In recent years, pet parents have become more and more aware of what they are feeding their dogs. However, with all of the different dog food formulas and brands, it can be hard to figure out what really makes a dog food nutritious and balanced.
What Goes Into a Nutritional, Balanced Dog Food?
A complete and balanced diet incld?udes proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Water is also essential to life and is needed daily. This may seem very simple and easy with the basic ingredients broken down, but understanding how each nutrient is used in a dog’s body, understanding the processes, and knowing how much of each nutrient is needed for a healthy dog at all life stages is very complex.
AAFCO Nutrient Requirements
AAFCO states that are six essential nutrients that are required in order to support life and function in dogs. These are:
Water
Carbohydrates (including fiber)
Vitamins
Minerals
Fat
Protein
Balanced Dog Food Should Meet Your Dog’s Energy Requirements
Energy requirements for dogs can vary depending on many factors. It is important to meet your dog’s specific energy requirement to sustain their daily lifestyle. Some factors include:
Growth
Reproduction (intact vs. altered)
Adult age groups (young, middle, and older)
Activity level
Breed
Medical and behavioral conditions
All nutrients should be balanced to ensure they are absorbed properly by the body and appropriately used for each bodily system. If the diet does not supply enough energy, your dog's gastrointestinal tract will physically be unable to consume enough of that diet and they will not be able to get their required nutrients.
For example, dogs eating a diet that is high in energy will eat a smaller amount. It is important in this case to ensure that the percentage of other essential nutrients is high enough to meet the smaller volume consumed.
The only way to determine if a diet has enough energy is to undergo a feeding study to ensure that the ingredients are enough to maintain a healthy daily life.
Protein in Dog Food
Proteins are important in the formation and maintenance of cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Protein in dog food also assists with muscle, skin, hair, nail, and blood formation.
When protein is broken down, it creates amino acids that are essential nutrients for dogs. Amino acids help create energy for dogs and sustain life. There are 10 essential amino acids that are needed for dogs to maintain a healthy life. These nutrients cannot be created in the body and must be supplied in the diet.
Sources of Protein in Dog Food
Animal protein sources have the highest amounts of essential amino acids. Proteins from plants tend to have a lower digestibility since dogs cannot digest plant fiber as easily as other sources. In theory, dogs can be sustained on a completely plant-based protein diet, but that diet may need various sources of protein in order to reach a daily minimum that can safely be absorbed.
For the safety of your dog, it is best to consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a primary care veterinarian who practices nutritional health if you are considering a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle for your dog. It is very important that vegetarian diets have undergone food trials and are formulated and balanced by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
You should also have a bi-yearly nutritional recheck to ensure that your dog is in good health. These rechecks consist of a physical examination, ideal body weight review, body condition scoring, and blood and gastrointestinal absorption testing.
What Does Crude Protein Mean?
Crude is just a word to encompass all the ways that protein is calculated and determined in the diet. It does not provide information about the protein quality or the nutritional value of the protein source in your dog’s diet.
One of many methods used to determine protein quality is the Biological Value (BV). It measures the mass of nitrogen incorporated into the body divided by the mass of nitrogen from protein in the food multiplied by 100.
A value of 100% means all of the dietary protein eaten and absorbed becomes protein in the body.
Protein Quality
Protein quality is how much of the protein source is converted into essential amino acids that can be used by the body’s tissue. It is dependent on the:
Protein source
Number of amino acids in the food
Availability
Proteins that provide large portions of all essential amino acids are considered high-quality proteins.
If that protein source is lacking essential amino acids or they cannot be absorbed by the body, then it is considered a low-quality protein.
In many cases, to avoid this, multiple protein sources may be fed in one diet to prevent the absence of certain amino acids.
How Much Protein Does My Dog Need?
The minimum dietary protein requirement for a growing dog is 18% dry matter, or DM, and 8% DM for an adult dog. This is based on feeding a high-quality protein and again, is a minimum amount.
