Joseph Roetheli, PhD
Highlights:
Dogs have dietary needs that are similar to our own, including macronutrients and micronutrients.
Ensuring your dog’s diet is balanced can help improve their health and even support their longevity.
Giving your dog treats, like Yummy Combs, that contain high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients can help fill in dietary gaps.
While scooping your dog’s daily kibble, you may have wondered, “What’s in this stuff?” If so, you’re not alone. More and more dog owners are questioning the ingredients in their dogs’ food and asking whether or not their dogs are receiving the balanced, wholesome nutrition they need.
The issue isn’t whether or not you pay a lot of money for your dog’s food but rather what you find inside of it. Dogs’ nutritional guidelines are somewhat similar to our own. They need macronutrients like fat, protein, and carbohydrates, as well as micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) for their bodies to function properly.
Together, we’ll unpack what your dog needs in their diets so you can ensure that the food you give them is checking all the boxes. We’ll also talk about whether or not your dog needs to be placed on a diet and how you can still offer treats to your dog without sacrificing their nutritional needs.
Dogs, like humans, have essential needs that they must get from their diets. They need a certain amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates for energy, strength, and brain development. They also need key vitamins and minerals to maintain bodily functions and ensure cellular health.
Growing dogs (think puppies up to two years of age) need about 18% of their kibble to consist of protein. Protein should be sourced from high-quality meats, primarily muscle parts from chicken, beef, fish, lamb, or turkey.
Dogs who have reached full size need only 8% of their kibble to consist of protein, but these are minimum amounts. The Association of American Feed Control Officials recommends that growing dogs intake 22% protein and that dogs who have reached full size consume 18% protein.
You don’t need to give your dog additional protein because there is currently no research to support that additional protein will be beneficial. For some dogs, additional protein could be harmful and lead to serious health conditions.
Dogs need protein for cell production and energy from amino acids. Protein is also used to maintain your dog’s coat.
Growing dogs need a diet that consists of at least 20% carbohydrates. Carbohydrates act as fuel for your dog, giving them their primary energy source.
Carbohydrates also supply your dog with fiber, which helps add bulk to their stool and protects their digestive system. For dogs that don’t have any health issues, carbohydrate sources can come from whole grains, apples, and guar gum.
Fats are essential for your dog’s coat and for the proper absorption of some fat-soluble vitamins. Dogs also need healthy fats for skin health and to help with their natural inflammatory response. Fat also makes your dog’s food more appealing to them, making it smell and taste delicious.
A good balance of fat in your dog’s diet will come from omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and the longevity-supporting, cellular-health fatty acid known as C15:0. This last fatty acid is recently discovered and supports your dog’s heart and liver function in addition to adding protective properties to your dog’s cells.
Just like humans have essential vitamin and mineral needs, dogs do, too. Essential means your dog needs these vitamins and minerals to thrive but cannot readily make them on their own. As such, they must come from food. There are seven incredibly important vitamins and minerals your dog needs daily.
They are:
There are numerous other vitamins and minerals your dog needs to thrive, and most kibble will be fortified with them. For your dog to maintain bone, muscle, brain, and nerve health, all vitamins and minerals must be included in their daily diet.
If you aren’t sure if your dog’s kibble is checking all the boxes, you can contact the manufacturer or look at the bag of kibble itself. Or you can attempt to make your dog’s food yourself.
Yes, if you’d like to make your dog homemade food, it is possible to do so and ensure they still have a balanced diet. However, you’ll need some guidance.
If you decide to create your dog’s food from scratch, keep an eye on their weight. Some dogs (especially small breeds) can gain weight easily. You may need to adjust their caloric intake if your dog gains too much weight.
Your dog’s veterinarian is the best person to determine if your dog needs to be placed on a diet. If you suspect your dog is gaining too much weight, you can use these guidelines to check:
If your dog is overweight, the first course of action is to ensure they are getting plenty of exercise. Next, you can begin to reduce your dog’s kibble. Check the package to see if there is a guideline for weight loss and weight maintenance. If not, ask your dog’s veterinarian.
Last, reduce your dog’s treat consumption, or opt for treats that are nutritionally balanced and reduce your dog’s kibble by the treats they consume. Ensuring your dog’s treats are nutritionally balanced helps keep your dog’s diet healthy. One way to make sure your dog is getting nutritionally balanced treats is to offer them Yummy Combs.
Yummy Combs were designed to keep your dog’s teeth exceptionally clean and their gums healthy. But we didn’t stop there. Our treats are safer and more nutritionally balanced than other treats.
When you offer your dog treats, you should reduce their kibble by the amount of calories they’ll be consuming from the treats. If your dog’s treats aren’t packed with essential macronutrients and micronutrients, they could miss out on the ingredients they need to stay healthy.
Yummy Combs contain 44% protein and 12 wellness ingredients to ensure your dog doesn’t miss any important ingredients when you offer them our treats. In fact, you’ll be bolstering their diets with 45 whole-food ingredients.
Yummy Combs treats are safe for your dog. The unique design deters gulping, and our proprietary Slick’M™ ingredient helps our treats dissolve quickly once digested to deter blockages.
Keeping your dog’s teeth clean is also part of a balanced, healthy dog lifestyle. Gum disease from neglected tooth care can lead to systemic illness in your dog and even organ failure.
Yummy Combs provide a 360-degree scrubbing and flossing experience on your dog’s teeth and removes up to 25% of hardened tartar to keep your dog’s teeth healthy between professional cleanings.
Giving your dog Yummy Combs is an easy way to reward them while ensuring their diets are balanced.
Just like us, our dogs need a balanced diet. They can’t make dietary decisions on their own, so it’s our responsibility to make sure they get the nutrients they need to thrive. In addition to high-quality kibble, giving your dog Yummy Combs treats is a smart decision that helps ensure they get the most from their diets.
Sources:
Dog Nutrition: What Makes a Balanced Dog Food? | PetMD
How to Put Your Dog on a Diet | WebMed.com
7 Vitamins Your Dog Needs For a Healthy Life | American Kennel Club.org
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Always feed the right treat size for your dog’s weight category. Always supervise your dog when feeding treats. This product is an adult only dog treat. Always provide ample fresh water for your dog.
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