In regards to proper dog pet care, most dog owners aren’t very well-educated about the nutritional needs of their dogs. Most dog owners simply purchase a mid-price range dog food formula, and assume that they are giving their dog the best nutrition that they can afford. Actually, the nutritional needs of a dog are actually a bit complicated, and are definitely worth researching for any responsible dog owner. A dog’s nutritional needs are subject to many different studies, debates and controversial viewpoints. However, there are a few key points that are worth remembering about your dog’s nutrition.
PROTEIN
Dogs are carnivorous animals, and as such, require quite a bit of protein. Dogs in the wild have a diet consisting primarily of hunted herbivores. As such, a wild dog will get their protein, as well as ingest some of the nutrients provided to a herbivore from a diet of grasses and vegetables. Domesticated dogs may not be as active as wild dogs, but they still do require a lot of protein. Protein should be the foundation of a dog’s diet, and it is recommended that your dog consume roughly a 28-40% protein ratio in their dog food formula. In addition to this, you also have to take into account something called “protein quality”. Each protein is slightly different, and contains different levels of amino acids. The ability of these amino acids to be extracted from the protein is largely determined by the quality of the protein. Better quality proteins will contain higher levels of usable amino acids, while low-quality proteins will not be able to be broken down efficiently by a dog’s digestive system.
FAT
Though most people view fat as being a bad part of a dog’s diet, it is actually a nutritional requirement for a dog’s overall good health. Most dogs need no more than 20% fat, but this is different for every dog. For less active dogs, it is recommended that the fat percentage be around 9%. For a performance dog, 20% is usually best. If your dog is lactating, it is recommended that your dog be fed about 17% fat. If you are trying to help your dog lose weight, or if your dog has a significant weight problem, you definitely want a diet that is low in fat, and slightly lower in protein as well (though protein is important for a dog’s diet, it can be converted to fat if consumed in excess).
CARBOHYDRATES
The carbohydrate content of your dog’s food can actually pose a significant problem if you are not careful. Excess carbohydrates can cause many different health problems in a dog, especially if they make up the majority of a dog’s diet. When looking at pet care, some inexpensive dog food formulas contain up to 70% carbohydrates, while a dog’s carbohydrate needs are actually less than 30%. Though dogs do require some carbohydrates, this is more focused on a dog’s fiber needs. Dogs do not actually have a fiber requirement, though a small amount of fiber has been said to contribute to a dog’s overall colon health.