Basics of Dog Nutrition | Lord Jameson
Dog Nutrition - What You Need to Know About Feeding Your Dog
Dogs are such an important part of our lives! It's important that you help your dog stay happy and healthy. In order to do this, they need six basic nutrients: water, proteins, fats, carbs, minerals, and vitamins. These nutrients are required as a part of daily diet and assist in all the basic functions of the body. The necessary amount of each nutrient has been established by the FDA, as well as an amount that can be too much or toxic to the body. In this blog, we're going to guide you with information on what to feed and not to feed your dog... Without any further ado, let's start with nutrients your dog needs.
Nutrients Your Dog Needs
As we mentioned, dogs need six basic nutrients in order to stay healthy. They're pretty self-explanatory, but let's delve deeper into what these nutrients do for a dogs health!
Water: Dogs are active, so just like humans, it's incredibly important to keep them hydrated! Water also helps regulate their body temperature, prevent heatstroke, and promote healthy skin. Not only that, but it also helps maintain elasticity within your dog's muscles, so that joints stay flexible which helps prevent arthritis pain later down life cycles.
Proteins: Protein is an essential ingredient in the diet of any healthy animal. It provides them with muscle, tissue, and bone mass which is needed for growth! A lack thereof can lead to leanness problems such as swaybacked (spinal flexure), osteoporosis or muscular atrophy.
Fats: Fats are a necessary part of our diets, but not just for humans... Dogs need them too! Fats provide energy and help with keeping your dog's skin from drying out as they play outside in the sun. They also help to moisturize your dog's nose when it's cold. Fats allow dogs to keep their coat super soft and healthy-looking, too - so that's another plus!
Carbs: Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. Carbohydrate foods can be broken down into glucose, which then gets used as fuel by cells in your dog's muscles and other organs throughout their entire digestive tract. They also act like fiber to keep bowel movements regular - which is a must if you want to help your dog avoid constipation or diarrhea.
Minerals: Minerals are great for many things! They can alleviate the effects of dehydration and provide additional fluids in hot weather. In addition to providing a variety of nutrients, minerals also serve as the building blocks for much that makes up your dog's body. Minerals like calcium or phosphorus help with muscle growth and offer protection from environmental toxins and bacteria by neutralizing them with their own mineral content.
Vitamins: Dogs need vitamins just like people do. They provide energy and help with the immune system, preventing illness when your dog is feeling vulnerable to colds or other viruses that can be hard on their fragile bodies. The different vitamins play certain roles. For example, some studies have shown that vitamin C may protect dogs against cancer by preventing oxidative stress from getting into their cells damaging DNA molecules. Vitamin K helps to keep your dogs skin healthy and thriving, and even helps with blood coagulation and bone health. Comment down below if you want to hear more about other vitamins and their health benefits for dogs!
Every Dog Is Different
According to the FCI, there are over 360 breeds of dogs in the world! There are tiny, small, medium, large, and even extra large sized dogs! (They tend to be some of the best cuddlers!) Depending on your dog's size, they may need more of one of the nutrients than others.
What Is Good Dog Nutrition & What Should You Look For In Dog Food?
The question of what is the best dog food has been around for decades. There are many factors that go into determining this, including your dog's size and breed type, as well their personality profile.
The market is flooded with all sorts of dog foods, but not all ingredients are created equally. You should look for food that has a low calorie count to help maintain their weight. Another important thing to look for in dog food is their ingredients. We always recommend all-natural ingredients... Our healthy dog treats are made with high-quality, 100% organic ingredients because you are what you eat! So, we wanted to help make sure your dog is eating something healthy and nutritious! We suggest staying away from food that's full of artificial fillers, preservatives, and other additives, too.
When looking for a dog food brand, you'll want one that has a nice amount of protein as it'll help with your dog's muscle growth (and hip maintenance in senior dogs!) Also, look for one that is packed with vitamins. If you're looking to make sure their nutritional needs get met to the best of their ability, then we recommend researching their breed and consulting with your dog's vet!
How Often Should I Feed My Dog?
This is a difficult question to answer, because it depends on the size and breed of your dog! The normal eating frequency is typically two meals per day, but there are always individual variations depending upon age, weight activity, level diet, etc. When feeding your dog, it's also best to keep your dog on a schedule. This way, they learn to recognize when it's meal time and it helps you both to have a routine and be consistent!
The Best Kinds of Dog Treats to Choose for Nutrition
We've gone over the importance of all-natural foods and have even done a guide to choosing the best healthy dog treat for your dog. (Read it by clicking here!) The best kind of dog treats have ingredients that you can pronounce and it's healthier for them to not have any additives and preservatives. A diet full of natural ingredients means more nutrients... This can lead your dog into feeling their best during all stages in life - including the adorable puppy stage through old-age when they might not have been able receive necessary vitamins.
Thankfully, we offer all-natural, delicious dog treats for breeds of all ages and sizes! Our Lord Jameson treats are soft in form and are USDA Organic Certified. We have several mouth-watering flavors and have even won an award for the Best Dog Treat of the Year - so we're confident your dog will love them, too! Check out our flavors by clicking here.
Conclusion of the Basics of Dog Nutrition
Dogs are just as much a part of our family as human kids! This is why it's important to know what your dog needs. You may be concerned that your dog has a lack of health because their diet might be missing a key component... Every dog is different and what might work for one may not work for another, so as we mentioned, always consult with their vet as they'll know what's best for your furry friend.
Now that you know what should be included in your dog's diet, it's time to take a look at their overall health. If you think that your dog is not as healthy as they should be, then it may be because of the food they've been consuming. If you're looking for a healthy dog treat, then make sure to check out our Lord Jameson treats as they contain nutritious elements to make your dog happy and healthy!
Thank you so much for reading our blog!
