Pet Care: Great Nutrition for Your Dog July 11, 2008

There are thousands of dog food brands available for our dogs today. While many pet owners see dog food and merely pick the food that is the best brand; however this is not always the best nutritional decision for the dogs health. Protein is the building block for healthy bones and health immune systems for our pets.

While several people feel that “Their dogs” they eat “dog food”; we should also take into consideration the importance of a healthy diet supporting balance in their life. We have all researched at one point or another what our pets can’t eat—what will harm them and quite often how frequently to take them to the vet.

Yet many of us fail to pay attention to the amount of protein we are feeding our pets leaving it up the pretty bag, or the latest brand. This is not getting the puppy quality nutrition.

Below is a list of recommended protein levels for different stages of Dogs:

Puppy: Protein 28% Fat Content 17%

Adult Dog: Protein 18% Fat Content 9-15%

Performance Dogs: Protein 25% Fat Content 20%

Senior Dogs: Protein 25-28% Fat Content less than 17%

As you can see there is a difference in the levels of protein and fat a dog needs at different stages in its life. The protein they intake is broken down into amino acids which help strengthen their bones, joints and improve their immune system to help fight off disease. Making sure that your dog has all the nutrition they need is very important. Take care of your dog they need you!

Until next time!