What is a Balanced diet?
A balanced diet is necessary for the growth of the air for a living. A Diet that provides every necessary nutrient in the correct order to the body for its correct functioning is balanced diet. A correct calculated amount of calories is the balanced diet’s soul, which mostly is obtained from fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, nuts, and lean proteins.
More caloric food has more energy in it; therefore, in the dogs’ case, intense care is taken about the calories as more caloric food may make the dog fatty, eventually making him passive, and less caloric food will weaken him. In both of these cases, the dog will lose his original beauty and activities.
What is a balanced diet for Dogs?
Just as human beings, dogs also need a healthy diet. For convenience, people have made tools to know what amount of energy they need and how many calories their food will provide.
There is no such tool for the dogs. To keep the dog out of the danger of being prone to many health problems and diseases for better growth and health. the most important thing is to provide the dog the food which provides energy and calories, which are neither more than its needs nor less.
Those who want their dogs always active, happy and healthy are always anxious to know that how they can know the food they feed their dog is balanced or not?! The simple answer is that a complete diet for the dog must contain protein, 3 omega fatty acids, grains, vegetables etc. According to general perception, Cats and Dogs need more than 50 important nutrients in their food. The most important of them are
- Vitamins C
- Minerals (Magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous)
- Proteins
- Mega Fatty acids
- Carbohydrates
- Water
There are different sources through these mentioned nutrients that can be obtained, few of them will be discussed later on.
Like other living organisms, the Dog’s food also must be complete. Complete in the sense that it must contain all the ingredients in a digestible form. For example, Dogs need some of the green leafy vegetables in their diet, but the raw form is not digestible by the Dog’s digestive system. In this regard, Dog’s food-making companies make balanced foods and take care of its digestibility.
Along with dogs will also require minerals and vitamin supplements in their food to make it complete and sufficient in energy for his whole day activities. These also must be in a calculated manner as too much, and less both can be harmful.
Why is Balanced Diet so important for dogs?
How much you are feeding your Dog is not enough; what you are feeding matters. The dogs, like other carnivores, are active and energetic and require a good amount of energy every day. In this regard, if you feed him a lot of junk food, it will increase your Dog’s weight, increasing the risk of more diseases. It will be poor nutrition.
For sound body better, diet and exercise is vital for man as well as dogs. The dogs we like because they are playable, active and they amuse us by showing their acrobats. To perform these all activities for us, the dogs need energy.
That energy must be given to them so that it and providing the required energy must maintain its physical body structure and keep him fit. To full fill these requirements, there comes the concept of a balanced diet.
The balanced diet provides energy and helps in the elimination of different ailments of the health. It helps the dogs to live longer, stronger and active. If the diet is proper, the coat of Dog will remain shiny and sleek. With a healthy diet, the Dog’s immune system and digestive system will remain healthy, protecting from many diseases.
What are the vital nutrients for the healthy diet of dogs?
Energy need varies with the dog’s creed and size; however, the nutrients remain the same. These the food supplements which are the basic part of the diet of every living organism. Their deficiency may lead to some serious health issues. The deficiency of the nutrients and their effect on health will also be covered later.
Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrates and proteins are rich sources of energy. According to exports and the Vet, the dog’s food must contain 30 to 70 % carbohydrates to carry out their activities and maintain good health. For dogs, the best sources through which they can get carbohydrates are:
- Wheat
- Corn
- Rice
- Barely
- Oats etc
These ingredients being rich in carbohydrates, are also easily digested by dogs. Some other food components provide a good amount of energy, but they are not easily digested. An example of such an ingredient is beet pulp. Such food elements help provide Fiber and are capable of keeping the dog full for a good time.
Protein:
The stronger the muscles of the dog, the more playful and active he will be. Muscles are made up of Amino Acids, and that Amino Acid is the building block of protein. Hence the protein is essential for the healthy living of the dog and keeps his heavy activities.
According to an estimation, the dog’s diet is capable of creating half of the Amino acid in the body, and half of it must be provided through the diet. This half is also known as essential Amino acid. The best source of protein for dogs are:
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Beef
- Turkey
- Lamb
- Soybean
- Fish
The amount of protein a dog requires varies with size; however, it is generally thought that an adult dog with his full activities requires 18 to 25 percent protein.
Fats:
Generally, a common person thinks fat to be unhealthy, but it is true in all cases. A good amount of fatty acids is needed by dogs which must be supplied through the diet. Fatty acids are a source of energy and give taste to the food as well. Fatty acids and providing energy also make the skin healthy and shiny with a healthy coat. Sources of the fatty acids for the dog are:
- Pork fat
- Cottonseed oil
- Vegetable oil
- Soybean oil
- Fish oil
- Safflower oil
A best adult dog diet must contain 10 to 15 percent of Fatty acid.
