Should We Feed Our Dogs

One of the most important jobs that us dog owners have, is the feeding of our furry friends. There are always many different views on what we should feed our dogs such as wet food, dry food or a raw diet. There is no right or wrong answer, you need to find what suits both you and your dog best. A couple of things to bear in mind is the cost, some food is more expensive such as the raw diet and dry food tends to be cheaper. Some dogs can be fussy, so the palatability of the food may be more important to somethan others, for example raw meat tends to be tastier for the dog than dry food. Some issues that our dogs can face may be prevented by the food we give them, for example wet food can lead to dental problems due to the higher sugar content
The correct diet is important as we need to make sure that our dogs are healthy. Examples of energy producing nutrients needed from the diet are protein, fats and carbohydrates. Protein is needed for processes such as tissue building, growth and the regulation of antibodies. If the diet is insufficient in protein than you may see signs such as poor growth, lowered immunity, weight loss and poor skin and coat. Fats are important for energy store, to increase the foods palatability and are an essential source of fatty acids. To little fat can cause hair and skin problems and reproductive failure. However, it’s also essential that the dog does not have too much fat in the diet as this can make your dog obese and cause associated diseases such as heartdisease. Finally, carbohydrates are important as they affect the function of the stomach and intestines, however again cause problems if given in too high quantities, vomiting and diarrhoea.The cheaper dry foods tend to have more cereal in them and therefore contain more carbohydrates.Your dog also needs non-energy producing nutrients which are water, vitamins and
Water is so important because if they have inadequate water intake, they will have reduced food intake and therefore affects the productivity of the whole body. Vitamins are important as they help regulate energy metabolism and participate in biochemical reactions. Water-soluble vitamins such as B and C are particularly important as they are not stored in the body so daily intake is necessary. Finally, minerals are needed for bones, fluid balance, metabolic reactions and the production of enzymes and hormones. Now you know a bit more about nutrition and why it is important, we need to look at how these nutritional requirements may change over time. Puppies need extra nutrients as they are using more energy growing and running about, however don’t overfeed them as this can lead to an obese adult. It is a good idea to give your puppy specific puppy food and to follow the serving size suggestions. Adults need a regular, balanced diet to maintain their healthy weight. If you have a working dog they will need a more specific diet designed for them as they use more energy by physical