5 Important Nutrients for Maintaining Good Body Conditions in your Dog

As a responsible dog owner, it is important that you know proper dog care and nutrition to maintain overall health condition of your dog. By doing so, you can prevent diseases on infecting your dog.T. J. Dunn, Jr., DVM says it is important that you consider proper dog nutrition in order to provide all the needed nutrients to your dog’s body. For sure, you want your dog to enjoy a life free from any diseases. Health, wellness, and proper nutrition are three important keys so that your dog will stay healthy. Proper dog care and nutrition start with giving proper food for your dog. Food that you will give to your dog must contain all needed nutrients that his or her boy needs to stay healthy and fight possible diseases. Nutrients are properties and substances obtained from food. Dogs can also get nutrients from their food that serves as their sources of energy and part of their metabolic system, growth and health aspect. Your dog should get all the needed nutrients to fight illness-related components. Five important nutrients and essential classes of nutrients you should include on your dog’s diet are listed below:

Protein - It is the basic building blocks for antibodies, enzymes, organs, tissues and cells. It is an essential component for dog’s body repair, reproduction, growth and maintenance. According the National Research Council, they recommend an intake of around 22 grams of protein for ever 400 calories consumed by your dog. You can provide Protein to your dogs by means of allowing them to eat animal based proteins such as fish, turkey, lamb and more. However, it is not recommended to give raw egg to your dogs.

Fats - It is actually considered as one of the most concentrated forms of food energy for foods. Fats provide energy to your dogs. PetMD states a diet that provides around 10-15% fat is best for a normal healthy dog. Fats are essential components for cells production and for hormones production as well. It also provides protection and body insulation for dog’s internal organs. Linoleic Acid is important fatty acids for your pets. Aside from Linoleic Acid, Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Omega 6 fatty acids also play vital role on healing inflammation reaction whether it is in joints, intestines, skin, kidneys and other dog’s body parts.

Carbohydrates - It provides energy for dog’s body tissues. It also plays vital role on maintaining good intestine. However, every dig owner should know that there’s a minimum carbohydrate needed that a dog’s body can only handle. Too much Carbohydrate on dog’s diet is not good.

Vitamins - For normal metabolic function, your dog should get sufficient amount of vitamins. Vitamins are essential for your dog’s diet. However, you should know that when it comes to feeding your dog, you do not need to provide vitamin supplementation to your dog unless a veterinarian told you to do so because over vitamin supplementation may result to certain side effects. Too much Vitamin A may result in joint and bone pain.

Minerals - Refer to inorganic properties and compounds. Minerals are essential for dog’s structural of teeth and bones. You need to monitor minerals intake of your dog because it is important that you include mineral on your dog’s diet since it is good for dog’s metabolic reaction and fluid balance.