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If your dog hasn’t been in the pinnacle of health lately, you might consider taking a look at his diet. Have you switched dog food brands lately? You might be surprised to learn that many commercial dog food brands are not supplying the nutrients that your dog needs to function in top health.
Even if your dog appears to be healthy, it is worthwhile to educate yourself on the nutrients that every dog’s diet should include, as well as the common dog food ingredients that can cause a decline in your pet’s health. Read on to learn about the items that should be in a well-balanced dog food, as well as items that you should avoid at all costs.
A dog’s diet requires 6 basic nutrients to provide optimum health. These items are protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. It is very important that the food your dog eats contains each of these nutrients in the proper amounts. For instance, protein is the main nutrient your dog requires, therefore meat (such as chicken, beef, lamb, etc.) should be the main ingredient in your dog’s food. Meat is not the only source that companies can gain protein from. Some dog food companies choose to supply additional protein from plants and grains such as soy, corn, and wheat. Foods that contain too many vegetables or grains are not very beneficial to your dog, since his primary need as a carnivore is meat. Just make sure that any food you purchase or make yourself is high in protein.
The Dog Food for Life eBook contains tons of great DIY recipes for treats, everyday food, and even desserts for your dog!
If you were to look on your dog food label to find that it simply states “meat,” you may not think much about it. However, you should be wary of any product which does not specify the source of the “meat.” Unfortunately, some companies find it much cheaper to produce dog food in which the meat is derived from road kill or pets that have been put down in shelters or veterinary offices. While dogs in the wild may get by on a diet of road kill, we certainly don’t want to feed it to our pets, whom many of us consider to be a member of the family. You’ll want to keep your eye out for the following harmful ingredients and steer clear of any foods that contain them: Unidentified fats, BHA and BHT, artificial colors, Menadione Sodium Bisulfate, Propylene Glycol, Brewers Rice, Cellulose, Ethoxyquin, Propyl Gallate, and Gluten.
To get a good grasp on which items make up the bulk of your dog’s food, remember that ingredients are always listed from largest percentage to smallest . If your dog’s food is primarily made up of chicken and lamb, those ingredients will be listed first, followed by the next item of significant quantity, and so on.
Now that you know what your dog’s food should consist of, take a look at the package to determine whether your dog’s diet is in need of change. If you are afraid your pet may be in poor health due to his/her diet, consult with a veterinarian immediately.
If you would like to learn more about dog food ingredients and which brands to avoid/pursue, go to Dog Food for Life.
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