When it comes to your furry friend’s diet, you want to ensure that they’re receiving the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need to live happily and healthily for as long as possible. Your dog relies on your research and judgment when it comes to their meals, which is why you’ll want to be well-versed on how you can provide them with nourishing, balanced food options.
Here are three tips to achieve optimal dog nutrition:
• Know the ingredients: The principles of dog nutrition rely heavily on the quality of individual ingredients. Knowing first and foremost the base ingredient in your dog’s food — and if it’s vegetable or meat — is an important place to start. Knowing what allergies or sensitivities your dog has, as well as their personal taste, can help you make the best ingredient choices for your pet and ultimately enhance their health.
• Don’t rely on processed foods: Many conventional pet food products have additives, preservatives, and chemicals included to extend the amount of time between their production and consumption. While adding such ingredients works to benefit these pet food companies’ sales, these additions provide no nutritional advantage for your pet.
• Be mindful of the amount: A dog’s required volume of food varies based on its size, metabolism, and nutritional requirements. Whether you give your pooch free reign over their meal schedule or portion-control their diet, it’s good practice to assess the amount of food your dog needs by simply determining if your pet looks to be a healthy weight. It’s important to note that different kinds of canines may appear leaner than others, so it’s helpful to have an idea of your dog’s breed’s average size when making this evaluation.