Basic Canine Nutrition

Contact us today to find out how you can properly nourish your dog and give them a happier, healthier life! Read on for some basic information on proper canine nutrition.

Basic Nutrition is any food constituent that helps support life. There are 6 major groups. Three that supply energy and 3 that do not. The energy producing nutrients include proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The non-energy producing nutrients are the vitamins, minerals and water. When your dog eats enough food to meet energy requirements, the proper proportions will be consumed for that canine. This is what we refer to as complete and balanced.

Proteins serve as the nitrogen source for dogs and is a primary constituent of many body tissues, enzymes and hormones and antibodies, plasma proteins are needed to prevent edema and to transport substances in to the blood. Proteins are composed of a combination of building blocks called amino acids. The essential amino acids cannot be duplicated and need to be supplied in the proper concentration. Dogs require 10 essential amino acids.

Carbohydrates - Dogs have no minimum requirements for carbohydrates they are added to commercial pet foods as an energy source to supply calories and fiber to the diet. They are usually classified as soluble and insoluble carbohydrates. Soluble carbohydrates are made up of simple sugars such as maltase, sucrase and lactase. Soluble carbohydrates in excess of the amount needed to meet your dogs energy requirements are stored in the body as fat and can lead to obesity.

Minerals - A balance amount of all minerals in your dogs diet is important. To much of one mineral may be harmful. The best approach is to feed a diet known to contain the proper amount and balance of minerals for that dog s particular size, life stage or activity level. Calcium is a mineral required in the largest amount in the diet and it should be present in the proper proportion and amount in relation to phosphorus. Excess calcium intake in a dogs diet will result in decrease in absorption of phosphorus, zinc, iron and copper and will retard bone growth and maturation. Calcium deficiency is a primarily associated with phosphorus excess such as in animals high levels of meat and organ tissue in their diet. Phosphorus plays an important role in cell metabolism and composition of bone and teeth. Excess phosphorus in conjunction with calcium may result in soft tissue calcification ultimately damaging to the kidneys. Sodium helps with extracellular body fluids and potassium is the main intracellular one. Sodium chloride "salt" is used for taste in many dog foods and can contribute to hypertension, fluid retention and may potentiate cardiovascular and renal disease, 4 to 8 mg/kg is adequate, many commercial dog foods contain 10 to 40 times( 80 to 150 mg/kg) the amount needed. Ash refers to all of the minerals in a diet, magnesium seems to be the main contributing mineral in the manifestation of lower urinary tract disease.

Water is the most is the most critical nutrient all dogs should have access to fresh clean water art all times. 15% loss of water can result in death!

Puppies have special nutritional needs from weaning to 12 months. They need protein, vitamins and minerals, highly digestible and balanced for growth.

Large Breed Puppies need controlled levels of calcium, controlled levels of fat and calories, added L-carnitine, Added fatty acids, and antioxidants.

Small/Medium Breed Puppies need higher levels of calcium, protein and fat.

Adult Dogs need optimal levels of protein, fat, minerals and antioxidants. Higher levels of Essential Fatty Acids for healthy skin and coat.

Large Breed Adults also need L- Carnitine, and Glusosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate.

Older Dogs need lower Fat, Protein, Sodium. Reduced Phosphorus, Added arginine and N-3 fatty acids, Glucosamine & Chondroitin sulfate.

Understanding Pet Food Labels - Read the labels!

American Institute of Baking Scoring System:

• Superior 900 -1000
  
• Excellent 800 - 899
  
• Satisfactory 725 - 799
  
• Passable 650 - 727
• Unsatisfactory Below 650

AAFCO - Association of American Feed Control Officials - an organization of state officers charged with regulating the production, labeling distribution and sale of animal feeds and livestock remedies.

FDA - Food and Drug Administration - Primarily responsible for product claims. You can go to the website to see what is supposed to be in their diet.

USDA - United States Department of Agriculture - Primarily responsible for the agricultural regulation.

Information Panel - Manufacturer or distributor address, nutritional adequacy statement, ingredient statement, guaranteed analysis, feeding guidelines.

Nutritional Adequacy - Making a statement.

Feeding Trial - The Gold Standard - Tested in multiple animals to substantiate claim (have to feed to dogs for at least 3 months in trial to get Gold Standard)

Ingredient Panel/Guaranteed Analysis

Example:

Guaranteed Ingredient Analysis

• Chicken Meal Protein 26%
• Brown Rice Fat 12%
  
• Ground Rice Fiber 4%
  
• Lamb Meal Mineral 5%
  
• Rice Bran Total 57%
  
• Sunflower Oil

Ingredients on the label - Even if meat is listed as one of the top 1 or 2 on the label it does not mean that there is more meat in that product. Ingredients are listed by the heaviest, meat being the heaviest before is dried.

Example:

Ingredients Before Drying After Drying
[Weight (lbs.) Weight (lbs.)]

• Lamb 10 2.5
  
• Brewer"s Rice 9 9
  
• Ground Yellow Rice 8 8
  
• Corn Gluten Meal 7 7
  
• Oat Groats 6 6
  
• Poultry By Products 5 5
  
• Com, Rice, Oat, Poultry By-Products Meal, Lamb
  

Any pet food can make claims to be Holistic regardless of ingredients. There are no legal definitions for this item under laws for pet food.

Organic - At least 70% of content must be organic, 100% Organic must have Seal (white and green). Call the company to find out what is not on the label of your pet’s foods.

Pet foods that claim it is for all stages of life are usually made for puppies.