Dog Nutritional Guide

An adult dog’s daily intake should consist of:

50% carbohydrates

High-quality carbohydrates include whole grain wheat, brown rice, whole corn, pearled barley and potato. Carbs give your dog energy to run and play all day; it helps to satisfy hunger and allows for proper digestion.

25% protein

Proteins are an essential part of a dog’s growth, muscle formation and energy. When you’re shopping for dog food, look to see that the protein source for the food is listed as one of the first ingredients. Good sources of protein for your dog include chicken, beef, lamb, and eggs.

About 15% fat and oils

Their bodies do not produce essential fatty oils on their own; this needs to be included into their diet. This aims to maintain heart health, a healthier coat and skin, as well as optimal brain function. Good sources of the types of fats and oils that dogs need can be found from animal fats, vegetable oils and fish oil.

5% fruits and vegetables

Good examples of fruits and vegetables that can be used in your dog’s food are carrots, peas, sweet potato and broccoli. They provide antioxidants and strengthen a dog’s immune system.

5% minerals

This includes minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium and iron, this can be found in the other food groups but it may be good to supplement this with a multivitamin for your dog if you feel your dog may not be getting all that it needs.

Last but not least is water!

Dogs actually dehydrate faster than humans so they need water more readily available to them, this means that by the time you start to feel thirsty, your dog was thirsty long before then. Some foods have moisture in them for example, frozen meats and broths, however, even dry food has moisture in it though not much. But don’t depend on food alone, your dog needs to have a bowl of fresh water as well.

If you make your dog’s food yourself, Purebred Breeders recommends following this chart to help you make sure that you are providing properly for his nutritional needs.

If you want creative ideas on what you can use as dog treats, check out this post by Purebred Breeders on Fruit and Vegetable Dog Treats you can make at home.

Purebred Breeders wants to warn dog owners of the parvovirus, a deadly virus has been spreading among dogs in Lee County, Florida. Christine Sheridan lost two of her Great Dane puppies this week to this highly contagious disease.

The recommendations provided by veterinarians are for puppy owners to keep their dogs indoors and away from parks, events or having interaction with other dogs. Though older dogs are also susceptible, younger puppies can suffer the harshest consequences as their immune systems are underdeveloped to combat the parvovirus.

The virus is often spread contagiously after a dog has come in contact with an infected dog’s feces or through contaminated soil.

If your dog is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, take him or her to the vet immediately, because the parvovirus is treatable if it is caught early on. Purebred Breeders assures dog owners that even if you have to wait until the puppy is a little bit older it will be well worth the wait to wait until your dog is fully vaccinated before socializing it with other dogs outside of the home. Additionally, don’t skip on the vaccinations, they are crucial to the puppy’s health and their immune system in fighting this, as in young puppies the fatality rate for the disease is 80%

For more information on Purebred Breeders, visit Purebredbreeders.com