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Dog
Food And Nutrition Care Article: How To Make Sure Your Dog Has A Balanced DietIn
this article, "How To Make Sure Your Dog Has A Balanced Diet", you will find out
how to provide you dog with a balanced diet, what foods can cause your dog to
develop mineral and vitamin deficiencies or toxicity, what never to give to your
dog, and if your dog need supplements to complete its diet.
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- Supplements are not necessary when a dog is being fed a complete
and balanced food, unless specifically directed by a veterinarian.
- Milk
is a food and not a substitute for water. As a food, milk is incomplete and does
not provide a balanced diet. It can be useful as a treat for some dogs, however,
large quantities of milk may not be well tolerated. Milk contains lactose, which
requires the enzyme lactase for breakdown in the intestinal tract. If the intestinal
tract does not contain sufficient lactase, consumption of a high level of lactose
can cause diarrhea in some pets.
- Repeatedly adding raw eggs
to a dog's diet can cause a deficiency of the vitamin biotin. Raw egg whites contain
avidin, an enzyme which ties up biotin (makes it unavailable for absorption into
the body). Symptoms of biotin deficiency include dermatitis (inflammation of the
skin), loss of hair, and poor growth.
- Some raw fish can cause
a deficiency of the vitamin thiamine. Symptoms of a thiamine deficiency include
anorexia (complete loss of appetite), abnormal posture, weakness, seizures, and
even death. Repeatedly adding raw fish to the diet of a cat is not recommended.
- Table scraps will not provide the balanced diet which dogs
require. Ideally, table scraps should not be fed. Owners who do offer them should
never feed more than 10 percent of the animal's daily food intake.
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Although dogs may enjoy meat, it is not a balanced diet. Raw meats may contain
parasites, and cooked meats can be high in fat and do not contain a proper balance
of nutrients.
- Raw liver, fed daily in large quantities, can
cause a vitamin A toxicity in dogs. This is particularly true if it is fed along
with a complete and balanced diet already containing ample vitamin A.
- Small soft bones (such as pork chop or chicken bones) should never be
given to dogs, as they may splinter and lodge in its mouth or throat.
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// ------------------------------------------------ Reprinted with permission
by Ralston Purina Canada |
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