A dog’s diet can consist of dry food, fresh food, frozen food or canned food. Good nutrition must contain sufficient nutrients and be adapted to the life stage of the dog. It contains ingredients that help prevent tartar and slow down the symptoms of aging. A dog fed good nutrition is lively, often has better health and a beautiful, shiny coat. The teeth are also in better condition. Ultimately, you save on the costs for a vet.
Quality differences in the dog’s diet
There are various types of feed available with a large difference in quality. Cheap brands often add more filler, which means you have to feed the dog more. There is also sometimes too much salt in it, which affects the organs and the raw materials used are of poor quality. For example, cheap vegetable proteins are used and the diet does not contain enough animo acids. The dog then gets too few nutrients.
Animal by-products in the feed
If it is stated on the packaging that animal by-products have been added to the feed, then stable waste such as manure, hay and offal has also been used. Not only the meat of a chicken, but the entire chicken with beak and feathers is processed in the feed. The feathers are suppliers of (cheap) proteins. Too high a protein content and the addition of colors, scents and flavors can cause behavioral problems in the dog such as aggression, fear and hyperactivity.
Grains in dog food
Grains are suppliers of cheap proteins and carbohydrates. They are often used as a main ingredient in the diet. However, a dog’s stomach is not suitable for digesting large amounts of it, so that a lot and sometimes also loose stools are produced. Grains can also cause a food allergy.
Meat in dog food
Meat is dried or freshly processed. Fresh meat contains a lot of water, but little remains after preparation. So there is less meat in the food than is stated on the packaging. Other ingredients are sometimes split, in which case there are different names on the packaging that mean the same raw material, such as ground rice, rice bran, etc.
What does good nutrition do for a dog’s health?
Good nutrition improves the health of the dog and leads to a reduction in health care costs. A healthy dog is lively and has a beautiful, shiny skin. Good nutrition often contains ingredients that, for example, slow down the symptoms of aging, fight tartar and protect the joints. They preventively help in maintaining good health.
Composing fresh food
Composing good nutrition with fresh ingredients takes a lot of time and knowledge. A diet that consists only of meat is not sufficient. It does not contain enough minerals and vitamins. The breed, size and age of the dog must be taken into account when compiling the food. A growing puppy needs a different amount of nutrients than an adult dog.
Raw meat / cooked meat
Raw products are perishable and must therefore always be fresh to avoid problems. They can also contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella that can cause stomach and intestinal complaints. An infected dog can transfer these harmful bacteria to humans. This can happen, for example, if you let the dog lick the face or wounds.
The composition of raw meat
Raw meat is low in fiber, so a dog can suffer from constipation. If a dog only gets fresh meat, the composition must be right. Otherwise there will be shortages or too high a content of vitamins or minerals. And that can lead to abnormalities in the skeleton or complaints to the organs.
Canned food causes tooth decay
Canned food is less suitable as a food because it promotes tooth decay. With hard lumps, less plaque remains on the teeth, while canned food leaves residues. Dental problems can be prevented by brushing the dog’s teeth regularly. In addition to brushing the teeth, it is good to regularly give a bone. Chewing removes plaque.