AAFCO recommends that the daily requirements for dog diets should contain at least 22% DM for growth and 18% DM for maintenance.
Current research states that there is no added benefit to excess protein in the diet. The maximum amount for any life stage should not exceed 30% DM.
Excess protein is otherwise excreted from the body, and in some conditions, can be harmful.
Low-Protein Diets
Feeding a high-protein or low-protein diet for prevention and management of certain diseases is a debated topic in veterinary nutrition.
Low-protein diets may be recommended for certain conditions to decrease the amount of ammonia that is present in the body. Ammonia is toxic to tissue and cells and is created as a byproduct of protein breakdown. Ammonia occurs in many locations in the body, but 90% of it is in the kidneys and liver.
Reducing total protein intake and nonessential amino acids can help minimize the workload on these organs. It is best to consult with your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist if you are considering a protein-specific diet due to your dog’s condition.
Can Dogs Be Allergic to Certain Proteins?
Food allergies in dogs are uncommon and are determined after ruling out environmental and seasonal allergies. About 85% of itchy dogs have an allergy to insect bites (a condition called flea allergy dermatitis, or FAD) that causes a mild to severe immune response that can mimic other conditions.
Typically, dogs that present with skin and ear issues have a higher chance of having environmental or seasonal allergies.
Common skin allergies can often be managed by therapies such as:
Canine-specific allergy medications
Monthly parasite preventatives and repellants
Supplements
If you are concerned about your dog having a potential food allergy or food aversion, speak with your primary care veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist about a clinical food trial.
Fat in Dog Food
Fats are lipids that are solid at room temperature and are composed mainly of triglycerides. Dietary fats are the most concentrated form of energy in pet foods (2.25 times more calories than proteins or carbohydrates).
Fat has many roles in the body, such as providing energy and helping with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. One of the most important roles is providing essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs help with inflammation at the cellular level and help dogs maintain healthy skin and coat quality. There are two important polyunsaturated fatty acids—omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Deficiencies in fatty acids can decrease wound healing and create a dull and dry hair coat, and they may increase certain dermatological conditions. High-fat diets can increase the risk of obesity and also require an increase in vitamin E supplementation since it is involved in antioxidant protection.
The requirement of fat for absorption of fat-soluble vitamins is 1% to 2% of the food.
Sources of Fat in Dog Food
There are quite a few sources of essential fatty acids that support a dog’s health.
Linoleic acid (LA) is the precursor of arachidonic acid, (AA) which is an essential omega-6 fatty acid. Good sources of linoleic acid are vegetable oils, chicken, and pork fat.
Omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may or may not be essential in a dog's daily diet.
Omega-3 fatty acids may be recommended by your veterinarian to help reduce inflammation caused from conditions like arthritis, certain cancers, burns, dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and kidney disease. Omega-3 is also is a major player in keeping cartilage healthy and functional.
Flaxseed, canola, and marine fish oils are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Carbohydrates in Dog Food
One of the most important reasons for carbohydrates in a dog’s diet is to supply energy.
Carbohydrates are needed in a dog’s daily diet as they provide energy in the form of glucose and are a main source of dietary fiber. The body craves glucose, and if it is not available with carbohydrates, then it will take amino acids away from other processes in the body.
Carbohydrates also:
Generate heat in the body
Form the base for other nutrients
Can be converted into fat (some carbohydrates)
Growing animals and dogs that have high-energy needs should be fed a diet with at least 20% carbohydrates.
Fiber From Carbohydrates
Fiber, a form of carbohydrate, is very important for a dog’s normal gastrointestinal function and health. It keeps the colon healthy along with the microbes of the gut.
The measure of fiber is reported as crude fiber (the insoluble portions). Total dietary fiber is composed of both soluble and insoluble fibers.
Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber retains water and generally makes a dog’s feces softer.
Common sources of soluble fiber are fruits and gums (gums also improve canned food texture). Gum is a term used for a group of viscous and sticky polysaccharides found in seeds and plants.
