Everything you need to Know About Canine Nutrition

Whether you feed your dog home-made food or premium commercial food, it is paramount to understand the basics of canine nutrition. First off, let’s see if dogs are carnivores or omnivores. 

Are Dogs Omnivores or Carnivores?

Over the years, many dog owners have wondered if their canine friends were omnivores or carnivores. Well, dogs are classified as members of the order Carnivora, family Canidae. 

 

However, the debate still goes on. Many scientists believe that dogs are omnivores, having no natural preferences.

The truth lies somewhere in between. While carnivores, such as cats or tigers, have a higher nutritional requirement for certain vitamins and acids, omnivores, such as people and dogs, can easily create their own acids from vegetable oils. Of course, studies have shown that dogs evolved from the timber wolf several millennia ago. Hence, by their genetic nature, dogs demonstrate carnivorous traits. Dogs also don’t grind, they chop, due to their narrow pointy back teeth. 

Due to these two theories, the dog food marketplace has become a breathing witness to dog’s adaptive abilities. While some products favor meat, others feature vegetables. Of course, most of the dog food available on the market is made of beans and cereal grains. Knowing that dogs are optimized for eating meat while demonstrating a notable omnivorous capacity can help you find the right blend of foods for your canine friend.

A Balanced Nutrition

When talking about canine nutrition, it is also important to determine how much protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals your dog needs.

1. Proteins: they are the building blocks of cell growth, repair and maintenance. In the case of dogs, the biggest demand for proteins comes from the maintenance of hair and fur.

For a healthy fur, your dog will need about 20 grams of proteins. Moreover, make sure you feed him the right dog food, which should contain the following 10 essential amino acids:, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, arginine, lysine, , phenylalanine, threonine, methionine, tryptophan and valine. In case one of these amino acids is missing, the body cannot synthesize proteins effectively. As a direct result, your dog’s fur might not shine anymore.

2. Fats: fats are considered the most concentrated source of energy in a dog’s diet. Along with proteins, fats contribute to the absorption of Vitamins A, D, E and K. A healthy diet should include the following fatty acids: linolenic acid, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. While linolenic acid contains omega-3 fatty acids, the linoleic one is the main source of omega-6 fatty acids. Scientists agree that dogs need more linoleic acid (omega 6) than omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Carbohydrates: even though dogs do not necessarily need carbohydrates because their bodies can get enough energy just from fats and proteins, carbs can be a good caloric source for most dogs. As a matter of fact, carbohydrates, which are usually found in fruits, veggies and certain dog foods, provide minerals, iron and fiber. Your dog needs all of that to enjoy a healthy body and stay fit.

4. Minerals: these organic nutrients are essential for your dog’s growth and strong teeth & bones. These are microminerals and macrominerals. Balance is critical with minerals, because too much absorption of microminerals can interfere with the absorption of macrominerals and vice versa.

 When feeding your dog, avoid all by-products, with added preservatives or sweeteners. Instead, choose a balanced diet with 75% proteins (chicken meat), fats (5%), fruits, vegetables and whole grains (10%). Your canine companion will definitely thank you for your care.