Is a balanced diet the most important routine for your dog?

You love your dog, and your dog loves you, that’s a fact. You probably go out of your way to give him the best and you’ve worked hard to put routines in place that he can rely on. He knows that you take him for a walk in the morning before leaving for work, he knows that he has to walk in step when you are in the street and that when you say “STOP”, it means stop! If you want to know more, go to this article.

But what about his food? Long undervalued, diet plays an important role in the health and well-being of your dog (as it does for us). In this article, we explain why good diet habits are essential for your dog. 

What does “balanced diet” mean for a dog? 

A balanced diet is a diet adapted to its needs. A dog not only needs a daily protein intake, but it also needs (good) fat, fibre, carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals. 

Different needs: 

The dog’s needs also change with age. For example, a puppy will need more food, vitamins and minerals since it is in the growth phase.

Dry food, junk food for dogs? 

While some dogs have no problem eating industrial or dry food all their lives, others on the contrary struggle to finish their bowl. 

And for good reason – would you like to eat chips every day of your life? Aren’t you happy to get back to a “healthier” diet after a week of snacks and all kinds of excesses? It’s exactly the same for your dog! 

It is no coincidence that most dogs like to eat leftovers from our meals. Fresh food, new tastes, new textures, so many things to delight their taste buds. 

At Dog Chef, we are convinced that a fresh and balanced diet plays a considerable role in the happiness of dogs. 

Pay attention to…

The amount of food: 

It is important to give your dog the right amount of food. Neither too much, to avoid the risks of obesity, nor too little. Be careful to always respect the amount of food prescribed by your veterinarian.

Good to know: Dog Chef rations are calculated, among other things, according to your dog’s age, weight, breed and level of physical activity. Want to know how much Dog Chef food is right for your dog? Take the test! 

Vitamins: 

Because they are invisible, vitamins and minerals often tend to be forgotten. However, they play an essential role in the balance of meals and in the health of your dog. 

A calcium deficiency combined with too much phosphorus intake can cause bone decalcification or “Rubber Jaw” or “All meat” syndrome (deformation of the bones and jaw).

Did you know? Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not able to metabolize vitamin D, which is essential for their body (yes, they have a lot of hair, our four-legged friends!). Adding this vitamin in the form of supplements is therefore essential to avoid any deficiency. Be careful, it is not necessary to add supplements to dog biscuits because they already contain what your dog needs.

Fortunately, Dog Chef meals come with our Omega Mix and AlphaMix supplements. This way, you can be sure to cover your dog’s daily vitamin and mineral needs.

Water:

Your dog needs to have access to clean, temperate water at all times of the day. 

A dog needs about 50ml of water per kilo per day. So if your dog weighs 20 kilos, he will need to drink around 1L of water per day. 

Good to know: A dog’s water needs depend on various factors such as:

• Weight
• Outside temperature
• Pregnancy or lactation (for females)
• Level of physical activity
• Food: a dog fed with household rations will need less water since its food already contains a certain amount of water

Dog Chef makes your life easier 

Dog Chef makes your life easier since our recipes have been designed in collaboration with veterinarians specializing in canine nutrition. Thanks to our powerful calculator, we know exactly how much food your dog needs each day. 

Delivered to your home, the meals are vacuum-packed and can be kept for one week in the fridge. All you need to do is put the rest of your delivery in the freezer and take out your dog’s dish every day. 

Thanks to our AlphaMix and Omega Mix supplements, we make sure that meals are perfectly balanced and that they cover all the essential needs of your furry friend.

Taking care of your friend’s diet has never been easier! 

As you can see, a good, fresh diet adapted to the needs of your dog is just as important as the daily walk. Think about it! 🙂 

And you? What diet did you choose for your dog? Tell us all about it! 

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