Pets are similar to humans in that they require a consistent intake of essential nutrients in order to maintain good health. Nutrition is now an increasingly recognized field with its own journals, professional organizations, and continuing education courses for veterinarians. Here’s how to choose the right dog food and the importance of these foods.
Know The Dog Breed
Different breeds of dogs have different dietary needs because of differences in activity levels, metabolic rates and body compositions. So, the best dog foods for Jack Russells will not be the same as the best dog foods for Golden retrievers. So before you purchase dog food, find out the breed of your dog and the nutrition they need. Here are different dog breeds and the nutrition they need:
-Golden retriever. Golden retrievers are large, active dogs that need a lot of energy in their food to keep them healthy and happy. They have been known to gain weight from foods that are high in simple carbohydrates which turn into sugar when digested. So their dietary needs include a high level of protein and moderate levels of fat.
-Border collie. Border collies are medium-sized, high-energy dogs that need food that is going to give them the correct amount of nutritional value for their activity level. They tend to gain weight if they eat too much rich food so it’s important not to overfeed them.
-Jack Russell terrier. This small dog has an extremely high metabolism and will quickly become obese without careful monitoring of its diet and daily exercise routine. They don’t need many calories so their diet must be full of protein and low in carbohydrates.
-Dachshund. This dog is a small to medium-sized breed with a very active lifestyle and they need food that’s going to give them enough energy, but not too many calories. They also require more fat in their diet than most other breeds because of the unique shape of their body.
-Poodle. Poodles are smart, playful dogs that love food so much it can become a problem. They’ve been known to eat anything edible so you have to watch what your poodle eats carefully or you could end up with an overweight, unhealthy dog on your hands.
-Shih Tzu. Shih Tzu’s are small, lively dogs that love to eat. They can become overweight if they are overfed so it is important to monitor their diet carefully.
-Yorkshire Terrier. These little dogs are very energetic and need food high in protein with moderate fat levels to keep them healthy and fit.
Know Your Dog’s Age
Your dog’s age will determine what kind of food you should be feeding him. Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs which have different needs than older, senior dogs do. You wouldn’t feed a growing puppy the same thing as an adult Golden retriever on a mostly sedentary lifestyle would get so choose your dog food accordingly before feeding it to your pet. For instance:
-Puppies. Puppies are just like humans, growing rapidly so they require food that is high in caloric content for their body sizes. A large percentage of these calories should come from protein because this will help develop strong bones, tendons, muscles, teeth, and other organs.
-Dogs over 7 years of age. Your dog has grown into an adult now so it’s important to monitor his food intake more carefully than you did when he was a puppy. He no longer needs as many calories as he used to but he still needs high-quality proteins with moderate fat levels to maintain muscle mass and healthy organs.
-Senior dogs. As your dog gets even older his protein needs will decrease and his fat intake should be kept low to avoid obesity.
Know The Brands
When choosing a dog food brand you always want to be sure to choose a reputable company that only uses the best ingredients in their food. This means that it’s important to check out reviews from other pet owners before buying any type of dog food online or in a store.
Food Labels Can Be Misleading
When reading the labels of your dog food always keep in mind that they only include the nutrition information for one serving. You will usually feed your dog twice or three times this amount on a daily basis so make sure to calculate how much protein and fat he’s getting based on the recommended feeding amounts provided on the package.
Follow these tips to find great deals on high-quality pet foods that will keep your beloved pooch healthy and happy. Do your research before buying dog food online or in the store. Then, make sure you know what different types of dog food are best for different breeds and ages of dogs.
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