Dog Nutrition & Health

By Garrett McMahan


Dogs, just like their human counterparts, need proper nutrition in order to maximize their health. While it's sometimes hard for humans to overcome bad habits and years of improper nutrition, dogs have the advantage that they can only eat what you feed them. To ensure that your dog stays as healthy as possible, here are some helpful tips.

One of the first steps to take is simply to discuss nutritional and exercise needs with your dog's veterinarian. They can tell you how much too feed and what brands of food to consider, as well as helping you determine a proper weight for your dog and what activities are best for your pet. When it comes to the amount of food your dog needs each day, there are many factors to consider such as the ideal weight you are trying to achieve, the age of your pet and the general activity level of your pet.

You might be wondering whether it is best to feed a dog dry food or wet food or a combination of both. Typically, dogs enjoy wet food more, as it often has more flavor. It also has the advantage of having some water content, which can be great if you have a dog that doesn't tend to drink enough water in general. Dry dog food can be a bit better for your dog's teeth. You also can mix a bit of wet food with dry food to enhance flavor. In general, both types of food can be a good choice as long as the food itself is very high quality. In addition to taking suggestions from your vet, check the labels of the dog food. The ingredients, just like our own food, should be items we recognize and not a bunch of chemicals or fillers.

You might think that what is good for you nutritionally also is a good choose for your dog, but their bodies have much different needs. The main difference is that dogs only need to eat protein-rich and fatty foods. They don't actually have to eat foods rich in carbohydrates. Humans tend to need and want grains and fruit, which have many carbs, but your dog doesn't have to have these in order to have a balanced diet. However, they are a big ingredient in most dog foods and they certainly will not harm your pet. Simply ensure that the main ingredients in your food are good sources of protein and that the carbs are whole grain or perhaps foods such as sweet potato or pumpkin.

While there are plenty of safe foods for your dog, it is not recommended that a dog eat table scraps and there are a few foods that you should always avoid giving to your bet. Chocolate is a commonly known food to avoid, but raisins and grapes also should never be given to dog as these can cause kidney failure. Avocado, both the plant and the fruit, is toxic for dogs, containing a substance called persin, which can harm your dog. Dairy products often cause severe intestinal distress and never feed meat with bones or fruit with large seeds or pits.

Dogs love to explore, sniff and sample leaves and other items found in nature, but this can be harmful to your pet. If your dog is the curious type that loves a snack of leaves or rocks, proper obedience training can help. Using dog training DVDs, you can teach your dog helpful dog training skills that will ensure that your dog doesn't run off and explore areas where their health could be in danger. In addition, your dog will learn to cease chewing on something when you command, which can be helpful if they get a hold of something potentially harmful.




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