How Dog Food Affects Your Dog’s Health
As devoted pet parents, it's our responsibility to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.. One of the most fundamental ways we can achieve this is by understanding the profound impact of their diet. The food we provide doesn't just nourish their bodies; it influences their moods, behaviors, and overall quality of life. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the intricate world of canine nutrition, exploring how the right diet can be the key to a happier, healthier, and more vibrant life for your furry friend. Unfortunately, there is no one-sort-fits-all food for all dogs, as this remarkable species is more complex than that. All dogs are different and may have different energy and nutrient needs. A diet that takes into account your dog's life stage, energy level, physical condition, mental well-being, and nutritional needs is essential for their well-being.
Avoid ingredients that could harm your dog
The diet should not contain anything that burdens or is harmful to your dog, such as dyes, preservatives, synthetic additives, or ingredients that do not align with the carnivore's diet circle. If your dog suffers from food-related allergies, the choice of food becomes even more critical. The food should also not risk your dog developing nutritional deficiencies or excesses while keeping your dog in optimal condition.
How diet affects dogs' emotions
A dog's brain and, consequently, its emotional system do not function optimally without the right building blocks. The central nervous system is the overarching organ to the hormonal system/the endocrine system, which, in turn, regulates the production, absorption, and secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters. They, in turn, regulate emotions that drive dog behavior.
Essential building blocks for dog health
To optimize mental and emotional functionality, the dog needs to eat relevant precursors in the production of essential neurotransmitters, hormones, and relevant transport proteins.
Tryptophan: the key to balance for your dog
For example, tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, which, in turn, affects sleep, wakefulness, hyperactivity, impulsivity, depression, appetite, desire, stress tolerance, and sex drive.
Vitamin B and magnesium for stress management
B-vitamin is crucial for a stress-resistant dog, and magnesium contributes to the optimal function of the nervous system and muscle relaxation.
Tyrosine: for better stress resistance and motivation
Tyrosine is a precursor to catecholamine (dopamine, adrenaline, norepinephrine), which directly affects stress tolerance, motivation, the desire to enjoy, the development of self-harming behaviors, addiction issues, depression, attachment, aggression, and optimizes the production of oxytocin, and more.
The importance of iron and vitamin E for endurance
Iron is crucial for oxygen uptake, and vitamin E is essential for endurance and muscle work.
Omega-3 for brain health and development
Omega-3 contains EPA and DHA, which affect brain development and optimize its continued function.
Extra nutrition for active and stressed dogs
Hard-working dogs, pregnant dog, lactating mother dogs, or stressed dogs may need extra vitamins as they burn more during high activity levels. The need for antioxidants also increases during the recovery process. During shedding or heat periods, dogs may also need an extra vitamin boost.
Supplements to complement your diet
A quality complete diet should contain everything a dog needs, but needs can change, and a life stage or strain may require more. Sometimes supplements are a good complement that fills in the gaps. However, be sure not to create an imbalance by giving too much of something for too long. Interrupt supplement feeding now and then. And above all, ensure your dog gets first-class food.
The risks of carbohydrates and obesity
A carbohydrate-rich diet containing a lot of starch and grains, corn, and beet pulp leads to blood sugar spikes, affecting the dog's mood accordingly, especially if the dog grazes from a bowl of food left out 24/7. If a dog's diet consists mostly of carbohydrates, it will also affect the possible protein intake, i.e., amino acid intake, which is crucial for a balanced well-being. It is also difficult to get an overweight dog to loose weight if only the fat content in the food is reduced; the carbohydrate content also needs to be reviewed and kept low. You can read more about how to keep track of your dog's weight and body condition.
Dog behaviors in nutritional deficiency
A dog that is not satisfied with what fills the bowl can develop problematic behaviors. They can be driven by hunger or the dog may be chasing a deficiency and desperately seeking the missing nutrient. Snacking, begging, resource guarding, eating feces, chewing on inappropriate items outside can be the result.
The benefits of slow eating and chewing
Mealtime is also relevant; today, many dogs inhale their food in a fraction of the time it would have taken to satisfy their hunger in the wild. Therefore, ensure food enrichment and provide your dog with bones to chew on daily. For a dog, feeling satisfied after dinner is more than just how full the stomach is. If you're curious about dogs', read: appetite problems.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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