If you are a pet owner you will be keen to learn about how to keep your pet healthy and happy. Read this article to learn which dog nutrition essentials are vital to help your dog stay fit and healthy for as long as possible.

All dog owners should know these dog nutrition essentials

Dog owners have started to pay greater attention to their pets’ food quality in recent years. There is a plethora of formulations and dog food brands on the market. It is challenging to determine what constitutes a wholesome and well-balanced dog meal. Providing a balanced diet for your dog is very important. Protein, carbs, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and water are all essential for daily functioning in animals.

Raw dog food

Dog food companies have sprung up in recent years, offering subscription services for fresh “ancestral” diets composed of raw food for your dog’s health which can help in increasing your dog’s lifespan. Concerns have been raised about feeding dogs a raw food diet. Raw food diets, which feature more meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables, are becoming increasingly popular. Possible advantages of a raw dog food diet are:

Better sheens

Restoring canine health

• Improving coat sheen
• Improved oral hygiene
• A more active lifestyle
• Less bulky stool

The staples of a raw dog food diet are:

• Meat that is cut from a larger piece
• Organ meats like livers and kidneys Bones, whole or ground
• “uncooked eggs”
• Plants of the cruciferous, spinach, and celery families
• Fruit, such as apples
• A little bit of milk and cheese, maybe some yogurt

Fatty acids and fats

Most of the calories you consume come from dietary fats, animal fats, and the seed oils of various plants. Essential fatty acids are involved in cellular structure and function. Oils and fats added to dog food usually improve flavor and texture. Your dog’s skin and coat will thank you for providing him with essential fatty acids. Ultra Low-fat diets increase a puppy’s susceptibility to infections due to the development of coarse hair, skin sores, and dry skin.

Remember to keep the dogs hydrated

Dogs, like humans, are water. Approximately 60%-70% of a mature dog’s whole mass is water. As you might have assumed, water is crucial for a dog’s well-being. A healthy dog should drink 30–50 cc of water per kilo of body weight daily. Make sure your dog always has access to clean water at home and bring a water bottle and a portable dog bowl whenever you go for a walk or to the park.

Amino acids and proteins

Protein is essential for a dog’s diet. There are ten essential amino acids that canines don’t have the cellular machinery to produce, all of which are found in dog food. Essential amino acids are the building blocks for various proteins and other physiologically active substances. Further, they provide the carbon chains essential to the production of glucose, the body’s primary source of cellular fuel. Proteins of high quality will have an adequate distribution of each of the nine necessary amino acids.

According to scientific research, canines can detect the absence of even a single amino acid in their food and avoid eating it. Canines often prefer protein-rich diets. It is unclear if this is due to their sense of taste or their complicated response to their physical requirements for all 10 essential amino acids. Vegetarian diets for dogs are not ideal, but they are possible if they include enough protein and are fortified with vitamin D.

Dog nutrition essentials in summary

Every ingredient in your dog’s diet serves a specific function.  It is important to keep these dog nutrition essentials in mind for feeding your pet and keeping your dog health. Your dog’s ability to maintain muscular tone, develop and repair muscle, teeth, and bone, carry out regular daily activities, and fight off infection would suffer if it did not receive sufficient nutrients. Proteins are essential for energy production and muscle maintenance and development. Fats are essential for maintaining a healthy body and hair, providing energy, and aiding brain function. Carbohydrates are a fast-acting source of energy that keeps your dog energized and active.

Further reading about dog food, dogsitting with Housesitmatch

At Housesitmatch.com we always try to share useful and informative blogs and practical advice with our members. Read on to find some helpful articles with useful tips for dog owners and dogsitters about dogsitting and dog health.

How to choose the right dog food

When should you switch dog food and why

How to improve your pet dog’s health and fitness

Top dogsitting tips for beginners

Dogsitters’ tips – Dog’s body language and how to read it