There is a lot of confusion over the dietary needs of dogs. At Woofy's Choice, we approach this conundrum with the conviction that dogs need more protein than they do carbohydrate or fibre. Plenty of common sense is also exercised when we concoct our menus.
All our home cooked meals are a complete meal in themselves. Just like with people, we need to ensure that our dogs have nutritionally balanced diets by giving them every type of meat, fish, grains, carbo and vegetable in moderation. This is to ensure that they get enough vitamins and minerals they need.
Some things that dogs don't need extra of are :
Sodium - Unlike humans, dogs have no ability to process sodium. This mineral is naturally present in meats and fish, and that is all our dogs need. This is why our food does not contain added sodium in the form of salt as too much of it can cause liver and kidney problems.
Sugar - Actually, who needs extra sugar? We all get enough sugar through complex carbohydrates like rice and flour. These break down into sugars and if not burnt up, will become fats. Who needs those, right?
Fibre - Dogs can't process fibre. We give them vegetables for the vitamins and minerals but not for fibre. Any vegetable given to our canine companions must be broken up or softened so that they can be digested and passed out without causing any harm to their internal organs.
Is my dog overweight?
You'd be surprised how many people don't realise that their dog is overweight. They tell us that their dogs don't seem to be full after one portion of food, so they give another. What we need to realise is that dogs are animals with animal instincts. If we make the mistake of humanising them, we are jeopardising their health.
In the wild, animals eat for survival. If there is food, they will gorge themselves just in case they don't get any for the next week or two. Dogs, though domesticated, have retained those instincts. They will gorge. But for what? Their next meal is in a few hours. But they don't know that. So they continue to gorge until we get a roly poly fellow that can barely walk on their 4 tiny paws.
An overweight dog faces problems that overweight humans don't face. We know that obesity adds stress on our heart, liver, kidney, lungs and joints. Apart from those, dogs have the added complication of spinal disorders. They do not stand upright like humans do, hence their centre of gravity is at the spine. Being overweight puts a lot of pressure on their spine which could lead to hip dysplasia.
How do you tell if your dog is overweight?
1) With your dog in a standing position, put your hands around its chest area.
2) Run your fingers over the chest. You should be able to feel its ribs and count them, but not see them.
3) If you can't feel their ribs, it's time to put your dog on a diet.
Remember, obesity in dogs is a HUMAN problem, not a canine problem. DO NOT OVERFEED YOUR DOG!
Nutritional info on our main ingredients
BEEF is an excellent source of protein and very rich in minerals like zinc, selenium, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium. It is one of the best sources of Vitamins B6 and B12, niacin and riboflavin. Niacin is a cancer-preventive vitamin and in humans, it protects against Alzheimer's disease and other age-related cognitive decline. Beef is good for bones and teeth. It enhances immunity against infections and prevents blood vessel walls from damaging.
PORK has a high mineral content of phosphorous, selenium, sodium, zinc, potassium and copper. Selenium is an essential component in building immunity and aiding thyroid hormone metabolism. Pork is also highly enriched with Vitamins B6 and B12, thiamin, niacin and riboflavin. Pork is good for skin, eyes, nervous system, bones and mental performance. It also contains essential antioxidants which increase immunity.
CHICKEN is an excellent source of protein and the vitamin niacin. It contains significant amounts of many minerals, including selenium, iron, zinc, phosphorous and magnesium. It is also a good souce of Vitamin B6 which plays a key role in cardiovascular health.
MUTTON is an excellent source of protein, Vitamin B12 and a good source of iron. It is also known to be a hypoallergen.
FISH is a good source of protein and extremely rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
EGGS are rich in minerals, protein and vitamins and is basically a complete food in itself. It is one of the very few foods that contain Vitamin D which is essential for healthy bone growth.
GRAINS like rice, barley and oats are rich sources of protein, phosphorous and iron.
POTATO is a complex carbohydrate rich in Vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron and phosphorous. It also contains Vitamins A, B and P.
CARROT is an excellent source of beta-carotene which is converted to Vitamin A by the body. It also contains a large amount of Vitamin K. The nutritional content of carrots makes it good for eye disorders, cataract, tooth disorders, skin care, arthritis, indigestion, constipation and diarrhea.
TOMATOES are a storehouse of many minerals and vitamins. However, the highlight of a tomato is the presence of lycopene, the element that gives the tomato its red colour. Lycopene is found to prevent certain types of cancer, especially prostrate cancer. Lycopene is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants boost our immunity by enhancing the strength of our body cells to fight against infections. Cooking the tomato brings out and breaks down the lycopene, making it more easily absorbed by the body.
PUMPKIN is very high in carotenoids which are very good at neutralising free radicals.
