Animal hospitals recognize that whole nutrition for dogs is a careful guesstimate, at best. But don’t worry. The finest health for your dog doesn’t have to be a lost cause. Nevertheless, it can be gone astray inside a bag of unfilled nutritional promises.

Often, you’ll read that bone meal, or meat meal, or corn meal is the primary ingredient in your dog’s packaged food. That doesn’t mean that it will prove to be the best morning or evening meal.

Certainly, holistic dog feeding, personalized for your individual pet, is most likely to support your dog’s best shot at good health and long life.

Unrefined foods for dogs supply nutrients that are more readily accessible for dogs’ systems to use. Unrefined foods are also more capable in their transfer of energy. Moreover, if you choose organically produced food, you choose to do away with the chemicals that can obstruct nutrient and energy digestion. These are all advantages that hardly any processed foods can claim.

Certain dog issues, such as constipation, obesity, malnutrition, skin and coat difficulties, and allergies can result from improper feeding. And not uncommonly, illness of the eyes, heart, gums, kidneys, and liver are possible. Moreover, studies have established that cancer thrives when the diet is incomplete.

Ask a veterinarian, and they’re likely to propose a particular diet for a young pups care, or during a dog’s pregnancy, or in response to any number of dog health troubles or sickness. Your veterinarian or dog nutritionist can also suggest a mixture of natural recipes, planned for your healthy dog’s age, weight, and activity level.

Pet medication is over prescribed. Some canine pharmaceuticals are essential for survival, but others are used to treat dog symptoms that can be prevented with proper feeding. Most every dog’s best medicine is the food that he or she eats. Though no one can pinpoint the exact percentages of nutrients, fat, and protein required for optimal health of every animal, a diet composed of genuine food is always best. Your veterinary nutrition expert can devise a pure food meal plan targeted to your dog’s specific needs, or to eliminate the chances of the development of specific needs.

To offer your dog the best opportunity to do well, feed foods that will heal health problems, or foods to safeguard his or her already good health; make customary visits to your pet’s vet; and brush your dog’s teeth often. And, don’t ignore that appropriate and timely vaccinations grant your dog the best shot at fighting everyday, and sometimes deadly, illnesses.

Don’t mistake endearing dog food advertisements and heartfelt promises for good dog nutrition. Convenience is really the only advantage that they can offer. And please, don’t confuse meat meal with real meat, or with a real meal.

Dr. Omaboe has been helping dog owners maintain the health of their dogs through good nutrition for over two decades. He owns and operates Cabinet Veterinaire International, situated in Mies Switzerland, which is just outside of Geneva.