Dog nutrition is a subject close to the heart of
every responsible and caring owner. How do you ensure
your pet has the best diet possible? Remember, pets vary
widely in their individual requirements for dog
nutrition, according to factors such as:
- Size and weight
- Age
- Level of overall activity
- Whether pregnant or nursing
When dog nutrition is taught at veterinary school, the
usual advice is:
- Feed a branded commercial dog food, since
non-branded dog nutrition sources may contain
inadequate ingredients.
- Ensure the package states that the food satisfies
the dog nutrition requirements of the Nutritional
Research Council (or similar).
- Officially, there is no need to add any vitamin or
mineral supplements to enhance dog nutrition.
- Dry foods should form a major part of the diet, to
keep the teeth and gums healthy.
The official view of dog nutrition, however, is not
shared by all experts. Different animals have different
needs, and some may benefit from supplements. In general,
dog nutrition is better served by feeding high-quality
protein such as meat, rather than protein from soybeans,
grains, and low-quality by-products of meat processing
(such as hair and feathers). Soybeans can be hard for
some dogs to digest, leading to uncomfortable flatulence,
an indication of faulty dog nutrition.
The amount of food needed for optimum dog nutrition is
also important, since many pets are overweight. Be
cautious with the amounts recommended on the package,
since the manufacturer's aim is to sell more dog food! It
is a better dog nutrition policy to keep the animal
slightly underweight rather than slightly overweight.
Never indulge a pet with excessive treats between meals,
and make sure that adequate exercise is taken. Just as
for humans, optimum dog nutrition is a mixture of expert
advice and common sense. As a caring pet owner, you are
the best judge of the ideal dog nutrition for your
particular pet.
