The most important point for the proper development and maintenance of our dog's health is a complete and balanced diet. A complete diet is one that is sufficient in minerals and vitamins, including proteins, carbohydrates and lipids that are essential for the proper functioning of an organism.
Metals
Specifically, minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulfur, iron, iodine, zinc, manganese, selenium, etc. are inorganic elements and represent a large group of micronutrients that are divided into two categories, macrominerals and microminerals or trace elements. Their presence in the dog's diet is necessary for the maintenance and proper functioning of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as for the production of various enzymes, hormones, as well as for better absorption of vitamins. The supply of these substances must be subject to nutritional rules, while their use in excessive quantities can lead to health problems, especially with regard to the calcium/phosphorus ratio.
Vitamins
The vitamins known to all of us remain an integral part of a balanced dog diet, with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties they strengthen the immune system, contributing to the regulation of the metabolic process while some of them are necessary for the conversion of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids into energy. Vitamins are organic chemical compounds and are divided into water-soluble and fat-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, K are stored mainly in the liver and fatty tissues, while high concentrations can lead to toxicity in the dog. Water-soluble vitamins include the B complex vitamins, the most popular of which are B12 - Cobalamin and B7 - Biotin for their well-known neuro-cytoprotective effects, as well as the "immune vitamin" vitamin C, which, unlike humans, dogs can synthesize on their own.
Sources of these valuable nutrients include meat, fish, grains and vegetables. Different cooking methods, in combination with the intensity of the temperature, the duration of cooking and the amount of water, affect the nutritional composition of foods differently. Choosing the right cooking method for each case will help us to maintain the benefits of these substances to the maximum.
Alexandros Spyrliadis
Veterinarian / DVM.MSc
Athensvet - Modern Veterinary Clinics
Always guided by the advice of our veterinary team, all our recipes have been carefully designed to achieve a balanced diet, not only in proteins, carbohydrates and fats, but also in vitamins and trace elements. Furthermore, we carry out all the necessary microbiological and nutritional analyses to confirm the quality of our food in practice!
More specifically, the way we cook, at low temperatures using the sous-vide cooking method, is ideal for avoiding any loss of nutrients, vitamins and trace elements, as well as for neutralizing any microorganisms.
We create a personalized nutrition plan taking into account each dog's weight, age and activity level.
Create the plan for your four-legged friend here 🐾
- petchef team 👩🍳