WHAT DOES A DOG ACTUALLY NEED TO EAT?

There is an enormous amount of confusion about what dogs should eat. Search the internet and you will quickly find arguments about raw versus cooked food, meat versus plants, carbohydrates, grains, supplements, superfoods and the latest “perfect” diet. One person will tell you that dogs need nothing but meat, while another will insist that every meal must contain a precisely calculated list of ingredients. Somewhere in the middle, many dog owners are simply wondering what on earth they are supposed to put in the bowl.

The good news is that feeding a dog well does not need to be complicated.

When we strip away the marketing and the endless arguments about individual ingredients, the fundamentals of nutrition are actually quite simple. Dogs need energy to fuel their bodies, protein and amino acids to build and repair tissues, fats and essential fatty acids for energy and normal cellular function, vitamins and minerals for countless biological processes, water for virtually every system in the body, and a range of other dietary components, including fibre, that support normal digestion and wellbeing.

Those nutrients can come from real food. In fact, a wide variety of ordinary foods can provide an extraordinary range of nutrition.

The trick is not finding one magical food that contains everything a dog needs. It is understanding what different foods contribute and bringing them together over time.

START WITH THE FOOD, NOT THE NUMBERS

When we talk about feeding dogs, we tend to think in terms of ingredients. We ask whether a dog should eat beef or chicken, whether eggs are good, whether vegetables are necessary or whether fish should be included. These are useful questions, but there is a better way to look at nutrition.

Think about what the food provides.

Meat provides protein, amino acids, fats, vitamins and minerals. Fish provides protein as well as valuable omega-3 fatty acids. Eggs provide highly digestible protein along with a broad range of vitamins and minerals. Liver is exceptionally rich in nutrients such as vitamin A, copper, iron and B vitamins. Vegetables and fruit provide fibre, vitamins, minerals and a fascinating range of naturally occurring plant compounds.

Each food brings something different to the bowl.

This is why variety is such a valuable concept in fresh feeding. We don't need to find one food that does everything. We can use different foods because they complement one another nutritionally.

It is very similar to the way we feed ourselves. We don't expect one food to provide everything we need for the rest of our lives. We eat a variety of foods because different foods provide different nutrients.

Dogs are no different in that respect.

PROTEIN: THE BUILDING BLOCK

Protein is fundamental to your dog's body. Muscles, skin, hair, connective tissue, enzymes, hormones and many other structures and processes depend on protein. When your dog eats protein, digestion breaks it down into amino acids, which are then used to build and repair tissues and produce the many proteins the body requires.

Dogs need certain essential amino acids because their bodies cannot manufacture enough of them on their own. Animal foods are particularly useful because they provide highly digestible protein containing a broad range of essential amino acids.

This is one of the reasons meat, poultry, fish and eggs are such important foods in a fresh diet.

And there is no need to become fixated on one particular meat. Beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, kangaroo, rabbit, pork and other suitable animal proteins can all make valuable contributions. Rotating different protein sources gives your dog exposure to a broader range of nutrients and makes feeding much more interesting.

Protein isn't simply about how many grams are in the bowl, either. The source, digestibility and amino acid profile all matter.

FAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DIET

Fat is sometimes treated as something that should be avoided, but dogs need dietary fat. It is a concentrated source of energy and supplies essential fatty acids that the body cannot produce in sufficient amounts itself. Fat also plays important roles in cell membranes, hormone-related processes and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

The type of fat matters, which is why variety is useful here too. Different animal foods contain different fatty acid profiles, while oily fish such as sardines and mackerel provide EPA and DHA, the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that are important components of cell membranes and have roles throughout the body, including the brain and nervous system.

Fat is also very energy dense, so more isn't automatically better. An active working dog may need considerably more dietary energy than a sedentary older dog, and the amount of fat in the diet can be adjusted accordingly.

The aim isn't to feed as much fat as possible. It is simply to include appropriate sources of fat as part of a varied diet.

CALCIUM IS ABOUT MORE THAN BONES

Calcium is probably one of the most important minerals to understand when feeding fresh food. Most people associate calcium with bones and teeth, and rightly so, but calcium also plays essential roles in muscle contraction, nerve signalling and other physiological processes.

