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You’ve heard ‘you are what you eat’. Your dog too. For good health and strength, your dog needs the choicest dog food. The best dog food is well-balanced; with all the right nutrients in the right proportions.
While keeping your dog satisfied is important, every meal you offer him or her needs to cater to a given health need.
TLC pays pay attention to all the selected ingredients in dog food to ensure they provide nutrition and meet a pet’s health needs.
To ensure the value is not lost, they never freeze animal or plant ingredients. They get their supplies straight from local farms and the ocean, prepare the meal on the same day and deliver.
The best dog food contains the right balance of the major nutrient groups: protein that is rich in all the necessary amino acid; fats/oils; minerals; the essential vitamins; carbohydrates; fiber; and water. These are usually sourced from meat, vegetables, fruits, grains, and supplements where necessary.
All quality dog food are labeled ‘complete and balanced’ meaning they contain all the basic nutrients: protein plus fat, water, and fiber.
To inform your choice, consider the quality of the dog food you want to buy, your dog’s stage in life, and its breed.
A pregnant or lactating dog has its special needs, and so does a puppy, and a structurally big dog. There are specific dog food that feature ingredients and supplements that cater to these needs.
Best Ingredients in Dog Food
- Protein
Meat is dog’s primary food, and staple. Dogs need the protein in meat to build muscle and develop tissue. While dogs eat almost all kinds of meat, picking the most easily digestible meat is a good idea.
TLC finds lamb, chicken and salmon as the best and that is why their dog food features these. Lamb, red meat is packed with proteins while chicken provides the essential amino acid. Dogs also find chicken’s meaty flavor appetizing.
Salmon is packed with proteins and Omega-3 Fatty Acids which takes care of a dog’s cardiovascular health and also keeps their skin and the coat well oiled.
BEWARE of dog food that has been preserved using Ethoxyquin. Some companies still use this chemical and others that are known to cause health problems to pets.
According to FDA, ethoxyquin—which is sometimes used as a pesticide does affect a dog’s liver and blood. Go for dog food that has been naturally preserved using Vitamin E.
- Essential Vitamins
For a healthy heart, digestive system, skin and coat, herbs, vegetables and fruits are an important component in dog food. They also have the advantage of building immunity against diseases and inflammations.
To man, an apple a day is said to keep the doctor away, and to a dog, a meal or snack that features the above cuts it.
- Fats and Oils
Fats do provide dogs with more energy than proteins and carbs do. Other than providing energy, fats help with normal development of the body cells and tissues, muscles, and nerves. They also aid in the production of prostaglandins which reduces inflammation, and in the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins.
To canines, fat smells and tastes really good and is responsible for a shiny coat and healthy skin. The best sources of fats are lamb, chicken, and, salmon—which provides Omega-3 fatty acids.
Although dogs rarely suffer from the same conditions as humans do when they take a lot of fat, there are cases of obesity in dogs too. The omega-3 in salmon doubles up in maintaining low cholesterol levels for a healthy heart.
- Carbohydrates
While it is believed that carbs are just filers to dogs, the good type carb is good for your dog because it is easily digestible and readily provides energy.
The best kind of protein for dogs is the low glycemic like oats, whole grain barley, flaxseed, millet, sweet potato and brown rice.
As much as you want your dog to be fuller faster, avoid refined ingredients like white flour, corn syrup, and potatoes. They predispose dogs to obesity and diabetes.
- Water
Other than hydration, water plays other critical roles in the health of your dog. It aids in digestion and helps in the breakdown of food. Water also cools down your dog when it is hot, plus gets rid of waste.
Conclusion
These alone are not enough. Some dog food, like TLC’s are enriched with more nutrients. A dog’s health and happiness starts and ends on his or her plate. Watch what goes in it…
By Lilian Kiliswa
