Improves everyday ability to get up & go
Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Highly digestible food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
Supports energy level and beautiful fur in indoor cats
Supports energy level and beautiful fur in mature cats
Discover how and where to store your dry, as well as canned, dog and cat food. Learn how to find the "best before" dates on all Hill's pet food packaging.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Discover why water is the most important nutrient for your dog or cat to live a healthy life. Find out how much water your pet should consume each day.
Balance is important in every area of our lives, but for our dogs it’s probably most critical in their nutrition.
A dog that eats an unbalanced food that does not contain all the essential nutrients he needs is likely to suffer health problems and live a shorter and less happy life.
How Do I Know My Dog Food is Balanced?
A balanced pet food for your dog should contain protein (from an animal), vegetables, whole grains, fat, and micronutrients (omega 3 fatty acids for skin and brain function; and for large breed puppies and older dogs, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate).
Dogs also require more than 50 key nutrients, the most vital of which are vitamin C and minerals magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus. The balance between these nutrients is important, too. “The body is a very complex organic place where biochemical reactions are going on,” explains Kerri Marshall, DVM, a licensed veterinarian and chief veterinary officer at Trupanion.
Should I Change My Dog Food According to My Dog's Lifestage?
Yes! Like humans, dogs have different nutritional needs depending on their life stage. Puppies, and lactating and pregnant females in particular, need plenty of calcium and magnesium for bone health and growth; older animals typically need fewer minerals to avoid kidney damage.
Because of these different requirements, “be sure to always buy pet food that’s specifically balanced for the life stage of your pet,” says Dr. Marshall.
If your dog has one of a number of diseases, such as arthritis or renal disease, his problems could worsen if you feed him an incorrectly balanced food. To avoid problems, there are foods that are especially designed for these issues, which dogs can eat indefinitely.
And, says Dr. Marshall, there are even foods specifically balanced for shorter-term medical problems like obesity, bladder infections, vomiting, kidney stones, and anemia.
If your dog is on a special food for a short-term medical problem or a short-term life stage like being a puppy or pregnancy, be sure to switch onto the new dog food — or back to the old food — gradually, warns Dr. Marshall, or your dog could suffer vomiting or diarrhea from the sudden change. The transition should take at least a week.
For the complete article on balanced dog food and choosing the best food for your dog’s health, visit petMD!
One of our staff authors prepared this article for you
Improves everyday ability to get up & go
Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Vital nutrients to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Improves Everyday Ability to Get Up & Go
Understand the role that Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids play in your dog's overall health, and how you can ensure they are getting enough.
Learn basic steps & precautions for treating a cut on your dog, including what you can put on the cut, and when you should take them to the vet.
Discover fun and engaging games and other ways to help your dog exercise, keeping him happy and healthy.
Learn how to stop your dog from begging at the dinner table, and understand how it can help contribute to his health.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.