Important Dog Nutrition
There are many canine foods that are available in the market but one needs to know the nutritive content that they contain. The content is normally written on the label but there is never a description of what importance they are in the body of the dogs. Below is a summary of the important ingredients and their use in the body
1. Water – Water helps to maintain a healthy body on the dogs and helps in digestion.
2. Garlic – It helps to build the immune system of the dog and it also repels fleas and worms. It should be given in small quantities because if given in large quantities, it can cause anemia. One should add just a small close of crushed garlic to the food every day.
3. Dairy products – Raw eggs, cheddar cheese and yoghurt are good for the dogs. They provide protein and iron to the body.
4. Fruits and vegetables – These should comprise a third of the daily diet. One can give either raw or cooked veggies like beans, carrots, zucchini, broccoli and lentils. Organize produce that is unsprayed is the best to feed the dogs.
5. Grains – These should also be a third of the diet and the recommended ones are crumbled whole wheat bread, corn meal, oatmeal brown rice and barley. These provide the much needed carbohydrates in the body.
6. Oil – A tablespoon or two very day of vegetable or canola oil is good to improve dry skin. They also add some calories in their bodies.
7. Meat – Lean and organic meats are the best. Turkey, raw liver and chicken are most recommended. Fish can also be given but in small quantities. The meats should be a bigger portion of the daily diet.
8. Vitamins – Veterinarians recommend additional of Vitamins C, B and E for a healthy immune system. The recommended source of these vitamins is the brewer’s yeast. These should however be in controlled quantities.
Dogs have stronger bacterias in their guts that allow them to eat bones buried in the soil and anything else in the dirt without getting sick.
Meat is high in phosphorus and lower in calcium and so it is not recommended in large amounts. If one is not sure which types of meats to feed the dogs, they should buy dog food directly from the shops and follow instructions on how to prepare them.
Veterinary schools can train dog owners on the best types of food to feed dogs.
