Good to Know
The Right Diet for Dogs
You are what you eat—this saying applies not only to us humans, but also to our pets. Unfortunately, our dogs can’t (yet) tell us what they’d like to eat, what’s good for them, or what makes them feel comfortable. That’s why, as dog owners, it’s our responsibility to find the best food for our dogs—not just to keep them full, but also to keep them happy, content, and healthy.
Of course, we can’t make a blanket statement here that this or that is the right diet for your dog. Nor do we want to. After all, your dog’s optimal nutrition depends on many factors, such as age, living conditions, lifestyle, food intolerances, and perhaps even health issues. That’s why it’s all the more important to understand your dog’s specific needs. Observe your four-legged friend closely. What does he like to eat? Does he turn his nose up at certain foods? Does he eat regularly and well? Even small signs can indicate that your dog may not tolerate certain food additives. In that case, you should take action before intolerances or even allergies develop.
Basics of Dog Nutrition
The dog belongs to the zoological order of carnivores. It is a descendant of the wolf and is therefore—biologically speaking—a predator. Its body is designed accordingly: with its powerful teeth and strong chewing muscles, it can easily catch, subdue, and tear apart its prey. It has a relatively short digestive tract with aggressive digestive juices that can break down even bone fragments in a short time.
Wolves are wild, self-sufficient animals that do not merely eat the tender muscle meat of their prey—picking out the “prime cuts”—but generally consume the entire animal, skin and all. They also eat the internal organs, including the contents of the stomach and intestines, and thus also plant-based nutrients such as roots, grasses, berries, and fruits. Therefore, as a general rule, dogs require a balanced ratio of various nutrients and vital substances, particularly highly digestible protein for growth, muscle development, and metabolism, as well as, to a lesser extent, dietary fiber for digestion, and carbohydrates and fats as energy sources.
Natural Eating – All the Rage
More and more consumers want to feed their pets a healthy diet that is as species-appropriate as possible. While cooked meat and industrially produced ready-made food may allow dogs to “survive,” in the worst case, they can trigger food intolerances. This results in constant flatulence, bad breath, itching, and other symptoms. Many consumers are therefore rethinking their approach—moving toward a natural and balanced diet free of additives.
Many pet owners choose to feed their dogs a raw meat diet (BARF) in order to meet this very need for natural dog food.
A dog fed a “natural” diet is significantly more resistant to worm infestations and infections thanks to its healthy gut flora, and tartar is a thing of the past. These dogs also live longer and are generally healthier than their counterparts fed commercial dog food.
