Dog Nutrition Basics

A balanced diet and good nutrition is equally essential to pets and their health as it is for humans. Your dog needs a balanced diet to keep him healthy. Dogs diets don’t change day to day like that of humans. For this reason it is essential for your pet’s diet to meet all nutritional requirements for proteins, fats and minerals at once.

A healthy, balanced diet is no only good for his health, but it is also good for his hair and skin. Good nutrition influences the overall internal workings of your pet for his optimal health to ensure he lives a happy long life!

Let’s take a look at some of the vital nutritional values your dog’s diet should contain:

Protein is critical for your dog’s health. Protein is his source of amino acids which help bones, muscles, hair coat, skin and more. Protein is a necessary part of your pets nutritional diet needs. His dog food should contain roughly 30% of protein.

Like humans, dogs are omnivores so they are able to use both meat and vegetables. In fact, dogs can do well on a properly balanced vegetarian diet.

Dietary fats supply most of the body’s calorie intake as well as essential fatty acids. “Fat” is the most expensive of the ingredients found in your pets food. It is for this reason that that some of the lower pried dog food companies skimp on the quality and quantity of fats contained in the pet foods. Inadequate, poor quality fats will result in your pet having poor skin and coat health.

Fiber is the indigestible substance in dog food. Minimal amounts of fiber are essential for proper food digestion. Without proper fiber intake, pets would suffer from diarrhea which could then result in more potential health problems and risks.


Vitamins and minerals in small amounts are also essential to your pet’s health. Calcium and phosphorus (parts of the bone) sodium (essential part of the of the enzymes system) and iron (component of hemoglobin) are just a few of the many essential vitamins and minerals needed for your pets optimal health and nutrition.

Lastly, preservatives are needed to prevent the food from oxidizing – without preservatives in the dog food, the ingredients would quickly diminish.

There you have it – basic diet and nutrition tips that will help you keep your dog healthy, happy and looking good. We hope you now have a better understanding of what your dog requires to remain happy and healthy!