Vitamins:
Some of the Vitamins are essential for body maintenance and proper functioning. Vitamin E and Vitamin A are healthy for the Immune system and healthy skin and hair, respectively. The main sources of vitamins are:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
Minerals:
Minerals help the body to perform certain functions. It also helps in the prevention of deficiencies. Sources of the minerals in Dogs food are:
- Legumes
- Grains
- Meats
- Fruits
- Vegetables
Some minerals like Calcium, Phosphorous, magnesium, sodium chloride, Sulphur, and potassium are needed in enormous amounts. In contrast, others like Iron, Zinc, Copper, Chromium, Iodine, and Fluorine are needed in a lesser amount.
Aqua:
Water is life as every process within the body needs water. A healthy diet cannot be complete without water. Water helps the body maintain temperature, eliminate waste, transport nutrients, and prevent Dehydration.
What are the consequences in the Dogs due Deficiency of vital nutrients of the Diet?
Deficiency of the vital nutrients of the balanced diet is dangerous and even can be fatal with time. Dogs are very sensitive to case food as more food can also add to the loss of their beauty and activities by making them fat. So the diet must be calculated, balanced and complete.
It is not advisable to take your puppy every other day to the Vet, even when the problem is with the diet. The convenience disease and health problems that occur in dogs due to deficiency of some nutrient are discussed here:
Deficiency of Carbohydrates:
Carbohydrate is a vital source of energy. Its deficiency can lead to weakness, making the puppy prone to many diseases and health problems. If the dog’s diet doesn’t contain the proper amount of Carbohydrates, he will not be able to maintain his blood glucose concentration and become hypoglycemic. In the condition of hypoglycemic (low level of glucose in the blood), the dog’s nervous system cannot work properly, and it can lead to Disorientation, tremors, and coma.
Symptoms:
The dog with Carbohydrate deficiency will show weakness and remain tired throughout, even without doing anything. In such a condition, the dog starts consuming the body protein.
Deficiency of Protein:
Protein is an essential part of the body forming as there are many tissues and cells in the body which are replaced and new muscle are formed. These all are made up of proteins and need protein for correct functioning. The deficiency of the protein will cause the dog to sit in a place without any activity. Protein is also associated with the skin and hair of the body. So the deficiency can cause the darkening of the skin or hair depigmentation. I can also suffer from intussusception, fungal infections, and neoplasia.
Symptoms:
The main function of the protein in the body is to maintain, replace and form new tissues and muscles of the body and organs. Hence it deficiency will cause muscle mass loss, skin and fur will change, the puppy will not grow with age, and it may not be fertile.
Deficiency of Fats:
A fatty diet is essential for dogs as it helps in the absorption of very important vitamins, including vitamins (A, D, E, and k). The deficiency of fats can lead your puppy to many skin diseases like skin cancer, Allergy, some infections of the bacteria on the skin, pyoderma etc. it can diversely also affect the growth of the puppy, causing growth deformities.
Symptoms:
Fats and lipids are involved in the formation of the cell membrane. It also is necessary for organ protection and vitamin transportation. Its deficiency will cause dryness of the coat, loss of weight and Seborrhea.
Deficiency of Vitamins:
Although the vitamins are required in a very small amount of great importance for the body’s proper functioning, if we talk about vitamin D, it controls and maintains the calcium level in the blood. In all living organisms, a very precise level of calcium controls muscle and nerve functioning. If somehow, due to vitamin D deficiency, its level rises or falls, it can be fatal. It can lead to heart failure.
Symptoms:
Vitamins are involved in many chemical reactions taking place within the body. Symptoms are different in dogs depending upon the deficiency of special vitamins and its function in the body. Generally, dogs show appetite loss, fur changing, dermatitis, decrement in the body temperature, and clotting problems.
Which food is best for the dogs homemade or commercial?
What food is best for the dog?
This is the frequent question asked by dog owners. There are always different answers from different Vets. Some support homemade food while others raise hands in support of commercial foods.
Homemade food:
If you are perfect for cooking and have enough time to cook, you can save money and give your dog fresh and own desired food.
It will show your affection for your pet. However, you will not be able to know how many calories your food contained and what the need of your dog was. Sometimes your dish may be more caloric, or it may miss some of the important ingredients. You will have to take care of it very much.
Commercial food:
The commercial food is prepared to keep in mind the digestibility, taste, presence of all essential nutrients and cost under the care of different feed control organizations like the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Commercial food is always balanced and contains a well-calculated amount of energy. So its always advisable to use commercial food to feed your dog. It provides all necessary constituents in a correct composition. Before buying the commercial food, take care of buying it according to your pet size and creed as it varies from dog to dog and from little size dog to giant dogs.
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Also read: Merrick dog food