Optimizing Your Dog's Health: The Role of Proper Nutrition

The right food is important for your dog, as the right nutrition plays a big role in your dog's health. With the right nutrition, you can help prevent diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, skeletal and joint diseases etc.

There are several factors that determine which food your dog should have, including size/weight, activity level, diseases/hereditary diseases etc. Differences in activity level can, for example, be if a dog goes hunting or is a companion dog.

At Petlux you will find a wide selection of dog food for the adult dog, whether you have a smaller family dog, a dog ​​that must not get too much protein or a larger hunting dog with a high level of activity.

The transition from puppy food to adult food

A dog should normally switch to adult food when he is 80-90% fully developed, which varies based on breed and size. As a starting point, it is said that the transition to adult food should take place after the sixth month, but no later than the 18th month.

The transition from puppy food to adult food should take place as a smooth transition, preferably in two to three weeks. Here, small portions are mixed into the puppy food and this amount is gradually increased over a few weeks, so that you eventually end up only feeding the new adult food.

It can be a good idea that the adult food is made with the same type of protein as the puppy food, as this mostly ensures that the dog can enjoy the taste and smell of the new food. The adult food can also be from the same brand as the puppy food.

When should you choose a single protein dog food?

Some dogs are more vulnerable than others when it comes to allergies and/or dietary sensitivities. The chance of the dog developing an allergy may be due to genetics but whether the allergy develops depends on the environment and diet.

The typical allergies in dogs is food allergy and pollen allergy. Fortunately, you can help your dog against the first allergy by choosing the right food. For example, if your dog has a food allergy, which is typically a hypersensitivity to too much protein, a quality food made with only one protein source can be ideal.

Which nutrients are important for your dog?

Like us humans, your dog needs the right nutrients when it comes to health and well-being. Proteins are made up of different amino acids which are part of the body's cells, enzymes, hormones etc.

They therefore help to add to the body the important "building blocks". In proper dog food, there are high-quality oils that are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are essential for a well-functioning metabolism.

These unsaturated fatty acids are mainly found in fish oils, but also in plant oils such as rapeseed and sunflower oil. If your dog has skin problems, a supplement of good fish oil can be a good idea.

Carbohydrates help with energy and are a combination of polysaccharides which are found in many cereal products, rice and potatoes etc. but also in vegetables. Fortunately, many quality dog ​​foods are made with vegetables, so grains are avoided.

Vitamins and minerals are essential from the time the dog develops in the foetal stage, as it helps with bone formation, cellular respiration, nerve, heart and muscle functions, blood circulation etc. They thus play an important role in the dog's development and the rest of his life.