Dogs are considered to be one of the most faithful pets amongst human beings. This faith is restored when dog owners treat their pooches as a family member and not as a pet (this is especially true in our country). But the question is whether you are taking good care of their nutritional needs? We know that this can be a very tricky question and basically every dog owner who reads this at this moment will say “Of course I do,” but reflect hard: are you attentive enough to look at the ingredients label when you shop for dog food? If your answer is yes; then you are performing the duty of a good dog owner, but in case if you are not then this is the time to change it.
Before you go through the next part of the blog it is important to understand that the ingredients that we, human beings eat are not safe to be fed to our four-legged friends. When you go for Dog Food shopping the next time look for the ingredients on the food label and select the food product that is of the highest quality.
Now you would ask, “How would I know what is best for my dog?” Do not worry if this is your concern because majority of dog owners are not aware of the ingredients that need to be fed to the dog to make it a complete nutritional and healthy diet. Let us first of all look at the ingredients and then discuss each of these ingredients in details:
- Animal based protein
- Whole grain carbohydrates
- Special fibre sources
- Balanced fatty acids
Animal based protein
Branded high quality premium dog food contains good quality animal protein. Animal proteins are enlisted first in the list of ingredients comprising of lamb, fish, or chicken rather than the by-products of animal proteins or vegetable protein. Protein intake in the dog is used in two parts: 1/3rd of the intake is utilized to keep their skin and coat healthy and shiny and ½ of the body mass of the dog has been built with muscle that is obtained from the protein in the food. So, whatever breed of dog you have; protein is the most important ingredient for sustaining growing looks and superb muscles.
Wholegrain carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are also key to quality nutritional food for dogs. In fact a smaller quantity of carbohydrate will do wonders to the dogs. With the help of carbohydrates dogs can get short and extended burst of energy. Some of the sources of wholegrain carbohydrates consist of whole-grain sorghum, whole-grain barley, rice and cornmeal. Rice in the food gives instant energy to active dogs, but that is short-lived. It needs to come with with wholegrain comprising of sorghum and barley that provide lengthened energy that keeps your pooch satisfied for a very long time.
Special fibre sources
It is very easy to overlook the important of fibres in the dog food, but they are very significant for the overall vitality of a dog. 65% of a dog’s immune system lies in their digestive system and so with the help of right fibre like pulp beet and FOS (fructooligosaccharides) dogs get good nutrition absorption with the support of a healthy microflora which assists in getting a good stool.
Balanced fatty acids
Fats are key to functioning of the brain and spinal cord of dogs. It also assists in maintaining the skin and coat of the dogs. The only condition is that the fats need to be in the right balance for effectiveness in dogs. Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids are quite good for dogs. Scientifically it has been recently proven that a diet with higher Omega 3 DHA enhances the ability to get trained.
But there are certain ingredients that should not be on the dog food label at any cost. Some of them include:
- Artificial colours
- Artificial flavours
- Preservatives
This is how you need to read the food label while looking for your favourite dog food:
- Protein: Should be the primary ingredient listed on the ingredients list and it should contain a solitary animal based protein like chicken, lamb or fish
- Carbohydrates: Ensure that wholegrain like maize, rice, barley, sorghum and wheat are mentioned
- Fibre: Look for pulp beet and FOS (fructooligosaccharides) which are gentle on the digestion
- Fatty acids: Omega-3 and Omega-6 should be there on the list but mentioned separately. They should preferably be in the ratio of 5:10 parts of Omega-6 to 1 part of Omega-3
There are lots of dog foods available in the market today, hence; it is essential to select the best one that is good for your dog. Remember that some brands may not work for your dog, while others will work wonderfully hence, select the product wisely and before you make wholesome changes in the protein source or carbohydrate source in the dog food it is advisable to consult your veterinarian who would suggest some good food options.
