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Feeding dogs - their diet and nutrition
Dogs are no different to humans... they require a well balanced nutritious diet that includes carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals for them to grow and function properly.
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A fully grown dog requires a balanced diet of carbohydrates and proteins, with vitamins and minerals. More mature adult dogs may need significantly more protein than younger adult dogs, while growing puppies need significantly more carbohydrates than older dogs.
Protein in the dogs diet:
Amino acids are essential to life. They are the building blocks of proteins. A good source of protein for dogs is meat. Protein is also found in nuts, and some vegetables to a certain degree.
Because they are descended from omnivores, dogs are not necessarily strict meat eaters, and in fact many people keep their dogs on a vegetarian diet, and they seem to do well on it. That being said, the vegetarian dog does certainly still require a good source of protein.
However, a dogs first preference is for meat, and they seem to love it raw! Good meats to feed dogs include beef, chicken, mutton (cooked) and horse. In Australia kangaroo meat is readily available in pet food stores too. Other wild animal meats may include water buffalo, bison, moose and deer, emu and ostrich.
Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates are found in cerials like wheat, rice, and corn, and in vegetables like potatoes. Pasta is a good man-made source of carbohydrate. All are fine to be included in a dogs diet. Most dry foods are cerial based, with some animal protein added, usually in the form of processed offal from chicken and beef sources. Many dog breeders who prepare their dogs diets themselves use wholemeal bread as the carbohydrate base in their feed mix.
Vitamins and minerals:
Vitamins and mineral requirements for dogs are very similar to humans. If you feed a good quality dry food, they will get what they need in this regard. If you prepare your dogs diet yourself, it is advisable to add a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement to the main meal daily, even if you include fresh vegetables in the diet.
Fiber
Fiber in the diet is good for a dogs insides just as it is good for ours. However too much fibre can cause loose stools. A dog needs about 4 percent fibre in the diet. Cheaper dry dog foods contain high amounts of fibre, causing loose stools until the dogs system adjusts. A side benefit may be weight loss. Rice and potato based dry foods have less fibre than dry foods based on corn, bran and barley, and are recommended for dogs that can't digest dry foods properly.
HELP... my Dog Is Overweight !
Obviously you should feed your dog less. The quickest way to get weight off a dog is to reduce the calorie intake and up the exercise. While you can find prepared dry foods that are low in carbohydrates - low-calorie - the best method is to feed a diet high in protein - raw meat - and low in
carbohydrate - bread or kibble. Feed your dog only once a day, in the late afternoon, with a biscuit or bone in the morning.
Water
Fresh water should always be available to your dog. Dogs require a lot of water, especially in warm to hot weather, and when exercising.
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