I lived in New Zealand for 12 years and 8 of those 12 years, I was fortunate to absorb a plethora of knowledge around canine nutrition where I advised farmers, dog owners, breeders, trainers etc.. the most suitable food for their dog! Since then, I have gained a Diploma in Canine Nutrition.
Now some of these names will not mean much to a lot of people but just for credential purposes I shall spout of but a few! I worked alongside companies such as Purina, Masterpet, Royal Canin, Black Hawk (my personal favourite for a dog kibble), Mars, K9, Workdog, Coprice, Superior Chunky, Tux and more!
I am now living in the UK and OMG there is just an overwhelming amount of choice of what to feed our dogs, it’s mind-blowing the number of different dog foods all claiming to be the best!
Gone are the days of just a handful of choices like beef or chicken Pedigree chum, cracking open a tin and slopping it into a bowl and being done with it!
This blog is highlighting our dog’s nutrition and simple tips to provide you with an educated choice on what dog food you should and should not feed your beloved pooch!
Science alert!! The gut is the animal’s second line of defence the skin being the first! When food enters the stomach, it goes through processes to be able to separate the good nutrition from the bad. However, if the bad outweighs the good then this can over time lead to some catastrophic health issues for your dog. The gut is so important in both dogs and humans, what you put in is what you get out. Bad nutrition can lead to skin disorders, organ failure, lethargy, hyperactivity, hyper and hypo thyroid conditions, weight gain, weight loss and behavioural problems.
These issues can all be addressed by looking at what food is going into your dog first!
(always get veterinary advice should your dog be experiencing any of the above conditions)
1st up the Marketing – just because the bag looks fancy and you have seen adverts all over the place, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best food for your dog! Some companies spend more money on marketing than they do on the actual dog food itself! The claims are mind-blowing, and the facts can be somewhat different! It is important to understand what is in your dog food and a lot of the time a lesser amount of ingredients equals better food for your dog.
Homemade vs Commercial – A dog requires 50% Meat (Protein & Fat), 25% Carbohydrate (rice) and 25% Fruit & Vegetables to be able to sustain a healthy life (this may vary in accordance with your dog). However, giving a dog these 3 things alone is not enough. Dogs also require specific vitamins and minerals to live a healthy life, which when making your own “homemade” dog food can be hard to get right, not to mention time-consuming and can be expensive and not all that sanitary. Commercial dog foods provide your dog with the ingredients on the back of the bag. By law, this is what is expected of these dog food companies they have rules and regulations to stick by.
Always look for the number of preservatives, artificial colours and flavourings that can be in your dog’s dog food! Those words that you do not understand can be an indication that nasties have been added to make the food more palatable and appealing and last longer on the shelves!
The amount of salt/sodium in most dog foods is adequate for their daily requirements of 0.3mg per day. However, when you top this up with dog treats and scraps you can quickly go over this recommended daily intake and slowly kidney damage will occur usually unveiling itself in a senior dog. It is important when feeding your dog that they do not have over the recommended daily intake of salt. (Please note this is a basic guide some dogs require more and some less. )
Many dog foods are rendered (sprayed with) with fat and not nice fats, a bi-product of the manufacturing of these foods. They do this to make the kibble more palatable for the dog and more appealing to the human eye, but it doesn’t mean it is providing them with any extra beneficial nutrition!
New dog foods will not change the condition of your dog overnight, good dog foods suitable to your dog will start to show their value over time. Your dog’s behaviour may change, and their coat will be shinier, less malting reduced itching, their breath will not smell as much, less defecating as they will be absorbing more of the good nutrients passing out less of the bad, and fewer health conditions, become more balanced in activity, less anxious and many more besides.
You often feed a lot less of the more expensive premium dog foods as they have little to no fillers, therefore, keeping your dog fuller for longer and providing them with all the nutrients, they required to live a better chance of a healthy existence.
( Should you be concerned about your dog in any way it is important to contact your veterinarian, a canine nutritionist or your qualified behaviourist )
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