Pet Food 101: Every Dog Owners Guide in Feeding Your Pooch

Pet food is not automatically human food nor scraps of cooked food. In fact, animals have a specific dietary requirements to fulfill their needs. Man's best friends, our beloved dogs, are often given foods that we eat without knowing that these are detrimental to our pets' health. Vitamins and minerals are important in a dog's diet and the development of their physical and mental health.Feeding them right will strengthen their immune system to fight bacteria and parasites, too.

Dogs don't just need vitamins and minerals, they need the other essential compounds like carbohydrates, protein, fiber and fat.In their regular meal, one-third of a dog's food must contain protein, which they usually get from whole meat, eggs and fish, because it helps build strong muscles and a healthier coat, nails and skin. They also need fat because this helps distribute vitamins into the dog's system. Carbohydrates are essential for a dog's energy, digestion and body cells as carbohydrates supply it with glucose.

While knowing what's good for your dog's health is important, it is equally important to know what's bad for your canine pet, too.The quality and quantity of meals they take can lead to malnutrition, obesity and other health disorders such as cancer, kidney and bladder malfunction, skin diseases and arthritis, among many others. Some of the big no-no's to feed them include cooked chicken bones, chocolates, garlic, onion, beans and excessive amounts of protein.To personally monitor their pet's food intake, many owners end up preparing homemade dog food themselves.

Homemade dog food offer a lot of benefits such as ensuring your dog's good health and it saves you a lot of money.Like any personal activity, deciding to take charge in making your pet's food requires time and effort on your part, but it will be all worth it.As long as you keep in mind not to add preservatives and added spices to their meals, you are free to mix and match their food and add variety.Cooked good grains such as brown rice and whole wheat can be included as small portions in their meal. The difference between the generic dog food and the premium dog food is that latter normally uses high quality ingredients - hence, it is also more expensive. These kinds are known to use ingredients without fillers or by-products and, known for its sophistication, these kinds of dog food often come in different shapes and color.

But before you start concocting your own recipes, you should see your pup's veterinarian to understand exactly what your pet needs.

In knowing your dog's dietary needs and what food they also enjoy eating, one should always consult a veterinarian. This, backed by your own research, will guide you when buying ingredients and food for you dog, as well as when making meals for them. They can tell you what your pet dog needs based on its size, breed, age and level of activity.And if you're just learning how to feed your dog properly, don't forget to incorporate the healthy food slowly in their diet instead of changing it too fast. Like humans, dogs need to adjust to new foods, too.