Being a pet parent brings so much joy into your life. However, this joy comes with a huge responsibility as the general well-being of your loyal friend depends on you. They say you are what you eat. This is not only true for us humans but also for our dogs.

As a dog owner, you must have experienced the overwhelming feeling of joy and excitement that fills your heart while buying dog food, as everything is beautifully packaged, promising a high-quality meal for your dear pup. However, not all that shines is gold. The question is: how would you tell if the ingredients’ quality really matches the marketing?
The answer is simple. You need to read the back of the label on your dog’s food. Ingredients that are highest in quantity are listed first, then come the other ingredients in descending order.

In this blog will list the top 4 ingredients you should look for in your pup’s food to ensure a healthy, happy life.

4 Ingredients for a Healthy Happy Life (H1)

If you make sure that your dog’s diet has the following ingredients, you will visit your vet less and less. Not only so, but also your puppy will enjoy a longer life free of illness, tiredness and diseases.

1- Protein:

A healthy pup needs protein to grow and shine. Protein helps the development of your dog’s muscles and tissue and boosts the immune system, which makes it essential, especially for young dogs in their growing phase. Protein contains essential amino acids that are very necessary for the process of cell production. Without enough protein in her diet, your dog will become less energetic, the immune system will be less capable of fighting off diseases, and the fur will look dull and lifeless.

Protein has different sources. We have listed them below so that you would learn how to choose the right food with the right ingredients to ensure your dog is getting enough amount of protein

  • Meat protein: Dogs’ love for meat is not without reason. If you are a dog parent, you must have noticed your pup going crazy for meat. Dogs are programmed to eat meat as it’s the most important source of protein and is superior to other protein sources. This includes muscle meat and organ meat. Meat helps dogs maintain a healthy weight and keeps their joints strong as they grow older.
  • Animal by-products: which refers to any part of the animal that contains protein like hair, lips, eyelashes, or hoofs. Although there are some proteins in these leftovers, you should know that they are not the best source of protein as they are difficult for the dog to digest.
  • Grain or vegetable protein: grain or vegetable proteins are typically soy- or corn-based. Your dog may get protein from these sources but in very small amounts. To meet their daily requirement, you need to give a lot of this food to your dog, which means that alone, they are not enough to keep your pup healthy and should be combined with other protein sources.

2- Carbohydrates:
Another essential ingredient to look for in your dog’s diet is carbohydrates, as they are great energy and dietary fiber sources and therefore come right after proteins on the list. Sources of carbs in your pup’s diet vary, including corn and wheat, which are available in lower quality foods, while high-quality food contains rice, barley, and oats as carbs sources.
Keep in mind that total carbohydrates should be about 42 percent of the dog’s balanced diet.

3- Healthy fats:
Your dog’s diet must include healthy fats as they play a vital role in encouraging proper cell functions, enhancing digestion, stabilizing the temperature, and improving your dog’s coat. Good fats sources include meat, sunflower oil, fish oil, coconuts oil, flaxseeds oil, and lactose-free dairy products.
Look for foods that are 15- to 20-percent fats to guarantee that your pup consumes enough healthy fats.

4- Vitamins and minerals:
Vitamins and minerals are very important for your dog to thrive.
Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary to sustain life for both humans and animals. Dogs need vitamins to unlock nutrients from food, and they help the dog’s body use energy. It is crucial to realize that pups need vitamins in different amounts than people do. If ingested in excessive amounts, vitamins can cause toxicity, and if they are administered in less quantity, certain deficiencies can occur, such as weight loss and digestive issues.

Minerals are one essential class of nutrients that must be included in your dog’s healthy, balanced diet. They play a crucial role in the development and function of your pup’s body. Like all other ingredients, specific minerals must be present in a dog’s food in the right amounts to ensure optimal health.

Some of the functions that minerals perform include the formation of bone and cartilage, hormone production, nerve and muscle function, the transportation of oxygen in the bloodstream, and fluid balance regulation. Minerals work together to coordinate various body functions and maintain normal activities on a daily basis.

Wrapping things up

You know your dog would literally eat whatever you provide, but as a caring pet parent, you surely know that it’s your job to offer the best, even if the process of looking for the right type of food involved some trial and error. Checking the first 4 ingredients on the back of the dog food label is your golden rule, so keep it in mind, and don’t forget to take into consideration your dog’s needs according to his age, breed, and size.

Always remember: a healthy dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog means a home full of joy.