A Guide To Nutrition and Dog Health Care

Fulfilling your dog’s dietary requirements is an important part of the dog health care process.

A dog’s nutritional requirements differ depending on their age, so managing their diet is not as straightforward as it initially appears.

This guide will inform you as to how you can tailor your dog’s diet to make sure it is benefiting their general health. The cornerstone of successful dog ownership is a good diet.

Feeding Adult Dogs    

Dogs are similar to humans in that the most important aspect of their diet is balance. Protein is the cornerstone of this balance. It is recommended their protein content is 20 to 30 per cent, so be sure to include protein rich foods in their diets, such as chicken, salmon and lamb.

Carbohydrates such as rice, cereal and pasta are also a crucial component of their diet, as they supply the dog’s energy. You can ensure smooth bowel movement by complementing their diet with plenty of fibre.

You should feed your dog twice a day, at the same time, with similar portion sizes.

Feeding Puppies

The dietary needs of a puppy are very similar to those of adult dogs, with the major difference being that the food needs to be easily digestible and higher in energy. Because puppies have smaller stomachs, you will need to feed them less, more often.

There are some foods you cannot give to a puppy that you would be okay giving to a normal dog. An example of this would be table scraps, because they can be particularly difficult to digest.

Senior Dogs

Older dogs are less active and have a slower metabolism; therefore their nutritional needs are different from adults and puppies.

It is imperative to keep the calorie levels of an older dog down, as well as giving them food that is easily digestible. Their aging joints can be supported by giving them vitamins C and E.

As dogs begin to age, their ability to chew effectively lessens. For this reason you should keep their portions smaller and avoid meals with large pieces of chewy meat.