You are what you eat. Whilst not strictly true, there is some truth to this popular phrase. Just like us, dogs rely on food to fuel their bodies, support their immune system and generally keep everything working as it should.
With that in mind, providing your dog with proper nutrition is crucial to their overall health and wellbeing. This blog explores the importance of nutrition and why understanding your doggo’s dietary needs is key to their health and happiness.
Why Is Nutrition Important?
As omnivores, dogs require a balanced mix of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in their diet. That said, each dog’s nutritional needs will vary depending on factors such as breed, age, size and their activity level. A highly active, young Border Collie for example would require a very different diet to a less active, senior Pekingese.
Just like humans, dogs use the nutrients in their food to perform vital functions like maintaining cell structures, repairing tissues, generating energy and fighting off infections. Good nutrition helps support these processes effectively. Poor nutrition on the other hand can contribute to a range of different health problems, including obesity, weakened immune function, poor coat condition, and even chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease.
Key Nutrients in a Dog’s Diet
To fully understand how nutrition impacts your dog’s health, it's important to break down the key components of a healthy canine diet:
1. Proteins: Proteins are crucial for tissue repair, muscle growth, and overall body function. Dogs need high-quality proteins in their diet to ensure healthy growth and development, particularly puppies. These proteins are broken down into amino acids, which are absorbed by your dog’s bodily tissues and used to perform a range of essential functions. Nutritionists recommend feeding active dogs a diet made with highly digestible, high quality protein sources.
Guidance from The Kennel Club details how active dogs require more protein than sedentary ones to meet their energy needs and fuel their muscles, recommending food with a guaranteed level of protein at 26% or higher.
2. Fats: Unlike humans, your dog’s main energy source comes from fat rather than carbohydrates. Fats are an important energy source for dogs, providing twice the energy per gram than proteins and carbohydrates. Working and sporting dogs benefit from higher proportions of fat in their diet, as their metabolism relies primarily on fat for energy during rest and light-to-moderate-intensity exercise.
They also play an important role in absorbing fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K, whilst also helping to optimise their metabolism. Essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6 help maintain a healthy coat and skin, support cognitive function and reduce inflammation.
3. Carbohydrates: While not as essential as proteins and fats, they still serve a purpose, providing the energy needed for physical activities. This is particularly beneficial for highly active or working dogs as a secondary fuel source.
Complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, brown rice, and whole grains provide long-lasting energy and fibre to aid digestion. Fibre also supports healthy bowel movements and promotes optimal gut health. You can find out more about how to support your dog’s gut health here.
4. Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamins and Minerals are essential for a range of bodily functions, including bone health, immune support, and maintaining proper nerve function. Calcium and phosphorus for example are critical for strong bones and teeth, while vitamins A and E play roles in skin and coat health. Minerals like zinc and magnesium on the other hand are vital for enzymatic processes and muscle function.
5. Water: Often overlooked, water is perhaps the most essential nutrient in a dog’s diet. Every living cell in your dog’s body needs water. Water aids digestion, regulates body temperature, supports organ function and helps flush waste and toxins out of the body. Water helps to lubricate joints, carries nutrients around the body and helps your dog’s cells absorb those nutrients.
It’s important to always prove fresh drinking water for your doggo, however we know that it can sometimes be a challenge to get them to drink it. If your dog isn’t drinking enough water, you could try adding a couple of Happy Bones to their food, giving them all the benefits of bone broth, whilst also helping to keep them hydrated. Happy Bones are over 90% water, so they can add a delicious and nutritious splash of hydration to your pet’s mealtime.
Different Life Stages
A dog’s nutritional requirements will change as they age. A diet that works well for a puppy would not necessarily being appropriate for a senior dog with different needs. Tailoring your dog’s diet to their specific life stage ensures they receive the necessary nutrients for optimal health, however that feels like a whole different blog for different time. You can however read more about caring for a senior dog here.
How Does Poor Nutrition Impact Health?
Just as proper nutrition promotes health, poor nutrition does the exact opposite. Some common health issues related to inadequate nutrition include:
- Obesity
- Weakened Immune System
- Joint and Bone Issues
- Skin and Coat Condition
- Digestive Health Issues
Where Does Axel’s Elixir Come In?
Our unique bone broth recipe is packed with nutrients and compounds to support healthy joints, digestion and immune health, making Happy Bones the perfect addition to your dog’s diet.
- Healthy Joints - Collagen supports healthy ligaments, tendons & muscles.
- Digestive Support - Promotes gut health, soothing & protecting digestive tract.
- Immune Support - Boosts the immune system and helps prevent illness.
- Aids Recovery - Ideal for working dogs or dogs recovering from illness/surgery.
Fortified with natural herbs and seaweeds, our Happy Bones are loved by pet owners (and their pets!) across the UK, with the reviews speaking for themselves.
- Kelp - packed with essential vitamins (A, B, C, E, and K), minerals (including iodine, calcium, magnesium and iron) and antioxidants. It supports thyroid function, aids digestion and improves skin and coat condition.
- Nettle - nutrient-rich herb containing iron, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, D, and K. It helps flush toxins from the body and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it excellent for dogs with allergies, arthritis or skin conditions.
- Algae - a nutritional powerhouse rich in protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins (B12 and E) and chlorophyll. Boosts the immune system, improves digestion, supports cardiovascular health and helps detoxify the body.
- Parsley - a highly nutritious herb for dogs containing vitamins A, C, and K, as well as antioxidants and flavonoids to support your dog’s immune system.
Conclusion
Nutrition plays a pivotal role in ensuring your dog lives a happy and healthy life. Investing in high-quality dog food is a great start, supplementing your pet’s diet (where needed) based on factors like their age, breed or specific condition with the right supplements.
Understanding your dog’s nutritional requirements and ensuring they receive the right balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals is essential to their overall well-being and will help ensure your four-legged friend continues to live their best life.
For more helpful advice and guidance, check out our Blog Hub or contact us directly by emailing hello@axelselixir.com and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.