Many of us will have come across the food pyramid in school. However, we don’t often think about what the food pyramid looks like for dogs. A common phrase that you may hear is “complete and balanced” dog food. But what does this mean, and how do you decide which dog food is “good”?

Complete and Balanced Dog Food

Being complete and balanced means the dog food provides the pet with the correct amounts of every single nutrient that they need with every meal. This type of food is designed to be fed as a dog’s sole diet. When choosing food for a dog, it is essential to look for this statement.

Each dog has a different balanced diet unique to them, and this can be due to changing life stages or a difference in the type of breed.

For example, a senior dog has different needs to puppies, and a Great Dane will have different nutritional requirements to a Pug. To ensure a dog has a good healthy diet there are six crucial nutrients that a dog should consume:

Vitamins

Vitamins are responsible for a vast range of functions within the dog’s body, such as bone development, eye function, cell structure maintenance, and releasing energy from nutrients.

Palatants

Palatants play an essential role in a dog’s diet. This is slightly different from everything else in the pyramid as it predominantly helps to make the food taste great for the dog.

Minerals

Minerals are also key for a dog’s health as it contributes to maintaining healthy bones, as well as muscle, cell and nerve function.

Fat

Fat is a fantastic energy source and enhances the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6. These essential nutrients help dogs maintain healthy skin and coat promote the immune system whilst also aiding in the development of healthy joints, brain and vision.

Protein

Protein and amino acids are the building blocks of a dog’s body, responsible for forming new skin cells, growing hair, building muscle tissue and much more. Protein also functions as enzymes, hormones and antibodies.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are an efficient source of glucose for energy, a source of heat for the body, and can be stored as glycogen. This is also essential for a dog as it helps to control the weight of a dog.

Choosing “good” dog food can be challenging as so many brands make so many different claims. Every brand will tell you why theirs is “the best”. The best advice is to do your research, ask the right questions and, if at all possible, visit your local pet shop, which often has an abundance of knowledge, experience and selection to choose from.