Understanding Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs

Understanding Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs

-How Do Dogs Body’s work?

Dogs are non-obligated carnivores. What was that?! meaning they like meat, they will eat it, but they are doing not necessarily need it. Dogs function almost like humans. they have certain elements to their diet called, amino acids. Amino acids are building blocks for proteins which facilitate our body function; creating energy for muscle development and maintenance, and maximizing brain function. There are 10 amino acids that dogs must get from their diet, a bit like us. These amino acids are:

• Arginine
• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Threonine
• Tryptophane
• Valine

These amino acids are ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS, which suggests our bodies, and our dogs’ bodies can't synthesis these amino acids independently and that we both got to acquire them from outside sources – our diets.

The interesting thing is that there are 23 amino acids in total. Both dogs and humans make the opposite 13 amino acids instinctively, independent from our diets. we'll return to why these amino acids are so important later in our discussion regarding the standard of pet food we chose for our dogs.

-Dog Food Ingredients:

If we take a mean pet food from the local supermarket, just to seem at the ingredients we see an inventory with words like “cornmeal, whole sorghum, chondroitin, glucosamine, chicken or meat by-product, whole-grain barley, beet pulp, dried egg product, flax meal, etc”. Just to call a couple of key ingredients, these are often listed in various orders on the pet food bag. Usually, the primary ingredient listed is found within the highest quantity, and then the list goes on to the ingredient of slightest within the product.

-Dog Food Dictionary:

So what are the issues with these ingredients?

Let’s take them so as I even have listed them here:

Cornmeal – Although some pet food brands say corn is “easily digestible”, corn is really wrapped in a thick cellulose shell. Dogs can't digest cellulose of any kind, especially corn because that cellulose is thicker than cellulose found in other foods like peas. the opposite reason corn is tough on the dog's gastrointestinal system is that it's high on the glycemic index. The glycemic index may be a tool employed by dieticians and nutritionists to live the sugar released in foods once they are metabolized. Scoring high on the glycemic index means other organs that aid in digestion, like the pancreas, need to secrete more insulin to counteract the upper sugar levels. once in a while, this is often ok, but keeping the body under the constant stress of releasing all that insulin to combat that much sugar after every meal, within the future can cause the insulin becoming insufficient in breaking down the sugar and thus can cause diabetes in your dog.

Whole sorghum – Low nutritional value, almost like corn. Whole sorghum is grown as feed, to feed livestock. So, it’s easy to grow lots, fast and affordably. Fast food sources, grown in mass quantities and affordable aren't synonymous with quality.

Chondroitin & Glucosamine – Both of those supplements are known to assist with inflammation and stop damage to joints caused by osteoarthritis. These are natural substances that help repair cartilage and supply some Omega 3 carboxylic acid benefits. Good to possess in your dog’s food, especially larger, more active breeds. But any breed can benefit.

Chicken By-Product Meal – Any by-product meal is basically what’s leftover at the slaughterhouse. There are various levels of marketable meat products. Some products are “edible”, “not intended for human consumption”, and “unfit for human consumption”. the varied levels determine how the meat is treated after the slaughter, basically about cleaning and refrigeration. What this suggests is your dog eats the leftovers which contain chicken feet, livers, lungs, spleen, stomach, heads, undeveloped eggs, intestine, etc. All the parts leftover from animals after the foremost nutritious parts are used for humans. When the meal is animal-specific, for instance, chicken meal, turkey meal, beef meal, it's better than non-specific meals like meat meal, meat and bone meal, or animal by-product meal. you would like to avoid non-specific animal by-product meals at the least costs, chicken meal, beef meal, turkey meal, and medium grade protein supplements but there also are high quality that is just plain simple, chicken, turkey, beef, etc – those are the simplest.

Whole Grain Barely – this is often an honest source of grains.

Beet Pulp – Used as a filler. Like corn, beet pulp is high on the glycemic scale, and will not be used constantly and the future.

Dried Egg Product – a reasonable protein waste left over from the egg industry. Composed of non-shelled egg leftovers. almost like animal by-product meal.

Flax Meal – a reasonable thanks to pressing the flax oil out of the seeds. seems like it provides the high fiber benefits of flax seeds but doesn't provide the standard and maybe a poor source of fatty acids.

-Identifying Low (L) petfood Quality:

When manufacturers perform to supply inferiority meat products they deprive our dogs of excellent quality protein. As a result of the poor nutrient value, they add synthetic supplements. you'll notice tons of “L” ingredients on the top of the list. Synthetic supplements like “L-Lysine”, and “L-Tryptophan”. These are affordable ways for manufactures to bulk up inferiority food with the essential amino acids not achieved within the poor quality meat. A portion of pet food with good quality meat doesn't need to supplement amino acids and provides a good diet with a spread of hardy fruits and vegetables.

Kibble

-How to Maximize Large Breed, High Energy Diet:

Titan, a Weimaraner may be a very high-energy sports breed. We initially started feeding him Iams. are you able to believe it?! I learned tons about petfood since owning such an outsized breed dog. We took Titan to the veterinarian in his younger days complaining that he ate his own stool and other dog's stool. Our veterinarian, Dr. P, suggested scrambling a whole egg and adding it into Titan’s daily meals. Dr. P was clear to form sure we also include the eggshell. As a person's we expect, that’s weird, why would we like the dog to eat eggshell? Read on to seek out out! Since this recommendation, we've been, scrambling an egg every dinner and adding it to Titan’s meal with a crushed eggshell.

-How To Feed A Dog On Budget:

Adding your own additional nutrition to kibble maximizes the budget. you'll buy cheaper food and bulk it up with a couple of of your own additional specialty foods. otherwise, you also can buy high-quality food and not desire you've got to cook specialty dog meals all the time. this enables you the liberty to use a dish and shell as a tasty treat!

-How Much Calcium, Phosphorus and Selenium Does a Dog Need?

Various sources have various “doses” of what proportion of every element should be your dog’s daily intake requirement. The amounts are hooked into the dog’s size and weight, and age. Sources also list the recommended daily intake at the foremost minimally acceptable value for general health and nutrition. So confine your mind to seem for clues in your research. once you examine daily intake specialize in the dose per weight, per day, whether it’s a percentage and appearance for words like “daily minimum” or “daily maximum”. Consult your veterinarian for specific values for your dog. Remember size, weight, age, and sort of dog breed all got to be taken into consideration.

Dogs only need very small levels of phosphorus and selenium, but these elements are essential to assist with maximum absorption of other elements like calcium.

-How dish and Shell Benefited Our Dog Titan:

Titan got a dish a day for all times. The Weimaraner may be a large breed, athletic dog. The egg was provided to maximize his bone development. He had long legs and needed strength and endurance. The protein in eggs is definitely digestible. The easily digestible protein is straightforward on the stomach and reduces indigestion. the extra calcium supplied within the eggshell is carbonate, which is additionally high in calcium and also further soothes the stomach. It helped Titan stop eating his stool and other dog's stool. He was finally getting enough nutrition once we started bulking up his meals.

-How to Evaluate Nutritional Success:

In conclusion, not all pet food is made equally. You get what you buy. Today you've got many options for organic and high protein foods from quality sources. There also are cheaper food options that you simply can add your own food to and make it very specialized to your dog’s nutritional needs.

You will know your dog is getting enough once you notice your dog seems satisfied after eating, nuisance behavior will stop – like eating your own stool, and your dog will have more energy and appearance healthier. you'll easily see a healthy coat, less bad breath, and clear eyes!

Has this changed your view of your dog’s nutrition?