Improve Your Dog’s Diet With the Best Natural Dog Foods

There’s much to consider while choosing a quality natural dog food brand for your pet. First, it’s wise to consult your vet on your dog’s nutrient deficiencies and underlying health concerns, if any. Then, you can examine various natural dog food brands for ingredients and nutritional value. Your dog’s age, body weight, height, and portion size are also vital factors that matter greatly.

Understanding your Dog’s Needs

Does your dog have any health risks or a chronic condition, perhaps? All dogs have distinctive risk factors and nutritional needs, and it’s wise to understand their dietary requirements before you start shopping. Various nutrient groups help cut down the risk of kidney dysfunction, cancer, and obesity, while others support healthy bone development.

Generally, veterinarians recommend buying natural dog food that is rich in protein and low in carbohydrates. But it’s not that simple. You have to design the diet to support your pet’s needs, and adult dogs have different nutritional requirements than puppies. You must consider several factors, such as age, weight, height, and activity levels.

Age

Adult dogs demand natural dog food that helps replenish their energy, maintain a healthy metabolism, and curb age-related health concerns. In contrast, puppies need nutrients that support healthy growth and development. Age is a crucial factor to consider when shopping for natural dog foods, so the nutritional value compliments their bodily needs.

Dog foods are designed for puppies, adult and senior dogs are strikingly different as they carry varying amounts of calories and nutrients. It’s crucial to match the nutrient intake to the current life stage to replenish the body with nutrients.

Generally, puppies need a natural dog food that packs rich concentrations of calories and proteins to boost their growth and immunity. Puppies thrive on a diet rich in minerals, amino acids, protein, and water. In contrast, adult dogs don’t need as much protein and calories as this combination increases their risk for obesity and diabetes.

Natural dog food for adult dogs should contain essential minerals, fatty acids, calcium, vitamins, and some traces of protein. Choosing dog food for senior canines is the toughest of all buying decisions. You see, senior dogs usually have complicated conditions, such as digestive concerns, hearing loss, arthritis, and urinary problems.

If you’re consulting a vet for your senior dog, it’s wise to ask for recommendations. Typically, senior dogs thrive on a fiber-rich diet with fatty acids and very low-calorie content.

Breed & build

Each dog breed has a different genetic makeup and bodily strength, and it’s crucial to consider both size and breed. Examining daily nutrient intake requirements based on the breed will help identify the right balance to strengthen bone development and growth, skin and coat health, and immunity.

The size will help determine the right ingredients and portion sizes. For instance, small dogs need a rich supply of fatty nutrients as they have a faster metabolism than bulkier breeds. Suppose you have a poodle or a Chihuahua. Such a small dog would need a high-calorie diet with a plentiful supply of water. Small dogs need more calories to maintain a healthy metabolism and immune system.

However, balance is crucial. After all, you don’t want your poodle to become obese and develop chronic conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis. Buying good-quality natural dog foods is your safest bet to give your furry friend a healthy balance of calories, proteins, fats, and other nutrients.

Medium-sized dogs are the easiest to feed. They just need a balanced mix of fatty acids, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Large breeds, like the German Shepherd and Rottweiler, are hard to handle. They need a nutrient-dense diet packed with protein, healthy carbs, minerals, fats, fiber, and vitamins. However, these breeds are more vulnerable to chronic illnesses, particularly heart complications.

Dog parents to large breeds should find natural dog foods containing moderate amounts of vitamins, proteins, and carbs.

Check the Ingredients List

The ingredients you add to your dog’s diet impact is physical and mental wellbeing. Most dog parents disregard the effects of food on dog behaviors, and switching to natural dog food can prove highly beneficial. It’s crucial to examine the ingredients list and nutritional value before adding products to your cart.

So, what are the must-have ingredients to note while shopping for natural dog foods? First off, you need meat because dogs aren’t meant to survive as vegetarians. They are omnivores and need balanced portions of meat, preferably animal organs and tissues from the heart and diaphragm. Then, it’s essential to balance the meat with vegetables and grains, enriching the palette with vitamins and minerals. Experts recommend natural dog foods that contain at least two sources of meat, such as beef, turkey, lamb, chicken, or fatty fish.

Grains are the healthiest source of slow-releasing carbs that promote healthy digestion and replenish energy supplies. However, be sure to consult your vet about adding grains if your dog is prone to inflammation or heart-related risk factors. You can explore grain-free options in natural dog food brands for canines with digestive complications and food allergies.

Interestingly, many dog experts and veterinarians advocate for a diet rich in whole grains, for they are excellent sources of fiber, proteins, and minerals.

Final Thoughts

Determining your dog’s nutritional needs can prove tricky, and it demands a bit of research. The breed, size, and activity level are strong predictors of dietary requirements. If you’re training your dog for physical activity, such as hiking, you may need to increase or decrease certain food ingredients.

We advise reading up on some dog nutrition literature and listing down nutrients that are ideally suited for your dog’s breed. Suppose your dog is diagnosed with an illness, food allergy, or other complication. In that case, it’s wise to consult your vet on the right ingredients to buy premium natural dog food brand online.