Your dog’s nutritional needs are different from ours. What we think is healthy, is not necessarily good for them. To keep you dog healthy, you will need to understand their particular needs and how to address them.

Your dog needs certain essential nutrients to grow and thrive. Without these nutrients, your dog is more likely to have many health and allergy problems. It can even lead to stunted growth and a shorter lifespan.

Dogs, like any other animal, need five basic nutrients to survive: protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients provide different functions and are necessary to sustain the health and well-being of your pet.

Proteins are made up of amino acids. They are considered the building blocks to your dog’s health. Some, but not all, necessary amino acids are synthesized by the dog. However, the other essential amino acids must come from your dog’s food.

When choosing dog foods, ensure there is an adequate amount of protein to keep your dogs healthy. And the majority of the protein source needs to be from an animal source, not grain. But too much protein, however, can cause obesity as excess protein is converted to fat.

Fats are as necessary for dogs as humans. Most people don’t think about the fat content, or the kind of fat, that is in their dog’s food. But without the correct kinds and amounts, your dog will suffer. Fats are needed for a healthy skin and coat, proper kidney function, and to transport the fat-soluble vitamins to cells. But just like with proteins, too much can cause problems, such as obesity.

Carbohydrates are nutrients which are converted into energy for your dog. The best source of carbs for your dog are whole grains as they have the most nutrients still in them. Inferior dog foods will use grain by-products (left-over parts from other food processing) which tends to boost carb and protein ratios, but really has very little nutritional value for your dog. These grain by-products are also common allergy triggers for dogs. Look for minimal grain by-products in your dog food, and if your dog has allergies, stay away from common allergy triggers such as corn, wheat, and soy.

Vitamins and Minerals are the last area of necessary nutrients for your dog. These should be supplied naturally through your dog food. However, some dog foods will need to add in a lot of vitamins and minerals because they get destroyed in the manufacturing process of the food. But these vitamins and minerals will start to diminish in both quality and quantity the longer the bag of food is opened – so you won’t get as much by the bottom of the bag as you do when you first open it. To ensure optimal health for your dog, you should provide a specially formulated vitamin supplement.