Dog Food Secrets: Find Out What You Can Do To Keep Your Dog Healthy

In the modern world of commercially prepared, dry dog food and products, virtually nobody ever thinks about what a dog really requires in their diet. They just expect their dogs are getting whatever nutrients they need to remain healthy, feeding them as they have always fed their pet dogs.

In reality, a dog has quite specific dietary requirements that are very much similar to ours. If you don't satisfy them, your pet can develop digestive problems, or even become ill. If nothing else, they will hardly ever have normal, healthy bowel movements and we all know what that means for you.

What a Dog Requires

First, consider what a dog actually requires. Canines don't need table scraps and they don't need empty filler. Even better, they don't actually know the difference, especially if you never give them table scraps to start with.

Unfortunately, commercial dog foods are usually low in nutrients and nutritional vitamins your dog needs, therefore if you're using standard dog food, you may have to supplement it in some ways. In the wild, a dog would receive its vitamins and minerals from newly killed prey, roots, berries and fruit, grass, and insects in a crunch.

You're not going to go out and get your dogs some ants to eat, but there are some things that you can do to supplement their diets.

Getting Your Dog the Right Nutrients

To start with, reexamine the dry food you feed your dog. If it is a bland, store brand which has a corn base, it is not doing the job. There are some pure, organic foods that have fewer fillers and a lot more nutrients.

If you wish to go the whole foods way, consider the nutritional needs of a dog. This means getting beef or chicken into their diet to ensure the animal proteins they need. Organic meats are the best to lessen antibiotics and also other chemicals.

You will also have to supplement foods by reducing fat intake. If you don't have lean meat to feed them, reduce any fat from other sources. Stay clear of hot dogs or cheese for instance. Additionally, regardless of the debate that they are carnivores, canines can gain a lot from fruit or veggies.

Nevertheless, some fruit and veggies are harmful to them. Stay with whole, fibrous foods. Apples are very good, in addition to whole grains and a number of grasses. Also, fatty acids from eggs or fish are great, though avoid any fish that may have bones.

Daily Feeding

Your dog should also not be eating too much. A 50 pound dog must only eat 2-3 cups of food every day at most, split between two meals. Your pet dog does not require 3 or 4 meals a day (unless it is a big enough breed or your schedule demands it).

In addition, have set food times for your dog. Merely putting down a dish of food and leaving it full is an extremely fast method of getting your dog really overweight. Dogs will eat anything you place in front of them, and they will easily grow lethargic due to it.

Yet another good suggestion is to make your canine work mentally and physically for their food. A walk prior to eating is good, as is forcing them to sit down and wait for the food dish. This stimulates the instincts that tell them to hunt for that meal each day.

Feeding your pet dog is not like feeding children. You don't have to ask them what they want or try and mix it up with variety. If you have ever observed how enthusiastic a dog becomes for boring, dry kibble, you will know they're perfectly happy eating anything they get.

In addition, they are healthier if you adhere to a steady, well-balanced diet.