Most people give commercial feed to their dog, simply because it’s fast and easy.
Many people assume that pre-made dog food is healthy because it’s sold in the supermarket.
Well, that’s definitely not the case. Feeding ready food is a viable option, but only if it’s high quality food made by qualified and proven brands.
However, it’s may be a good idea to add a few extra vitamins to your dog’s diet, and it’s fairly easy to do so. Let’s have a look at which vitamins your dog needs and how you can supplement them.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps the immune system, supports growth and development and keeps the eyes in shape. You can find vitamin A in products such as fish oil, spinach, eggs, pumpkins and carrots.
Vitamin B
B vitamins are a class of 8 different vitamins which play a vital role in cell metabolism. You can find B vitamins in grains, brewer’s yeast (don't confuse this with baking yeast. baking yeast is extremely dangerous for dogs!), beans, liver, green vegetables, nuts and dairy products.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an important nutrient because it supports the repair of damaged tissue. It is commonly found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as meat.
Vitamin D
This one is, just like vitamin B, a group of several sub-nutrients which are responsible for maintaining healthy teeth and bones. They promote the absorption of calcium, magnesium and phosphate. You can find vitamin D in fish products, beef, cottage cheese and eggs.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is responsible for your dog’s metabolism and the proper functioning of cells. You can find it in seeds, green vegetables, grains and liver.
Vitamin K
This is the vitamin which makes sure that your dog’s blood clots when he has a wound. You’ll find it in milk, lettuce, cabbage and liver.
As you might have noticed, vitamins are present in a variety of products, therefore it is important that your dog gets a healthy mix of everything. (And again, why bad quality dog food is a big NO NO.)
Just like vitamins, minerals are extremely important for your dog’s health.
Phosphor & Calcium
Both of these minerals provide essential building elements for the body. Their main job is to maintain teeth and bone structures. Especially Calcium is extremely important for bodily functions such as muscle strength, nerve stimulation and blood circulation. It even helps to keep the heart beating!
That’s why you’ll want Calcium in your dog’s diet.
You’ll find calcium in dairy products, eggs, green vegetables and bones (for example from small fish).
Sodium
It’s present in blood and other body liquids. It prevents cells from dehydrating and acts as an agent to prevent swelling. It’s also responsible for muscle functions and nerve transition.
Sodium can be found in salty foods such as canned fish, bread or anything salty. Keep in mind that giving too much salt to your dog may result in a salt poisoning! Usually it’s not necessary to give additional sodium in supplement form.
Chloride
Chloride balances the body. It regulates the dog’s blood pressure and keeps the PH levels of bodily liquids up to standard. You find chloride in lettuce, tomatoes, rye and seaweed.
Potassium
Potassium helps to regulate the blood pressure, stimulates brain functions, improves muscle development (including the heart, which is a muscle). It is found in most fruits, potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms and cucumber.
Magnesium
Magnesium mainly stimulates hormonal functions and is mostly found in nuts, seeds and grains.
Iron
Iron helps to transport oxygen throughout the body, this is done through blood. It’s found in red meat and green vegetables.
Zinc
Zinc activates hundreds of enzymes which are needed for growth, reproduction and the immune system. You’ll find zinc in red meat, chicken meat and eggs.
Copper
Copper is an essential mineral which helps the growth of red blood cells. Add some liver or red meat to your dog’s diet to supplement copper.
Selenium
Selenium supports the immune systems and helps with the recovery of damaged sells. Fish, pork and grains contain a lot of selenium.
Thank you for staying with me, I hope you've learned some useful information.
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