A Simple Guide To Dog Nutrition

Woof  There!

It’s me, Doglicious…I’m back with a quick primer on the essential elements of dog nutrition for feeding a dog.

 There are four fundamental elements you need to know about in order to maximize the nutritional value in what you’re putting in your dog’s mouth each day. It’s really pretty simple, and very similar to what you doggie persons think about for your own and your chilren’s nutrition.

These are the four fundamentals: * Proteins * Carbohydrates * Fats * Calories.

You already know how essential these are to your own health, but do you understand, as a doggie person, how important these things are to me and my doggy buddies’ health.

Let’s break each one down a bit…because you need as much knowledge as possible to ensure your dog enjoys a long healthy life. 
 

* Protein

This is an essential component in every diet (dog or human) because it is an important component of every cell in the body. It makes the continued growth and development of the immune system possible. Amino acids, which are ingested as protein, are the key element to this nutrient. A deficiency in any of the amino acids can ultimately result in illness and death.

Your dog needs up to  a total of 22 amino acids (12 of which they can produce on their own). The rest can be delivered with a healthy diet. The amino acids your dog needs in his or her diet are: arinine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. Fur (hair in doggie persons) and nails are mostly made of protein. The body uses protein to build and repair tissues. It also uses protein to make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.

Protein (in addition to carbohydrates and fat) is a “macronutrient,” which means the body needs somewhat large quantities of it. Vitamins and minerals are also needed but  only in small quantities…they are called “micronutrients.” However, unlike fat and carbohydrates, the body does not store protein, and therefore has no reserves to tap into whenever it needs a new supply.

So you may assume the answer would be to eat protein all day long…nutritionists say no! We actually need less total protein than you might think, but we could certainly all benefit from getting most of our protein from high quality food sources.

So, how much protein do we need? We’ve all heard the false premice that extra protein builds more muscle. The fact is, the only way to build muscle is through exercise. Our bodies need just a modest amount of protein to function well. Extra protein doesn’t give you any extra strength.

So, the commercial dog food you buy that  has only “some” protein sources is not sufficient. Protein quality is known as the “biological value”, with eggs having the highest (100). In order to relate this to the amount of protein needed nutritionally for us dogs, beef has a biological value  of 78 with meat and bone meal at 50. What this means for your dog is that dog food with “real” beef instead of  obscure ” meat and bone meal”  or “meat/ chicken by-products” has a better protein quality and is certain to deliver more protein and amino acids that will benefit your dog’s health and longevity.

The commercial dog foods with better protein quality are always going to be the premium brands. Never buy dog food that has bone meal or by-products listed in the ingredients…learn to read labels! (I plan to have a post soon on how to read dog food labels, so please check back often)

My person gives lengthly descriptions of  the dangers in feeding a dog some of the low priced commercial dog foods here on her website.

* Carbohydrates

What about those nasty carbs that make you doggie persons fat? This is not about you, it’s your dog we’re focused on here and us dogs require carbohydrates, which include all sugars and starches. They provide us with the energy every dog needs and are also a source of fiber in our diet. They should comprise “not more” than half of a dog’s balanced diet and only 2-5% of that should come from fiber.

Your dog’s metabolism is able convert large amounts of carbohydrates into the same energy they get from proteins. This is a good thing, provided these carbs are in a digestible form.  Athough eating lots of carbohydrates can give dogs energy, the negative aspect of this is your dog “must”  have exercise in order to burn off those extra calories, or else those carbs will turn to fat. So use caution when you choose a commercial dog food…read those labels. Because of this, you should always buy Premium dog food. Or, a really healthful alternative would be to prepare your own homemade dog food so you know exactly what ingredients and nutrients are in it…my person does and I love it! My person has some great homemade dog food recipes on her website.

 * Fats

The word “fat” makes doggie persons cringe because it’s considered a bad thing in so many weight loss diets.  However,  fats are a required nutrient for feeding a dog a nutritious diet, as long as they are the right fats and provided your dog gets enough exercise.

 These are some of the benefits of fats:

* assists in temperature regulation* keeps coat healthy * helps skin  remain healthy * helps  kidney function * allows dog to store food

The fatty acids that make up dietary fats include arachidonic, linolenic, and linoleic. When looking for foods containing  fatty acids, look for vegetable oils that can be found in soy, peanuts, and corn…all of these are high in linoleci acid, while meat fats contain small amounts of this acid, along with arachidonic acid. Fats contained in vitamins such as F, D, E, A, and Khelp with hormones and Omega 3 and Omega 6 all help with the body’s response to swelling, and inflammation.

The amount of fat needed in commercial dry dog food is between 5% and 13%. Although this can vary with the type of food, any special circumstances or feeding needs. Always keep in mind that the fats in dog food can only be harmful if your dog doesn’t get enough exercise because fats contain twice as many calories of  carbs and proteins. You should not be feeding a dog fat free dog food…this type of dog food has chemicals in it that are toxic to your dog. Only premium dog foods contain the purest form of fats and fatty acids, unlike some of the other more inexpensive commercially made foods.

* Calories

Calories contribute an important  ingredient  in your dog’s diet. They measure energy and come from food intake through protein, carbohydrates, and fats. They should be given serious consideration because this will determine how healthy your dog is.

Every dog  requires a certain amount of calorie intake daily and if he or she is very active, they will need more calories. Puppies and younger dogs  need more calories because they are growing. Sometime they need up to twice the requirement for their body weight. Be careful because if calorie intake is more than what your dog can metabolize, they’ll surely be stored as fat. So be sure you exercise your dog…they’ll be much healthier!.

This is a general rule of thumb to determine how many calories your dog may need:

Small dogs who are generally active and who weigh less than 20 pounds (9.07 kg) will need around 40 calories per pound each day.

Larger dogs over 100 pounds (45.36 kg) will use 15 calories per pound daily.

The rule of thumb to maintain a dog’s healthy weight is: a dog will need 25 calories per pound each day for maintenance.

Important Notice! Although we are long time dog enthusiasts and dog advocates, we are not veterinarians or professional animal nutritionists. Our purpose is strictly to provide you with information, so that you can make your own informed decisions. Any and all information contained within or stated on this blog is provided for general information purposes. The information provided is not direct veterinary advice and should not be construed as such nor substituted for a consultation with a veterinarian or dog nutrition professional. Every dog and situation is different. If you have any concerns about your dog’s health, please contact your veterinarian’s office immediately.

We all love our dogs and want the best for them!

“In Dogs We Trust”