Dog Nutrition And Diet

Healthy Dog Nutrition Starts With A Solid Well Balanced Diet!

The three major indicators of dog nutrition and whether or not your dog is receiving a healthy diet are: the appearance of the skin and coat, mood and behavior as well as stool consistency and the amount of waste.

Skin & Coat Appearance

•  Skin and coat can tell alot about dog nutrition. Although most indoor dogs will shed all year, if the coat is dull and the shedding is excessive, then the skin is most likely unhealthy. Dry, flaky and inflamed skin can be signals of fleas, mites, ringworm and allergies, but food and diet must be considered.

Actions, Mood And Behavior

•  A dog that receives the vital nutrients that his body needs to be healthy will be happy, energetic and responsive. When the diet is lacking, indicators may include irritability, dull coat and shedding, nervousness or restlessness. An unhealthy diet and lack of nutrition could be causing the problem.

  Keep in mind that it may take several weeks or even months for your dog's body to show all the signs that his body is receiving what it needs.

Stool Consistency

•  A healthy dog diet and sound digestive system will produce small but firm stools. The small stools indicate that there is little waste, which is a good thing. When a dog doesn't consume enough water, the stool will not only be hard but dry, making it difficult to pass.

  A low quality food will result in undigested food passing into the large intestine where fermentation from bacteria produces gas and loose stool. If the intestines are inflamed or worms are present, the stools will also be abnormal. Liver and pancreatic problems may also cause digestive upset resulting in irregular stools.

During his research, Veterinarian Alfred Plechner found that chemical preservatives cause the same hyperactivity problems in pets as they do in children. Avoid BHT, BHA or Ethoxyquin in any food!

The best possible diet for dogs includes three basic food ingredients. A combination of meat as the primary source of protein along with whole grains (not refined grains) and vegetables/fruits make-up the food sources for optimal dog nutrition.

Unless directed by a Professional Canine Nutritionist or Veterinarian, meat should always be the primary ingredient in any dog's diet (most Vets say to exclude pork) whether you purchase commercial food or you make your own dog food at home. However, dogs with kidney and liver problems are generally on protein restricted diets and this must be taken into consideration.

Cooked whole grains such as brown rice, millet, barley or oat bran are considered a good source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and oils. Remember, any grain should be limited and follow the the main protein meat source.

Many people have a hard time understanding the importance of dog nutrition and unfortunately get caught up in the hype of expensive ad campaigns, commercials and glamorous packaging. Since kibbles pretty much look the same no matter what the brand and human beings are visual creatures, bad choices are often made when it comes to their pets nutrition.

If considering a raw diet, it is critical that your dog already be in good health. Dogs suffering with Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Inflammatory Bowel Disease do not usually do well on a raw diet. In our opinion, older dogs or dogs that are ill should never be fed raw. Our recommendation would be to hire a canine nutritionist to prepare a diet tailored to your ill or older dog's needs. We've done this more than once and the results are simply amazing.

If your dog is pretty healthy and you like the idea of feeding raw, consider raw frozen diets that are all natural and aready include all the necessary nutrients. Some brands offer a rotation diet using all three food forms; raw, canned and dry. Don't forget to include all natural dog treats as well. No matter what your dog's age, he/she can benefit from a better diet.

Research has found that it's best to feed your dog several meals a day vs once a day. A combination of all natural kibble, all natural canned and a balanced form of raw frozen food provides a well balanced diet for most dogs. You should see plenty of change in your dog after a few months or even weeks.

Feeding your dog a cheap dog food is the equivalent of feeding him birdseed, it has no nutritional value at all and chances are your dog is "hungry". Don't be fooled by fancy advertising, if it's cheap, it's garbage.

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