Dog Food Nutrition - Which to choose?
Dog Food Nutrition - Which to choose? If a dog food is balanced by providing the proper amount of essential nutrients for your dog, how do you choose between the dozens of brands and hundreds of formulas available? The food must contain nutrients in usable form. Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are no good if they can't be absorbed. It must be palatable to the dog. If your dog doesn't like it, it doesn't matter how well-balanced it is. He must remain healthy while eating the food. If his skin is dry, if he's losing or gaining weight, if he has stomach gas or flatulence, consider changing his diet. When choosing a food consider the activity level of the dog. Dogs expend energy in many different ways. For example, lactating bitches, heavy exercise, and regulating body temperature during cold weather can cause dogs to expend a lot of energy. Outdoor dogs may have increased levels of exercise and therefore require a higher percentage of protein and fat for energy production than a dog that stays indoors most of the time. Major dog food manufacturers make every effort to provide a balanced diet of proper nutrients in usable form, but in the end the choice of a dog food is a personal choice.
|