Commercial dog foods come in a variety of forms. The most common types are dry, semi-moist, and canned. The moisture content of these foods ranges from 6 to 10% for dry, 15 to 30% for semi-moist, and 75% for canned. Most canned food has relatively more fat and protein and fewer carbohydrates than does dry and semi-moist food, and generally contains much higher levels of animal products.
Most commercial dog foods today lack the nutrients most growing and active dogs require. That is why it is important to consult with your veterinarian to determine if dog nutritional supplements would benefit your dog.
PET FOOD ADDITIVES Some other substances that might be found in pet foods, which are not required nutrients. This is why it is important that dog owners understand what nutrients are in their dog's food and how dogs use the various nutrients in food and dog nutritional supplements so they can choose a health diet and supplement program.
Some common yet not required nutrients you might find in your dog's food are:
Chondroprotective agents are used by the body to make cartilage and joint tissues.
Antioxidants work to prevent oxidative damage to nutrients and other compounds in the body and inhibit or quench the formation of free radicals.
Herbs and botanicals are used in pet foods either to provide flavor or, more often, to have a medicinal effect on the body. This is especially true in the case of extracts, where the classical nutritive components of the plant may be separated from the extract in the process.
Flavors and extracts derived from animal tissues such as poultry or fish are considered "natural" flavors. A wide variety of flavors can be derived from other animal and plant materials, including dairy products, eggs, herbs, and spices. Acceptable processing methods include roasting, extraction, and fermentation. Except for artificial smoke and bacon flavors, synthetic substances are rarely used in most dog and cat foods.
Colors are synthetic compounds used to replace or accentuate the inherent color of the food. Only certified colors approved for use in human foods are allowed in pet foods. Iron oxide is a synthetic but non-certified color that can be used at levels not to exceed 0.25% of the pet food product to give dog food a red, meaty appearance. Titanium dioxide is another common color additive in human and pet foods because it can induce a "brightness" in foods by complementing other color additives. Its use is limited to 1% of the food by weight.
Dog food labels must list the percentage of protein, fat, fiber, and water in the food. When reading labels, it is important to understand the nutritional needs of your dog and determine if dog nutritional supplements should be added to the diet.
We all own dogs at some point in our lives and we often wonder what we would ever do without them. We all want our dogs to lead healthy and long happy lives. If we all knew a little more about dog nutritional supplements our dogs would lead longer, healthier and happier lives. As our dogs age, more physical ailments start occurring, not unlike human beings. It would help our canine buddies if we would educate ourselves on what we could give them to ease some of their discomfort. Dog nutritional supplements are the answer to many canine health problems.
Good Nutrition
Dogs that are properly fed throughout their lives generally do not require any type of dog nutritional supplements. They get whatever nutrition they need from the dog food they are fed. Consulting a vet on what type of vitamins and minerals your new puppy might need is a very good idea. Dogs that are fed the proper vitamins and minerals throughout their lives should be able to ward off any other medical problems until they get older. The dogs that require dog nutritional supplements throughout their lives are dogs with special needs. Older dogs fall into the special needs category because as they age, their health begins to fail.
The dog nutritional supplements that are needed for older dogs to maintain good bones are calcium and phosphorous. These supplements, given in moderation unless specified by a vet, will be very beneficial to your older dog. Too much of both elements are not good for any dog. If your older dog is having a hard time getting up or down, chances are good that he needs these dog nutritional supplements. Dogs with excess weight, whether old or young, will need microelement dog nutritional supplements.
These dog nutritional supplements are needed for the proper running of a good metabolism. Zinc will contribute to the synthesis of proteins and will help your dog's skin and fur look and feel better. Iron is a dog nutritional supplement that is needed to combat anemia in dogs. It will also help with their blood circulation.
Diabetes, digestive disorders, arthritis, kidney and liver disease, thyroid dysfunction, skin disorders and obesity are all problems which are occurring more often today in our family dogs. Many of these conditions can be prevented by giving our animals a healthier lifestyle. For the poor dogs that are already suffering from existing conditions, you can do wonders to improve if not cure their problem with a combination of a healthy lifestyle and dog nutritional supplements.
Mark Eiland has sinced written about articles on various topics from Audio Books, Nutritional Supplements and Arthritis Signs. Learn how to use dog nutritional supplements to enhance your dog's life and remedy your dog's discomforts - almost immediately - guaranteed! by going to