Be The Best Pet Parent With The Right Nutrients

In today's world of prepackaged, dry dog food and products, almost no one ever thinks about what dogs really need in their diet. They just assume their dogs are
getting whatever nutrients they need to remain healthy, feeding them as they have always fed their dogs.

In truth, a dog has very specific nutritional needs that are very much similar to ours. If you don't meet them, your dog can develop digestive issues or even get sick. If nothing else, they will rarely have normal, healthy bowel movements, and we all know what that means for you.

* What a Dog Needs

First, ask yourself what a dog really needs. Dogs do not need table scraps, and they don't need empty filler treats. Better yet, they don't really know the difference, especially if you never give them table scraps to start with.

Unfortunately, commercial dog foods are generally lacking in nutrients and vitamins a dog needs, so if you're using standard dog food, you may need to supplement it in some ways.

In the wild, a dog would get his nutrients from:

• freshly killed prey
• roots
• berries
• fruit
• grass and
• insects

And while you're not going to go out and get your dogs some ants to eat, there are some things you can do to supplement their diets.

* Getting Your Dog the Right Nutrients

For starters, reconsider the dry food you feed your dog. If it is a bland, store brand with a corn base, it's not doing the job. There are some natural and organic foods that contain less fillers and more nutrients.

If you want to go the whole foods route, consider the dietary needs of a dog. This means getting chicken or beef into his diet to ensure they receive the proteins they need. Organic meats are best.

You'll also need to supplement foods by reducing fat intake. If you don't have lean meat to feed him, reduce any fat from other sources.

Avoid sausages and cheese, for example. Additionally, despite the argument that they are carnivores, dogs can gain quite a bit from fruit and veggies.

However, some fruits and vegetables are not good for them.
Stick to whole, fibrous foods. Apples are good, as well as whole grains and certain grasses. Additionally, fatty acids from eggs or fish are good, though avoid any raw fish that could have big bones. One way of getting the benefits of the right type of fat (omega 3) into your dog is by feeding them air-dried fish based treats such as sprats or perch.

* Daily Feeding

Your dog should also not eat too much. A 50-pound dog should only eat 10-15oz of food a day at the most, split between two meals. A dog doesn't need three or four meals a day (unless the dog is a large enough breed or your schedule dictates it).

Additionally, have set food times for your dog. Simply putting down a bowl of food and leaving it full is a very quick way to get your dog very fat.

Dogs will eat whatever you put in front of them, and they will quickly grow lethargic because of it.

Another good tip is to make your dog work physically and mentally for his food. A walk before eating is good, as is making him sit and wait for the food bowl. This stimulates the instincts that tell him to hunt for that meal each day.

Feeding a dog is not like feeding a child. You don't need to ask him what he wants or try to mix it up with variety. If you've ever seen how excited dogs get for boring, dry dog food, you know that they're perfectly happy eating whatever they get.

Moreover, they're healthier if you stick to a steady, well-balanced diet.

I hope you enjoyed today's blog post!