Carbohydrates
While most nutrients have a set requirement, carbohydrates are the one nutrient for which it is really up to you as a pet owner to decide how much your dog receives. Dogs do not have a biological requirement for carbohydrates and they're quite happy with a bowl full of meat for dinner. However, there are many reasons why including grains and vegetables are beneficial as part of a meal:
- As a source of energy, carbohydrates are more readily used than protein and lower in calories than fat.
- Carbohydrates slow digestion, allowing other nutrients more time to be absorbed and keeping your pet feeling fuller longer.
- Carbohydrates are good source of essential vitamins, minerals and the antioxidants that are not present in proteins or fats.
- Carbohydrates are less expensive than protein.
The growth and production of grains and vegetables have less of an impact on the environment, requiring less land, water, carbon emissions and fossil fuels to deliver the same amount of calories as protein sources.
Fiber
When a pet consumes carbohydrates, fiber rides along. Fiber remains largely undigested and slow the digestive system to balance the water content in the intestines, creating a healthy colon and increasing the amount of flora in the digestive tract to aid in the resistance to bacteria and intestinal disorders. Only less than 5% amunt of fiver is needed because excess can encourage gas depending on the rate at which it is fermented.
Fats
Like carbohydrates and proteins, fats can cause obesity when consumed in excess. They have 225% as many calories per gram as either protein or carbohydrates. However, it's important to inclide fats in a diet because of their role in the absorption of:
- Fat-solube vitamins A, D, E and K.
- The production of hormones
- The health of hair and skin
- In increasing immunity
- a source of energy
There are two types of essential fatty acids:
- Omega-6 fatty acids
- Omega-3 fatty acids
