Nutrition - Hunting Dog Nutrition, Diets and Dog Food

Nutrition of the hunting dog:

grow and stay healthy and active, the dog needs a diet that contains the right proportions of nutrients. The hunting dog needs a balanced and healthy diet:

La dog diet:

La dog diet it varies in relation to various factors, such as the age of the animal - puppy or senior dog - its lifestyle - walking, hunting or working dog - as well as the breed to which it belongs.

However, a general discussion can be made, which will undergo variations on the proportions based on the factors listed above.

The main food of the daily ration is meat, confirming the primitive carnivorous nature of the dog which, due to the long coexistence with man, has then become omnivorous. With meat the dog takes on proteins, fats and vitamins essential for growth and maintenance. Another important source of animal proteins is fish, which, compared to meat, however, contains less fat and is therefore less energetic; this food must be served cooked and without bones, very dangerous for the dog.

The protein supply also comes from eggs, both from egg white and yolk. The egg white must necessarily be cooked because in this way the antivitamin substance contained in it is neutralized. The yolk, on the other hand, is also excellent raw and is rich in fats and vitamins.

The list of protein sources ends with milk, which is also rich in fats, sugars, minerals and vitamins. Although milk is very welcome to the dog, it is not always assimilable; in some cases it can cause intestinal disorders because the dog does not have the enzyme that digests lactose.

In dog diet the right quantities of vegetables must not be missing, a food unappetizing for the animal but necessary for the regulation of its intestinal activity. To be digested, vegetables need to be cooked for a long time, which however disperses a large part of their vitamin content.

Excellent to combine with other elements are cereals; among these rice, which provides its sugar content after prolonged cooking.

Also not to be forgotten is the right amount of vegetable origin fats, which are found in olive and seed oil and which the dog is not able to synthesize on its own. On the other hand, fats of animal origin should not be added if the diet includes meat, because it already contains the quantity necessary for the dog.

	- protein, which are the raw material of his organism. In a daily meal it is sufficient that the percentage of proteins of animal origin administered is around 20%; it should be considered that in particular conditions - pregnant or lactating females, puppies - the protein requirement increases, while in others - this is the case of elderly dogs - it decreases.
	- sugar, but not everyone assimilates them easily. No problem for glucose and sucrose, but the dog has a hard time digesting lactose. The supply of sugars is important both as a source of rapidly available energy and as a regulator of the activity of the bacterial flora.
	- grassi, but in the right measure. In his diet, fats must not exceed 10%; the excesses not only lead to obesity, but also to an animal more predisposed to disease and premature old age.
	- Vitamins, especially as a puppy and in pregnancy and lactation. The dog cannot synthesize all the vitamins, so some must be taken; specific vitamin deficiencies can lead to disease.
	- minerals, which are present in different quantities in all foods. It is necessary to administer the right quantities with the diet, especially in puppies and pregnant bitches.