Dog Diet and Pet Health

Dogs have developed as omnivores, meaning that they eat and need a wide range of different types of food ingredients to fulfil their nutritional requirements. They have teeth that are adapted to tear and shear, as well as flatter teeth that can crush plant material and chew food. The dog's intestine is also relatively long - about 6 times the length of the body - to allow fermentation of more fibrous plants. Meats, cereals and vegetables can all be used relatively easily by the dog's digestive system.
There are 37 'essential' nutrients that dogs must eat in their food to maintain pet health. Prepared dog foods are formulated to provide all of these in the right amounts and proportions and great care is taken to ensure that the end result is appealing to dogs.
Make sure you are feeding the right amount - follow the manufacturer's guidelines for the size of your dog and don't leave it to guesswork. If you are feeding dry food, weigh out the correct amount and use the same scoop each time. If you have more than one pet, feed them separately so that they don't finish off each other's leftovers.
Despite many owners choosing to feed their cats and dogs table scraps or home prepared diets, great care needs to be taken if you choose to do this. Human food might upset the balance of their diet. In particular, 'left over' bones are not safe because they often splinter and may get lodged inside the pet's digestive tract, causing serious illness.
Dogs can eat specially formulated pet treats, but remember that they count as part of the overall daily food intake, so adjust meal servings to take this into consideration. Obesity is a significant pet health care problem in the UK at the moment, so try not to overfeed your dog. Regular exercise is an essential component of pet health so make sure that your dog gets adequate exercise. The way to your dog's heart is not necessarily through their stomach!
As a guide you should be able to feel a dog's ribs and spine but not see them. The Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) provides handy Pet Size-O-Meters for dogs, cats and rabbits which you might find useful. Of course, there could be underlying health problems for both overweight and underweight dogs so it is worth checking with your vet before you change your dog's diet.
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes there are foods available that suit whether they small or large breeds puppies adults the nutritional needs of will vary through life depending on how active their stage for advice optimal weight feeding your dog pet health, speak with the staff at a local veterinary practice.