Pet's Diet

All dogs’ nutritional needs are divided into energy (carbohydrates and lipids), proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The primary necessity for a dog’s diet is related to energy consumption. After water, these are the most important energy sources for dogs. If your pet does not get these nutrients his health could be greatly impacted. The bulk of the energy per portion comes mainly from lipids and carbohydrates. 

CARBOHYDRATES
These give energy to the dog’s body. The liver and muscles absorb glucose present in the bloodstream to convert it into glycogen, which stores energy in animals. Starch digestion is a factor that must be kept in mind, due to the weak amylase activity in dogs. Lipids (carried by fatty substances) make up a concentrated and privileged source of energy.  They are indispensable for the body, not only because of their role in providing energy, but also due to their tissue-building and other cell functions.

LIPIDS

Lipids provide what is called E.F.As (essential fatty acids), long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18 to C22), which are the backbone of cellular membrane structure.  They are indispensable for the cell membrane conservation and for cells to function properly. They play a vital role in growth, healthy fur and skin, liver and heart function,  as well as fertility and coagulation.

PROTEINS
Proteins are essential to your pet’s diet. Their main role is to provide the dog with the elements necessary to build up his or her body. They supply the amino acids needed for protein-synthesis in the tissues. In this way they contribute to the growth and maintenance of sinewy tissues found in the muscles, nervous system, and skeleton. Some amino acids cannot be synthesized in a large enough quantity by the body and must be supplied by food. These are the essential amino acides. They come into play in a huge number of biochemical life cycles. Certain amino acids are chemically transformed into important biological molecules which come into the phases of growth, neurotransmission, allergic reactions, and a number of other hormonal functions.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS
These are essential for all body functions. They are involved in a number of metabolic reactions. As with other nutrients, excesses can be just as dangerous as deficiencies. That is why a balanced diet is so important. Vitamins, which are crucial to cell maintenance, carry out a number of functions. They help transform foods into digestible substances and they participate in the making of blood cells, hormones, and a number of chemical components in the nervous system.

They also play a role in vision, growth, reproduction, cell protection, blood cell growth and almost all metabolic and energy reactions. Minerals make up most of the skeleton and teeth. They participate in immune system maintenance, blood coagulation, and the body’s oxygen metabolism. They are also involved in the transport of energy, hydric balance, as well as bone and skin metabolism. Given all of your dog’s nutritional requirements, it is understandable that food must meet a great number of needs. Plus, dogs love food.

The notion of need must take into account not only your pet’s energy consumption (along with a variety of factors such as physiological wellbeing, physical activity, . . . ) but also the output that the food intake will be used for.There are a number of variants related to the animal (breed, individual characteristics), as well as the food itself (quality of the components, manufacturing technology, nutritional balance, . . .) which will come into play here.