Just like humans, pets need the right combination of nutrients in their pet food in order to stay fit and healthy. When it comes to dogs, they need proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water, with the amounts of each depending on their age, level of activity and health. As your dog grows older, his needs for more or less of each of these nutrients will change, so you should continually discuss with your vet about his dietary needs.
With the New Year upon us, you might have started thinking about your own diet and considered making some changes. Just like human food, the best tasting dog food isn’t always the healthiest and most nutritious for him, and feeding him a diet of his favorite tasty treats won’t be doing him any favors, just as snacking on crisps and chocolate all the time wouldn’t do you any!
In order to choose the best food for your dog, discuss with your vet about his nutritional requirements and then check the food packets carefully before you buy. Your vet may well recommend a certain brand, range or product to you, and if you are changing your dog’s food, you must make sure you do so gradually over a week or so. Start by mixing a small amount in with his current food, increasing this every day until you’ve made a complete change. Try and avoid giving him too many extra treats, and definitely avoid giving him food off your own plate, as human food doesn’t have enough of the right nutrients your pet pooch needs.
