Healthy nutrition means feeding your dog the necessary building blocks and energy elements that allow them to increase their full potential and stay active throughout their lives. There are many ways of feeding your puppy, and many different food options to pick from. The majority of people prefer dry and canned dog food due to its convenience and price. For those who are open to discussing the diet of their dog there are alternatives to canned and dry dog food that might provide more nutritious food options for your specific pet.
The staff at Newport Harbor Animal Hospital, we’ve spent years educating pet owners on the proper diet for all dogs, ages, breeds and their conditions as well as lifestyles. Since canine nutrition plays an important role in the overall health of your dog’s We want to share some insight from a veterinarian to help you understand the importance of good nutrition for your dog for all ages, whether you’re looking for recommendations for food for your puppy or adult and senior dog nutrition tips.
The keys to the nutrition of dogs
The following components of the diet are the basic elements of canine nutrition:
- Proteins Proteins comprise complex molecules comprised of amino acids, which are the building blocks of cell development, maintenance and repair. In companion animals like dogs one of the most significant demands for protein comes from the maintenance of hair and fur, which can use up to 30% of a dog’s daily protein intake
- Fats: They are the most concentrated source of energy in the diet of canines. They also provide the acid fatty acids that are essential elements of the building blocks of many substances , as well as essential for maintaining healthy, normal cells.
- Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates can be broken into pieces by the digestive tract and transformed into glucose, which is also a source of energy. Carbohydrates as whole grains are a source of iron as well as minerals and fiber in addition to other nutrients.
- Vitamins: Organic substances of the vitamin family, or synthetic derivatives thereof that are essential for organ function. They also aid in the conversion of calories into energy, the improvement of immunity and other body processes
- Minerals Minerals comprise inorganic nutrients that make up less than 1% of a dog’s body weight however, they play an important role in numerous important functions, such as the growth of bones, strong bones and healthy teeth
The proportions and combinations of these components depend entirely on a dog’s age, weight, physical and/or medical condition, and lifestyle. This is the reason there are many kinds of dog food available for every phase of your pet’s life.
What is the right puppy food?
Puppies food Nutrition for Dogs is specially designed with the needs of dogs that are still growing into adulthood. Puppy’s require two times as many calories per pound as an adult dog with the same breed. You should start feeding puppies healthy and well-formulated puppy food as early as 4 weeks old, at which point mother’s milk is no longer sufficient.
Puppy food is best served with a variety of meals that are well-timed and spaced 3-4 times per day. All puppies under 10 pounds should be fed three times per day and those above can gradually be weaned up to every day twice-a-day feedings. Following a regular schedule of feeding will help get their bodies used to a routine that will assist with house training. Some breeds will overeat if given access to excessive calories, so it is ideal to keep an eye on their weight gain and talk to your vet for help in determining whether their growth rate is normal or if the puppy’s growing too fast and/or gaining too much weight. It is recommended to feed your puppy diet that has 25% to 30 percent protein. Rememberthat the adult size of a dog’s size is determined geneticallyand not through the rate at which he/she grows. Therefore, avoid feeding too much puppy food in order to speed up a puppy’s growth rate. Overly rapid growth could lead to orthopedic issues in dogs.
The breeds of puppies vary greatly with the size, growth rate and inclinations to overeat and so on. There are many factors that must be considered when making the best choices in regards to the nutrition and calories of puppies that we highly recommend seeking the advice of one of our vets.
What is the most effective dog food for an adult dog?
Each dog is unique and therefore there is no one dog food that will work for all breeds. In general, feeding a premium brand such as Hill’s Science Diet is a safe bet for all breeds. They have many choices of protein and diets (canned dry). There are several premium brand names of pet food available that are excellent selections.
Select an adult dog food that is designed to supply the caloric and nutritional requirements that are essential to health, happiness , and well-being. It is also important at this point in the dog’s life that you are using 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 accessible for a particular period of time. For instance, food may be put into your puppy’s bowl to last for 30 minutes. If after that time, he or she has not consumed the food, it is removed. It is a standard procedure to feed dogs of different breeds that do not tend to overindulge themselves.
- Menu Feeding Feeding a meal involves eating a certain amount twice daily. However, most dogs will overeat when fed at a set time or with free-choice feeding. This is why we advise Meal eating most frequently.
- Free-Choice Feeding: The free-choice option allows dogs food to be accessible at all times, as much as your dog needs, and whenever he or desires it. This isn’t a ideal as you might think because many dogs consume too much food and eventually become overweight.
A majority of the recommended feeding the dog’s food bags are too high in calories.
Middle-aged dogs have greater risks of gaining excess weight than puppies. Therefore, selecting a balanced and healthy adult dog food, and following responsible food guidelines, decreases adverse health risks caused by poor nutrition or over-consumption.
Making the right choice for your senior dog food
The majority of us consider a dog senior after eight years. Each senior is unique in their aging process and needs for nutrition. If your dog’s senior pet is good on their diet, then there might not be a need to alter your diet. But, certain older dogs might have health concerns they have developed over time that Nutrition for Dogs need special diets. A majority of senior dogs will need for fewer calories, yet have needs for very high quality diets. Some senior diets can help with this by reducing the calories in the diet but preserving the protein levels. They have less ability to digest proteins and for this reason need good quality protein options.
The time to start a senior dog’s food program is dependent on the breed and size of your dog. For example:
- Small breeds and small dogs weighing less than 20 pounds between 8 years of age
- Medium breeds and canines weighing 21-50 pounds or more – eight years old
- Large breeds and dogs that weigh up to 90 pounds or more – at least 6 years old
- Giant breeds of dogs and breeds weighing 91 pounds or more – 5 years old
Sometimes, supplements can be helpful for senior dogs. This can be particular to the dog’s requirements. Always be truthful and open about your vet the supplements you’re taking or want to distribute.
Dog food recommendations for overweight pets.
Unfortunately, obesity is an epidemic in dogs. Similar to the human population, overweight could be detrimental to a dog’s health. An overweight dog has many extra strains placed on his or her body, which means that it is at greater likelihood of
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Joint pain
- Exercise intolerance
- Low energy
Obesity can occur when intake of energy (or food intake) exceeds energy requirements (or the amount of calories burned during activity or exercising). The surplus energy is stored in fat, and over time, the accumulation of fat can lead to an increase in weight. The majority of dog cases of obesity result from eating too much and not enough exercise. The best way to prevent and reverse the effects of obesity is to:
- Correct your dog’s diet: Feed your overweight pet a low calorie high-fiber diet that is rich in minerals and vitamins to keep healthy skin and coat during the diet. It is recommended to consult your veterinarian to discuss dog food and feeding guidelines. Candies could be an excellent choice due to their lower in carbs.
- Increase Exercise The frequency and length of exercise need to be enhanced. Make sure you are working up to daily or longer exercise sessions. Regular exercise burns off more calories, decreases appetite, alters the body’s composition and raise your dog’s metabolic rate.
- Modify feeding habits: For you and your pet. This means keeping track of treats, cutting down on or cutting out human food as well as feeding smaller, more frequent meals to keep your dog from feeling hungry discomfort.
Fats your dog needs
Fats aid in maintaining the health of fur, skin Nutrition for Dogs eyes and cognitive functions and also provide valuable energy reserves. Along with protein, fats help in the dog’s ability to be palatable and help in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamins A, D, E and K.
Much like protein’s essential amino acids fat is also a source of essential acid fatty acids (EFAs) that form an essential component of every
It is important to choose an animal food of high-quality that is rich in healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins. You should consult your veterinarian to find out if your pet will benefit from nutritional supplements.