Having a dog as a pet in your family can be incredibly rewarding as they not only give back as much love as they are given but they are also incredibly loyal. There are a number of things to ensure that you take into consideration when taking care of your canine friend including their access to exercise and good quality food as well as having company throughout the day. When you are going to be away for a long period of time it is best to look at having them looked after at a Dog Boarding Surrey location such as https://nestledownboardingkennels.co.uk to ensure that the continue to be looked after in the best way possible.
When it comes to your dog’s nutrition you should ensure that any specific dietary requirements are reported to anyone who is going to be looking after them. The nutrients that are essential for your dog are very similar to those of humans and include protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. These six nutrients are essential to the body functioning effectively.
Protein – this supplies the body with energy and also helps to give the structures of the body including hair, nails, muscles and bones strength. Proteins also consist of amino acids and these are incredibly important, and dogs are unable to produce these in their bodies and so much receive these through their diet alone.
Fat – this is made up of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and comes from sources such as butter, cheeses and oils. Fat also provides a concentrated energy source to the body as well as protecting internal organs, helps with the regulation of body temperature and also keeping the nervous system running effectively.
Carbohydrates – this is made up of sugars, starches and fibres. Carbohydrates make up the main source of fuel for is the body in the form of glucose. It is important to ensure that this is not being supplied too often through junk food.
Vitamins – these help to boost the immune system, work as anti-oxidants in the body, helping the nervous system as well as helping the blood to clot. These can be found in two main forms – water soluble which are not stored in the body and so need to be replenished every day and fat-soluble which are stored in the stored in the liver and fatty tissues within the body.
Minerals – these work in the same way as vitamins and are as important for the body to function correctly.
Water – this is important for all life forms and dogs as well as humans cannot survive without it and even a reduced amount of water can cause issues with their internal organs including the functioning of the kidneys. Water helps the body in many ways including transporting nutrients throughout the body, regulating temperature, aiding digestion and flushing away any waste products from the body through the kidneys. The amount of water that your dog needs to consume will depend very much on their level of activity as well as environmental factors such as the temperature.