Nutrients that dogs need. Do you know what they are?

Dogs, like other animals, need different nutrients such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins, minerals and water.

Knowing what nutrients dogs need

1. Proteins are large, complex molecules that perform many critical functions in the body. They do most of the work in cells and are necessary for the structure, function and regulation of the body's tissues and organs.

Proteins are made up of hundreds or thousands of smaller units called amino acids, which are linked together in long chains. There are 20 different types of amino acids; amino acids combine to form proteins. The sequence of amino acids determines the unique three-dimensional structure of each protein and its specific function.

The essential amino acids in dogs are arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine, which means that the presence of these amino acids is essential in the diet.

2. Fats are necessary for the dog's body, as they provide essential fatty acids. They also serve a number of vital functions such as storing energy, serve as a structure for the production of hormones and other substances, and facilitate the transport and absorption of various vitamins such as fat soluble vitamins A, D and E. Fats are also important for maintaining a healthy coat and skin.

Fats also make the feed palatable and are highly digestible nutrients. Due to their high energy value, fats increase the energy density of the feed. For example, one gram of fat contains more than twice as much energy as one gram of protein or carbohydrate.

3. Carbohydrates provide quick energy to the cells. Carbohydrates include sugars, starches and dietary fibres. The simplest molecules within carbohydrates are sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides). The longer chains and structures formed by these sugars are complex carbohydrates such as starches (polysaccharides) and dietary fibres (oligosaccharides and polysaccharides). 

4. Sugars and starches are called digestible carbohydrates and provide energy. Fibres, while not digestible, improve the digestive health of our companions.

5. Dietary fibres are essential for digestive health. There are fermentable and non-fermentable fibres and a balanced supply of both will allow optimal health for dogs.

6. Vitamins help the body to process other nutrients and without the right balance of vitamins, our companion's body will not be able to grow or repair itself properly.

There are fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) and water-soluble vitamins (the others). Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and are not easily eliminated, so there is a danger of overdose due to accumulation. The most common are overdoses of vitamins A and D. A possible consequence would be tissue calcification or bone malformations.

7. Minerals are another of the essential nutrients in dogs, some of which must be provided in greater quantities, macrominerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium, and in smaller quantities, trace elements such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine, selenium and fluorine.

Some minerals have essential functions for proper functioning, but an excess intake of any of them can lead to everything from urinary stones to neurological poisoning with serious consequences.

8. Water is the most important nutrient, as without water within a few days a dog's life could be in danger. 

All animals need to have clean, fresh water available, ideally in different types of water troughs so that they can choose where to drink from.

It is important to monitor the amount of water our companions drink, if they drink an insufficient amount they may suffer health problems, but if on the other hand you observe that they drink too much it may be a symptom of a disease that is causing this.

In what quantities should these nutrients be administered?

It is extremely important that the nutrient intake is adequate, avoiding deficits or overdoses of any of the nutrients. We must bear in mind that throughout the life of our companions they may have different nutritional needs or health conditions that modify their needs and we must adapt to them.