The best way to keep your four-legged best friend healthy is to keep their weight in a healthy range. Roughly, 25-30% of the general canine population is obese, with 40-45% of dogs 5-11 years old weighing in higher than normal. So, it's important to feed according to the directions on the bag to avoid overfeeding. Research has found the lifespan of overweight dogs was up to 2 1/2 years shorter, on average, than the lifespan of dogs with a healthy body weight; which depending on the breed could mean up to a 20% decreased lifespan.
But it's not just about quantity, it's about quality too. Your dog deserves the best quality food that will provide the nourishment, vitamins, and other essentials they need.
When choosing your dog's food, make sure it has the building blocks they need such as high-quality proteins. "Having high-quality protein in pet food is important because of the impact it has on digestibility" suggests Dr. Darcia Kostiuk, Senior Veterinarian at Champion Petfoods. "Pets extract minerals, plus essential and non-essential amino acids from protein, which are the nutritional building blocks to support their muscle maintenance, growth, and countless other important functions in the body. Selecting a food containing quality animal protein is crucial to supporting pets' overall health."
When choosing your dog's food, make sure it has the building blocks they need such as high-quality proteins. "Having high-quality protein in pet food is important because of the impact it has on digestibility" suggests Dr. Darcia Kostiuk, Senior Veterinarian at Champion Petfoods. "Pets extract minerals, plus essential and non-essential amino acids from protein, which are the nutritional building blocks to support their muscle maintenance, growth, and countless other important functions in the body. Selecting a food containing quality animal protein is crucial to supporting pets' overall health."
Protein isn't the only important ingredient; fiber also plays an essential role. "Dogs do need fiber in their diet to help them have regular, consistent, and healthy bowel movements. Quality fruits, vegetables, legumes and in some recipes, grains, are included in every bag of ACANA® pet food to make up the important fiber content of the food." says Dr. Kostiuk.
To help your dog live a healthy happy life visit your nearest UFA Farm and Ranch Supply store and ask our team about the feed options for your pets that can provide the nutrition they need to stay healthy and active. Visit us in-store or shop online today and find the right feed for you four-legged friend.
