Collect Questions

Hey all... Just wondering what the exact dietry needs for dogs are? in percentages etc?

I know with rats we make our own mix (the Shunamite Diet) and they thrive really well on that. I have no idea what I'm looking for with dogs though... what nutritional values do we need to be looking for in a dog food?

At the moment Dudley is on Vitalin Gold - and tbh, I feel bad as i haven't checked the content... so I will look it up now!

xx




VITALIN GOLD MENU
Natural, healthy, wholesome complete food, a
mixture of kibbles, extrusions and sweetcorn
in a wheat sweet coating.
NO Artificial Flavours or Preservatives.

Contains;
25% Meat and Marrowbone
Cooked Wheat
Cooked Barley
Cooked Sweetcorn

Maintenance diet suitable for all dogs.
21% Protein, 5% Oil, 3.5% Fibre, 9.5% Ash.
Approximately 250grams per day for average size dog.
Can be fed wet or dry.




That's what he eats now.

xx




I don`t think anyone knows the exact needs

We know they rquire a very broad range of vits/mins/protein but exact??? Dog food manus tend to go on minimum requirements I think. We know what vits/mins etc that can be overdosed on, also know which 1`s the body makes itself & which have to be supplied by food, thats why a variety of foods are needed. In any fresh food there is not 1 that provides the whole range for any animal I don`t think? (apart from young still taking milk before weaned).




ok... so is the food he's on OK? I mean theere are no artificials in it etc and he loves it... but i wanna make sure he's getting what he needs (and not too much of what he needs)

xx




I dunno Z, probably get me banned if I say what I think of *complete* foods
I mean theres a big difference between Ok & terrific food isn`t there
I see you make your own for your rats, why`s that? No reason why you couldn`t make your own dog food is there?




Hi Zounds I think dietry needs vary from dog to dog depending a lot on the dogs age and lifestyle puppies and old less active dogs have differing needs from pets or a working sheepdog for instance, and I appreciate some people do not have the time to prepare a dogs food themselves..also some dogs have various food intolerances It is really a matter of choice for each owner .If you are preparing the food yourself feed a wide variety of meat/fish/veg/eggs/oats/rice if you are feeding a complete food go for one with the least additives.. I also take into account ethical issues like unnecessary testing on dogs but that is a personal decision.




Heres a couple of links on nutrition requirements for dogs








I prepare a food for the rats based closely on the Shunamite Diet by Alison Campbell of shunamite stud. It's basically a dog kibble, pasta, cereal, rabbit food etc... and this is a good balanced diet, but i am sure that hte diet for a dog would be differnet. That's why I was asking the specific dietry needs - as I would perhaps like ot prepare my own food for him, but i'd want to know that he was getting what he needed.

Yes there is a big difference between OK and excellent food - and I am convinced diet can make or break an animal or a person... so I want only the best.

I'm afraid i have to be honest mini - I don't worry too much about the ethical side of things, but that's personal choice and another debate alltogether lol. We are on a food for him now that's got no additives (so it says) but i am still convinced we could do better. any more thoughts?

xx




thanks christine!

xx




Just to say that quite a lot of dogs have an intolerance to wheat products and beef. The type of meat in the food that you feed is not specified, but I would guess it would contain beef. If Dudley has a skin problem wheat or beef may be the culprits.