When it comes to canine nutrition, maintaining the nutritional health of your dog is simply about ensuring that you provide them with the right nutrients in the correct amounts. The nutrients that dogs require to survive and thrive come from the following six groups: protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water.

 

Commercially manufactured dog foods typically contain a nutritional adequacy statement by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) which helps pet parents to identify products that meet their dog’s daily nutrient requirements. This statement will indicate whether the food is complete and balanced or only intended for supplemental feeding. When a dog food is labelled as ‘complete and balanced’ it means that it has been formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles i.e., it will provide your dog with all the required nutrients in the correct ratios for their life stage. If the food does not contain this statement, then this means that the food is ‘complementary’ and needs to be fed in combination with other foods in order to meet your dog’s nutritional needs.

Protein is an essential nutrient for dogs and can be obtained from both animal and plant sources in the diet. Protein plays an important role in the formation and maintenance of muscle and can also function as a source of energy. The AAFCO minimum requirements for protein in dog food is 22.5% for growth and 18% for maintenance, on a dry matter basis.

 

Protein is broken down into amino acids and amino acids can be either essential or non-essential. Essential amino acids are those that need to be supplied through the diet (through protein sources, such as meat) as they cannot by synthesized in the body. There are 10 essential amino acids that are needed in a dog’s diet, and these are: Arginine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine.

 

Most protein rich ingredients don’t contain all of the essential amino acids in the right proportion and are therefore inefficient as the sole source of protein. And so, in order to achieve the right balance and amount of essential amino acids, the majority of dog foods contain protein from multiple sources, such as meat, meat by- products, grains, legumes and vegetables. The source of the protein can also determine its quality; high quality proteins can be easily broken down (highly digestible) and provide large portions of essential amino acids.

 

One of the main reasons dog foods contain carbohydrates is to supply energy; carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients that provide the body with energy (the other two being fat and protein). And although there are no set levels required, the inclusion of carbohydrates in dog food has its benefits. Carbohydrates are categorised into two forms, simple and complex.

 

Simple carbohydrates can be further broken down into monosaccharides and disaccharides, better known as glucose and sucrose (sugars), which are a source of short-term energy.

 

On the other hand, complex carbohydrates are made up of larger, more complex molecules, called polysaccharides. These are digested more slowly and are further categorised as fibres and starches, which aid digestion and provide slow-release energy. Fibre can be soluble or insoluble, and although fibre isn’t considered an energy source for dogs, it plays an important role in helping your dog's digestive system run smoothly. Some common sources of dietary fibre in dog food include beet pulp, rice bran, and pea fibre.

 

Although protein and carbohydrates are a source of energy in the diet, fat is the most concentrated form of energy in dog food and contains over twice the amount of energy compared to protein and carbohydrates.

 

On top of providing energy (or calories), fat in the diet functions to provide essential fatty acids, specifically omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids (linoleic acid and arachidonic acid) are often found in animal tissues and vegetable oils, whereas omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) are often found in plant and marine sources such as flaxseeds and fish oils.

 

Although a true requirement for fat per se has not been established, the minimum requirement for fat in dog food that AAFCO has set (8.5% for growth and 5% for maintenance, on a dry matter basis) is based on the recognition of fat as a source of essential fatty acids, as well as the other benefits it provides. Fats and fatty acids enhance the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K by acting as a carrier, and help to maintain healthy skin and a shiny coat. On top of this, fat in the diet can help to enhance the palatability of the food. While fat is an essential nutrient in dog food, it is important to remember that high-fat diets can increase the risk of obesity.

 

Vitamins are required in small quantities in the diet and are classified as either fat-soluble or water-soluble.

 

There are four fat-soluble vitamins that have minimum requirements in dog food: A, D, E, and K, and nine essential water-soluble vitamins: B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Pantothenic acid), B5 (Niacin), B6 (Pyridoxine), B7 (Biotin), B9 (Folic acid), B12 (Cobalamin) and Choline.

 

Vitamins are typically included in dog food as a readymade premix that contains all the required vitamins in the correct quantities for your dog and its life stage, alongside those that are naturally provided through the raw materials themselves. A complete and balanced food is formulated to contain all the daily vitamins that your dog needs to be able to maintain good health, and so supplementation of a dog’s daily diet is often not needed. Adding vitamin supplements to diets that are already complete and balanced may create imbalances and have potential harmful effects. Therefore, if you’re thinking about adding vitamin supplements to your dog’s diet for any reason, make sure that you speak with your veterinarian about what supplementation is necessary, if any.

 

Like vitamins, minerals are only required in very small quantities in the diet but are essential to many important functions, such as growth and maintaining strong bones and teeth. Minerals are classified as either macrominerals or microminerals. Macrominerals are needed in greater amounts in the diet and are found in larger quantities in the body than microminerals. Macrominerals include Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Sodium (Na), Chloride (Cl), Potassium (K), and Magnesium (Mg). It is important to note that not only is there a minimum requirement for these macrominerals in the diet, but calcium and phosphorus specifically, must be in balance and provided in the correct ratio (the ideal Ca:P ratio is between 1:1 and 2:1). Microminerals (also known as trace elements) are also important to many functions and include Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Selenium (Se) and Iodine (I).

 

 

And last but not least, water. Water has many important functions in the body, and the amount of fresh water your dog voluntarily consumes can depend on a range of factors including the environment, diet, exercise, health status and life stage.

 

A dog’s total water intake comes from three sources: drinking water (main source), water generated from metabolic processes, and the water content contained in their food. The amount of water available in your dog’s food depends on the type of food it is. Dry foods contain around 10% water (or moisture), whereas wet foods can contain up to 80% water.

 

Some of the main functions of water include:

Keeping your dog hydrated is very important and so it is vital that as a responsible dog owner, you make sure

an ample supply of fresh, clean water is always available.