Health
A dog's diet should include the following building blocks:
Protein which is fundamental for growth, maintenance, reproduction & tissue repair. Good sources of protien are meat, seafood, dairy or eggs. Eggs contain all essential amino acids that produce energy & form the building blocks of muscles, bones, skin & nails.
Carbohydrates whilst carbs are not considered an essential part of a dog's diet, they provide the same amount of energy with half the amount of fat.
Fats & oils these are also critical for a balanced diet. Salmon oil & flaxseed oils are hugely beneficial to dogs as they help maintain the joints & ensure that the skin & coat are kept in good condition.
Vitamins & Minerals Dogs need a variety of vitamins and minerals to maintain optimal health. Vitamin A to help maintain eye health, B vitamins to metablise carbs, assist with enzyme functions, regulating hormones, supporting the nervous system, vitamin D for bone health, vitamin E to maintain skin health & vitamin K to help with clotting. Dogs can make their own vitamin C but if they do not produce enough this many lead to skin infections.
Calcium as with us, dogs need calcium to help maintain the structural integrity of bones & teeth. It is especially important for puppies who need twice the amount of calcium as adult dogs. Without enough calcium, puppies can be at risk of fractures and limb deformities. Calcium also helps muscles contract & function properly. It also helps the nerves send messages to the muscles making them work properly. Eggs including the shell are a great source of calcium.
Essential fatty acids Dogs need omega3, 6 & 9 in their diet. Salmon Oil is a fantastic source of these.
Helping Your Dogs Live a Longer, Healthier Life
We all know how it feels if we've had a busy week or the cooker has decided to blow up & we've had to live on takeaways, sandwiches and/or ready meals - makes you feel pretty rubbish after a few days. It's the same for dogs. There are endless reports & studies that show dogs who are fed ultra processed diets & are rewarded with treats that are made with completely unpronoucable ingredients tend to suffer from allergies, have skin issues, delicate stomachs - these are the dogs that vets LOVE as sickly dogs are the reason they can afford to send their kids to university!
All the snacks on the Stinky Stuff page are all ethically sourced & have a Grade A rating. They have simply been dehydrated - the reason they stink is because nothing has been added to them, no preservatives, no chemicals, no bizarre treatments & definately no RAWHIDE.
All the shampoos, supplements, flea & worming treatments & furst aid remedies are all natural - no parabens, no palm oils, no chemicals. Dogs were surviving on what Mother Nature provided for centuries before we came along & started using man-made treatments on them. For example - did you know that one dose of spot on flea treatments the vets insist on selling us is potent enough to kill 2 million bees! We need the bees, bees are good!
I hold a Canine Nutrition Certificate at Distinction so if you have any questions or need some advice, please drop me a message via our socials or email me at woof@harleysplacefaversham.co.uk