Three Important Factors
In Dog Food Diets

If you have an older dog it requires a slightly different diet from that of an active adult dog and obviously quite different to the diet of a puppy. All of these dogs need three essential elements of nutrition in their diets. These amounts should be decided by the age, weight and breed of your dog. The more balanced a dog's diet has been during their lifetime, the healthier your dog will be with a much better chance of living a long active life.

If you take the time to learn how fats, proteins and carbohydrates are needed as essential components of your dogs diet you can ensure that your best friend is being fed the diet that will ensure the longest, active and most nutritionally balanced life possible.

Some of this information will be familiar to anyone who has made a study of their own diet. Whether this was for controlling weight or to improve the family diet. Foods are comprised of at least one or more of the three basic elements of nutrition. One type of food may contain more protein or more fat or even more of a carbohydrate, however, all foods will contain some fat, some carbohydrate and some protein.

Your dog's digestive system has evolved over thousands of years and is adapted to eat what it would find naturally in the wild. It is essential to remember this when feeding your dog. There are many things it should not be given such as foods containing onion (It does not have the enzymes to digest onion), chocolate or foods containing lots of sugar.
If you feed your dog a natural balanced diet suitable for their evolved digestive system , you will be ensuring that your dog is getting the proper nutrition.

                                                     The Three Elements of Diet - What are they for?

Fats
Fats, which are also known as lipids are found in almost all foods that a dog would naturally eat. Most people know that as with human food several vitamins including A, D, E , and K are contained in fat and they are all essential in maintaining the overall health and metabolism of your dog. Vitamins are essential for growth and for coat maintenance. Fats also provide a protective layer for the internal organs and are an essential part of the body reserves. Fats are the main source of energy for your dog.

Proteins
Proteins, fats and carbohydrates all function together in the dog's body, exactly as they do in your own body. Their combined action to ensures that the dog's metabolism is working correctly.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates for dogs include simple and complex sugars, starches and even cellulose. This is the powerhouse of the metabolic system and carbohydrates help to control how fats and proteins are used and burned within the body.

All three dietary elements provide some form of energy, although what generates the energy and how that energy is used is different for each item. Proteins do not contribute as directly to supplying energy but when the body becomes low on carbohydrates or fats, the protein will be burned to supply energy. Protein is associated with growth and reproduction, but it is also involved in all aspects of managing hormones. It is these hormones which control your dog's metabolism. Protein is important in the immune system and in the formation of enzymes and antibodies. Protein deficiencies can lead to a wide range of health problems including anemia due to lack of blood coagulation and clotting and other health issues.

You must feed your dog a diet that meets it's natural requirements and includes all three elements of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. This is very important for any dog whatever it's age. Older dogs will have more exacting requirements with regards to feeding and may need some additional care in selecting the most appropriate natural foods. If you have not already studied your dog's diet, seek the advice of your vet. It is also worth looking at the labeling on the packaging of GOOD QUALITY dog food. There is a lot of information given which will help you to decide on your dog's diet.

One last thing, do not ruin your dog's health by over feeding. Your intentions may be good but you will not be doing your dog any favours. Take a look at the Dog Weight Chart accessed by a link on the home page. (right hand side)