Contributed Collaborative Post
Is your dog’s diet healthy? Many owners fail to meet the nutritional needs of their furry friend. This can lead to your dog experiencing health problems later in life ranging from arthritis to diabetes. To keep your dog healthy, here are a few nutritional blunders to avoid when feeding your dog.
Choosing dog food brands with poor quality ingredients
While laws are constantly changing to improve the quality of dog food, there are unfortunately still a lot of popular dog food brands on the market with poor quality ingredients. It’s worthwhile researching dog food brands to choose one that is recommended by vets and animal nutritionists rather than picking any food off the shelf. Make sure that meat is listed as the first ingredient, and avoid foods with tons of artificial additives.
Not knowing your dog’s caloric needs
The amount of calories that a dog needs varies depending on their size, breed and age. A young German shepherd can need between 1200 and 2100 calories per day to meet its energy requirements. An older pug may only need 500 calories per day. This means that if you have two different dogs, there’s a chance that they may require different portions or different types of food to get the right caloric intake.
Letting them overindulge in human foods
Be careful when giving your dog table scraps – a lot of human foods are not healthy for dogs. Some human foods can even be toxic such as chocolate, grapes, onions and avocados. Others may just lead to weight gain or digestive issues such as dairy products and bread. Some human foods are healthy for dogs in small amounts and can be great treats. But it’s always important to do your research first to avoid giving them something that could make them ill.
Overlooking nutritional supplements
Nutritional supplements can give dogs a boost of certain nutrients – and can be particularly beneficial as dogs get older. For example, hip & joint supplements for dogs can be worth looking into if your dog has arthritis or is a breed that is prone to such health issues. Your vet may be able to recommend certain supplements based on your dog’s breed and health.
Failing to provide proper hydration
Beyond food, make sure that your dog is also getting enough water. Ensure that they always have a bowl of clean water to drink from – especially on a hot day or if they have just been for a walk. If your dog mostly eats dry food, they may require more water. Unfortunately, you can’t always make a dog drink water, even if it needs it – if your dog is getting dehydrated and not drinking enough water, consider giving them more wet food or see a vet to check that it’s not due to a health problem.
Conclusion
Correcting all of these nutritional mistakes will keep your dog healthy and happy. If you need advice about your dog’s nutritional needs, always consult an expert such as a dog nutritionist or a vet.
This is a contributed collaborative post
