventing cells’ destruction, strengthening them. AAFCO requires a minimum of at least 50 IU/kg in a healthy dog’s diet.

Chicken and eggs: Thanks to the protein in these foods, the dog’s body maintains and builds muscle tissue

Spinach: Good for heart health. Spinach leaves also contain many essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, manganese, riboflavin, calcium, and iron, which every pet needs.

Apples and beets: Due to their natural fiber content, they promote healthy digestion in dogs.

Calcium: Like humans, calcium is good for healthy and strong teeth and bones.

Tomatoes: They contain beta-carotene and vitamin C, which is a known antioxidant. They limit cell damage and strengthen the immune system.

Fish oil and flaxseed oil: Thanks to omega-3 fatty acids, fats are beneficial for healthy skin and coat shine.

Grains: Contains carbohydrates to provide a healthy and natural source of energy and vitality for dogs.

Oral care

There are several options to keep your dog’s mouth clean. The most effective is cleaning with a toothbrush and paste made for dogs. Both must be purchased at a pet store. Another way to clean your teeth is special products that are soluble in drinking water. They contain special substances that are harmless to the dog but decompose plaque and destroy bacteria. And the most pleasant method is giving your dog special chewing treats that clean the plaque from their teeth.

The bottom line on nutrient-dense dog food

Most pet parents are sensitive to the health of their dogs. Some choose prepared foods because they find it expensive and time-consuming to feed their dog a nutrient-dense diet from natural products. Of course, each owner must make his own choice.

Consult with your veterinarian about the vitamins and mineral supplements your pet needs based on their particular breed. Remember, nutrition is the foundation of health and proper growth.

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