It is important that your dog gets a balanced diet of carbohydrates, protein, and fats to maintain good general health as well as a healthy skin and coat, and
maintains a good level of energy. Your dog’s unique nutritional requirements will depend on its size, its breed, and its stage in life, among other factors. General
diet guidelines are as follows: 20-25% protein, 20-35% fat and 40-60% carbohydrate. Like us, they need vitamins and minerals, but unlike us they don't have the
option to add variety to their meals that would allow them to get more of the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy.
Feeding your dog lean meat alone does not satisfy these guidelines. In nature, dogs would typically eat all of their prey, which would provide more of the nutrients
they need. Since being domesticated, dogs typically don't receive all the nutrition they need because they are not required to hunt their prey nor have the ability
to eat the different types of foods that would innately provide these essential nutrients.
Following is a breakdown of the normal dietary requirement:
Proteins and Amino Acids
Dogs must have protein in their diets, they cannot live without it. Dietary protein contains 10 specific amino acids that dogs cannot make on their own. Known as
essential amino acids, they provide the building blocks for many important biologically active compounds and proteins.
Fats and Fatty Acids
Dietary fats, mainly derived from animal fats and the seed oils of various plants, provide the most concentrated source of energy in the diet. They supply essential fatty acids that cannot be synthesized in the body and serve as carriers for important fat-soluble vitamins. Fatty acids play a role in cell structure and function.
Food fats tend to enhance the taste and texture of the dog’s food as well.
Carbohydrates
Dogs need a certain amount of energy to maintain the normal activities of their daily lives. Dogs get some of their energy from carbohydrates which include sugars, starches and dietary fibers.
Because of the decreased physical activities of older dogs and a slower metabolism, older dogs need typically twenty percent fewer calories than middle aged dogs.
The fact that adult dogs tend to get less exercise and less meal variety, lend them to be deficient in certain necessary vitamins and minerals. A good way to ensure that they are receiving the vitamins and nutrients they need is to provide them with a good quality vitamin supplement like NuVet Plus. This will ensure your dog has the best chance of living the longest, healthiest life possible.
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