Dog Nutrition Guide

Did you know that commercially prepared dogfoods can be loaded with corn? And dogs are carnivores. The next time you go shopping for Rover's sustenance, check the label and add up all the corn products. You might be surprised that in many of the dogfood brands, particularly the cheaper ones, grains largely comprise his diet. And, those grain products have been cooked to make them digestible for your animal destroying many of the vitamins and nutrients found in their raw state. The nutrients must therefore be replaced by supplements.

There are some excellent commercial foods out there. Actually, vets see more obese dogs than ever before, so our pets are usually getting more than enough to eat. Just remember to check the labels. Compare the cheaper brands to the premium dogfoods which are usually meatier and last longer in the dish.

And don't rule out a homemade diet for Fido. With a little forethought, a little homework on the subject such as, The Consumer's Guide to Dogfood, Macmillan, New York, NY 1996, and the enhancement of a good pet-multi-vitamin to balance the vitamins and minerals your pooch needs, a homemade diet is a good option, particularly for those canines who have need of special diets because of allergies or digestive disorders.

In a nutshell--a balanced diet supplies both calories for energy and nutrients for growth and replacement of body tissues.


You can go both roads--the commercial diet and the homemade. Leave dry food in the bowl to meet fiber requirements, and supplement with meat scraps and some carbohydrates from the table, avoiding fat.

Two things to remember--any change in your pet's diet should be introduced gradually, and a healthier diet won't make your pet more vibrant if he doesn't get enough exercise everyday.

Education is the key here. It's best to consult your vet and do your own research before making radical changes in your pet's diet.