Many soluble fibers are also fermentable. Fermentable fibers can be used by a dog’s normal gut bacteria as an energy source. and They also produce short-chain fatty acids that can be used by cells in the intestines as an energy source (called prebiotics).
Insoluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber comes from grains in a dog’s diet. It generally increases fecal bulk but does not soften feces as it cannot absorb water. It is added in the form of cellulose.
Many fiber types used for supplementation are mixed fibers with mostly soluble fiber characteristics. High-fiber diets are sometimes used to manage medical diseases such as diabetes mellitus, as well as certain gastrointestinal conditions and weight management.
Sources of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can be broken down into three groups:
Simple sugars
Oligosaccharides
Polysaccharides
All three play a crucial role in the daily diet of dogs.
Polysaccharides, also known as complex carbohydrates, can be further defined based on how they are digested in the body. Sugars can be found in fruits and honey. Corn, wheat, rice, barley, oats, and potatoes are all good sources of starch (a polysaccharide) for dogs.
Depending on the level of digestibility (slow, moderate, or fast), wheat bran, rice bran, apples, and guar gum are good sources of starch for dogs. For a healthy dog, there is no such thing as a bad source of carbohydrates, but you can define them based on how they are digested in your dog’s body.
The glycemic index ranks dietary carbohydrates based on how they affect the blood sugar (glucose). Carbohydrates that are lower on the index are considered for dogs that have glucose intolerance and may be used in certain medical conditions. There are a small number of clinical diseases that can be managed with these diets.
As always, these diets should only be used under the guidance of a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or your primary care veterinarian. If you are considering a nontraditional diet for your dog that is limited ingredient or without carbohydrates, it is very important that you speak with your primary care veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to determine what diet is best for your dog’s individual needs.
Many of these diets are used during food trials, but due to potential health risks should be used under the direct supervision of your primary care veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
How Many Carbs Does My Dog Need?
There is no specific required amount of carbohydrates for dogs. AAFCO does not have a requirement for carbohydrates due to traditional preparations of commercial diets.
Commercial dog foods contain enough carbohydrates to meet the daily amount of glucose that is needed. Glucose is needed to maintain the nervous system and keep it functioning normally.
Dry dog foods typically contain 30-60% carbohydrates, with the majority being starch. Grains such as corn, rice, wheat, barley, and oats provide the bulk of starch and are well tolerated and absorbed in dogs due to commercial preparations. It’s important to note that a diet without any added carbohydrates will be higher in proteins and fats.
Vitamins in Dog Food
Vitamins are very diverse and perform many different functions in a dog’s body, such as the creation of DNA, bone development, blood clotting, normal eye function, and neurologic function.
There are five characteristics for a nutrient to be considered a vitamin:
The nutrient must be an organic compound that is not a fat, carbohydrate, or protein.
It is a required component of the diet.
It is essential in small amounts for normal function.
It causes a deficiency or decreases normal functioning when missing.
It cannot be naturally synthesized (made in the body) in quantities sufficient to support normal function.
Consuming too many vitamins over the recommended dose can lead to toxicity and other complications. Deficiencies in one vitamin can also cause a cascade of issues since multiple vitamins are sometimes needed to complete a reaction.
It’s very important to monitor sources of vitamins in a dog’s diet since deficiencies and excessive amounts can occur due to the inconsistencies in natural food products (liver, lungs). It may be preferred to use a vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure proper amounts.
Which Vitamins Do Dogs Need?
There are quite a few vitamins that dogs require from their food. They can be separated into two categories: fat-soluble and water-soluble.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins require bile salts and fat in order to be absorbed in a dog’s gut. There are four fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K. Due to the way fat-soluble vitamins are stored and used by the body, they are at the highest risk for deficiency and/or toxicity.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is essential for normal vision, growth, reproduction, immune function, and healthy skin.
AAFCO recommend 5,000 IU/kg DM for dogs for all life stages.
Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness and skin issues. Toxicity can occur with over-supplementation and can cause bleeding and abnormal bone growth and formation.
Natural sources with the highest amounts of vitamin A include:
Fish oil
Liver
Egg
Dairy products
Vitamin A is not stable on its own, and in many cases, needs a protective coating to ensure absorption. Deficiencies can cause decreased eating or anorexia, stunted growth, dull hair coat, and weakness. Toxicities can cause stunted growth, anorexia, and bone fractures.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D, also known as cholecalciferol (D3) and ergocalciferol (D2), is essential for dogs since they are unable to produce it naturally in the body. Vitamin D helps the intestine with absorption and helps to retain calcium and phosphorus in the bone.
Do Dogs Need Vitamin Supplements?
A completely balanced and formulated diet has all the daily vitamins that your dog would need. Many commercial pet food diets are fortified to meet your dog’s vitamin requirements.
Diets that have an AAFCO statement should be complete and balanced with all required vitamins. Even though confirming the percentage of vitamins in the diet is difficult, supplementation of a dog’s daily diet is often not needed, and in many cases, can pose a risk of toxicity.
It is very important when choosing a diet for your dog that the AAFCO statement is included. If you are feeding a nontraditional diet that does not have an AAFCO statement, consult with a primary care veterinarian who practices advanced nutritional health or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to ensure that your pet is meeting his or her daily nutritional requirements.
They can also discuss supplements and confirm any questions regarding pet food labeling. Over-the-counter human and canine supplements in many states are not required to undergo food studies or bioavailability testing, meaning some products may not be readily available for dogs.
Bioavailability can only be confirmed through clinical and safety trials, which show the percentage of what is available, what the active and inactive ingredients are, and what can be absorbed.
If you are considering a supplement, look for products that have a quality seal from the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) to ensure adequate bio-availability and safety. Some medical conditions may require vitamin supplementation. This should only be done under the direct supervision of your primary care veterinarian.
Minerals in Dog Food
Minerals are main structural components of the body’s organs and tissues, body fluids and electrolytes, and muscle contractions. They are involved in enzyme and hormone systems.
There are two kinds of minerals: macro-minerals and trace minerals. Both have daily requirements for dogs, but in different amounts.
Minerals help with many functions of a dog’s body and support structures. Without a completely balanced mineral profile, many biological systems will stop functioning, which can lead to serious medical conditions and even death.
Water Requirements for Dogs
Water is considered the most important nutrient since it performs many important functions, such as:
Regulating body temperature
Breaking down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
Providing shape and structure to the body
Keeping the shape of the eye
Lubricating joints
Protecting the nervous system
Dogs get water through their diet and by simply drinking water.
In general, the average daily water requirement for a healthy, altered dog is 2.5 times the amount of dry matter they eat.
Another way to think of the amount of water a dog should consume daily is that it is equal to the amount of energy (food content) that is taken in. This depends on many factors that affect the body (age, gender, size, stress, etc.) and the volume of dry matter that is consumed through the diet.
On average, a dog being fed a moist diet will drink less water throughout the day due to higher moisture content (about >75% less).
Dogs should have continuous access to clean and fresh water. It is also important to monitor their daily intake and notify your veterinarian of any increases or decreases.
Can I Make My Own Balanced Dog Food?
Nontraditional diets, including home-prepared meals for dogs, are completely possible, and with some medical conditions, may be needed. Keep in mind that not all foods that benefit people can be absorbed, tolerated, or are even safe for your dog.
As a pet owner, you should consult with an expert in the field to ensure that your pet’s individual daily requirements are met. Consider a consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a primary care veterinarian who practices advanced nutritional health to ensure that all meals are balanced and formulated for your dog’s lifestyle and needs.
In the meantime, BalanceIt is a website created by board-certified veterinary nutritionists to help with the creation of homemade pet food diets. This website should be used in conjunction with a nutritional consultation and with the help of your veterinarian to ensure the correct amounts of ingredients are added for your pet’s individual needs.
