Nutrition

Nutrition

Dogs are like us

The domestic dog evolved very closely with man and so it's unsurprising that their nutritional needs resemble ours in many respects. Like us they are omnivores which means they can eat a broad spectrum of food including, meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, cereals, legumes and fruit.

Dogs can be vegetarians

Dogs can be quite happy on a vegetarian diet provided it's correctly balanced and supplemented with the right vitamins and minerals. This is because certain essential fatty acids they would normally get from animal and fish products can be manufactured in their bodies from other nutrients. But generally a healthy diet should contain good quality meat or fish for protein, supplemented with vegetable proteins such as soya, grains or peas.

Fish Oil is good for your dog's skin and coat condition

Dogs can tolerate both saturated and unsaturated fats and both should be present in your dogs diet. Small quantities of fish oil high in unsaturates are beneficial for skin and coat condition. For healthy skin and a glossy coat for your dog try Burgess Supadog.

Dogs can tolerate high levels of fat

Unlike their owners dogs can digest quite large quantities of fat in the diet and do not seem to experience the health problems this would cause humans. However, eating large quantities of high-energy foods, unless taking a lot of exercise, can cause obesity in dog and owner alike. It is important to keep your dog in a lean condition and light or lower energy diets, such as Supadog, are available to help with this.

Dogs need vitamins and minerals

Dogs need a careful balance of different vitamins and minerals and require food which includes zinc and copper supplements. A complete diet, such as Supadog, will include the necessary vitamins, minerals and amino acids in their correct ratio, either derived from the raw materials themselves or from an added supplement. Good manufacturers, like Supadog, use protected vitamins to prevent them being degraded by processing. Your dog should obtain all it needs from the food he eats, there should be no need to give your dog extra vitamins or minerals and over dosing vitamins can be harmful.

A little bit of fibre is good for your dog

Your dog will also benefit from some fibre in his diet as well. Although the diseases which fibre apparently protects man from are not generally recognised as severe problems in dogs the inclusion of fibre in the diet helps the passage of food through the gut and has a positive impact on gut bacteria and wellbeing. Sugar beet, pea fibre, chicory and whole grain cereals are all included in dog foods to provide different types and blends of fibre. Many manufactures also include fructooligosaccharides to aid gut health and maintain a healthy balance of "good bacteria".

Dogs need plenty of water

Your dog also needs a supply of good clean water available to him throughout the day. Bowls should be kept clean, washed daily and regularly topped up so your dog can drink ad lib. This is particularly important when the weather is hot or when feeding dry food.

It's important to find the right balanced diet for your dog

To help you find the right food for your pet have a look at our product range or simply fill in the details below and we can point you in the right direction. Alternatively you can call our free consumer care line on 0800 413 969 between 9am and 5pm, where our dedicated team of pet experts will help you make the right choice.