Every day, unhappy dogs along with their visibly concerned owners make their way to the veterinary office. Ask a vet about the main problems most dog owners come to them with, and the answer will probably be diet related. Contrary to popular belief, having a bad diet can be the cause of general deterioration in your pet’s health. Keeping that in mind, here’s some information on what you should be giving your pooch to eat.
- Grains
Grains are important for a balanced diet, but it is also important to remember that dogs do not share the same long intestines that humans do. Which means you need to be sure your dog is getting the right grains, and not those that disagree with its digestive system. If your pooch does ingest the wrong stuff, some common symptoms will be itchy skin, inflammation in the ears and of course diarrhoea. See your vet immediately if any of these side effects occur. To stay safe, stay close to the brands that are well known when it comes to providing food for your dog.
- Bones
Contrary to popular belief, not every bone is good for your dog, especially poultry bones that are easily splintered can be especially dangerous for your pooch. Apart from that, pork bones can also be harmful for your pet. To stay safe, always go with rock hard bones that are slow roasted to ensure that they are safe. Using sterilised bones that are specially prepared for dogs will be appreciated by your pet and will be good to their sensitive stomachs. So, the next time you throw your dog a bone, make sure you take a look at it first.
- Canned Food
When it comes to canned food vs dry food for your pet dog, the canned variety tends to include more protein along with other preservatives, while dry foods that are sold by reputable companies are also considered to be just as nutritious for providing your pet with a balanced diet. When it come to dry versus wet food, while the former is great for dogs who love to chew, and works well for knocking off tartar from their teeth, the later is a good choice for those dogs who have lost their teeth or have weak gums. Dry food also tends to be less expensive as compared to wet foods for your dog and is also easier to store as well. So, which is the best option? As a rule of thumb it is always best to go with what suits your pet best, or the type of food your vet suggests should be given to your pet.
- Fruits
Fruits are necessary for a balanced diet, but all fruits are not equal, especially when it comes to the ones that you should be giving your dog. For instance, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, for humans, but your dog might need a doctor if you let them munch on an apple. Reason being, apple seeds contain a type of cyanide that our digestive system is able to filter out, but our furry friends aren’t given that luxury. If you include apples to their diet, your dog might get diarrhea or start to gain weight.
- Organic Foods
If you think of going organic when it comes to the diet of your pooch, there are a few things that you would have to keep in mind. For those who do not know, organic foods are human grade protein sources that normally contain less fillers in other words, wheat, corn or other by-products. Also, organic foods do not contain any harmful preservatives or artificial flavor and coloring, or pesticides and other harmful additives. In short, going organic for the diet of your dog is a good idea since these foods typically contain whole grains instead of the fillers, which helps keep the weight of your dog in check. Also, organic food options can do wonders for your dog’s digestive system as well, since they are more healthy options. Apart from that, the amount of nutrition that’s present in organic foods for your pooch without the harmful preservatives means that your dog will remain in good health, without being exposed to problems such as skin irritation or other health concerns. That being said, it is always better to scrutinize the fine print on the food label to make sure the organic foods contain the essential nutrients they boast of.
- Water
Apart from being clean and fresh water, dogs require about an ounce of water per body weight. Too much and your pooch will need a vet, too little, and your pooch will need a vet. Since dogs cannot regulate their daily water intake it is up to you to make sure they get an adequate amount of water on a daily basis. Also, since dogs don’t sweat out electrolytes like we do, they do not require special flavoured water. If you notice any changes in their drinking habits, be sure to see the vet.
- Raw Meat
Raw meat is considered to be a staple of a dog’s diet. It’s a great source of protein and includes all the nutrients a healthy dog needs. That being said, the mean that we use isn’t always as clean as we think. Salmonella is a very real problem in raw meat and poses a major threat to both humans and animals alike. Saying that all meat carry parasites such as E.Coli and Salmonella would not be fair but it is important to make sure that the meat you use to feed your dog is of the highest quality.