This is why a diet made up of muscle meat alone isn't enough. Muscle meat is a fantastic source of protein and many other nutrients, but it does not provide sufficient calcium to support a healthy diet.

Appropriate raw meaty bones can provide calcium and phosphorus, along with other nutrients, for dogs that can safely eat them. Finely ground bone or another appropriate calcium source can also be used when whole bones aren't suitable.

There is no need to turn this into a complicated mathematical exercise. The important principle is simply to recognise that muscle meat and calcium-rich foods serve different nutritional purposes, and both need to be considered when constructing a fresh diet.

For growing puppies, calcium is particularly important because their skeleton is developing rapidly. But again, the answer isn't fear. It is simply understanding that puppies need appropriate nutrition to support growth, just as children do.

ORGANS BRING CONCENTRATED NUTRITION

One of the wonderful things about feeding whole foods is that different tissues have different nutritional strengths.

Liver is an excellent example. It is one of nature's most nutrient-dense foods, providing substantial amounts of vitamin A, copper, iron and several B vitamins. Kidney and other secreting organs contribute their own combination of vitamins and minerals, while heart, although technically a muscle, is particularly nutritious and provides protein, B vitamins, iron and taurine.

This is why feeding a variety of animal tissues makes sense.

A bowl containing nothing but muscle meat is nutritionally very different from a diet that includes a thoughtful variety of organs and other animal foods.

At the same time, nutrient-dense foods don't need to be fed in enormous quantities. Liver is a perfect example because it is so rich in particular nutrients. The objective is not to feed more simply because something is nutritious. It is to use different foods in sensible amounts so that they complement one another.

FISH: A SMALL ADDITION WITH BIG BENEFITS

Fish can be a particularly useful part of a fresh diet. Oily fish such as sardines and mackerel provide EPA and DHA, the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that are incorporated into cell membranes and have important biological functions.

Fish also provides highly digestible protein and a variety of other nutrients, making it more than simply an omega-3 supplement in food form.

Including suitable oily fish regularly is therefore an easy way to increase dietary variety while providing nutrients that can be harder to obtain in significant amounts from land-based meats.

It doesn't need to be complicated. A few appropriate fish meals incorporated into the diet can be a simple and useful addition.

EGGS ARE ANOTHER NUTRIENT-RICH FOOD

Eggs are one of those wonderfully ordinary foods that are surprisingly nutrient dense. They provide highly digestible protein and contain a broad range of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and other biologically active compounds, with much of their nutritional richness concentrated in the yolk.

They are also inexpensive, readily available and easy to prepare, making them a practical addition to a fresh diet.

The important point is that eggs don't need to be regarded as a miracle food either. They are simply another excellent ingredient that contributes useful nutrition.

And this is really the theme of fresh feeding: there is no single magical ingredient. Good nutrition comes from the combination.

WHAT ABOUT VEGETABLES AND FRUIT?

Dogs are classified within the order Carnivora, but that doesn't mean their diet has to consist exclusively of animal tissue. Domestic dogs have a remarkable ability to utilise nutrients from a range of foods, and appropriate plant foods can make a useful contribution to the diet.

Vegetables and fruit can provide fibre, vitamins, minerals and a wide variety of naturally occurring plant compounds. Different plants offer different nutritional benefits, so there is value in variety rather than becoming obsessed with one particular “superfood”.

Preparation can also influence how easily some nutrients can be accessed. Chopping, cooking or blending plant foods breaks down plant cell structures and can improve digestibility and nutrient availability for some foods and nutrients. This doesn't mean every vegetable must be cooked, but it does mean that simply looking at what a food contains isn't always the whole story. How that food is prepared can also matter.

Plant foods don't need to dominate the bowl. They are simply another group of foods that can contribute something useful.

CARBOHYDRATES DON'T NEED TO BE FEARED

Carbohydrates are another subject that has become unnecessarily polarised in dog nutrition.

Dogs do not have a dietary requirement for carbohydrate in the same way they require essential amino acids and essential fatty acids. However, that does not mean carbohydrates are harmful or that dogs cannot utilise them. Dogs can digest appropriately prepared starches and use the resulting glucose for energy.

Foods such as pumpkin, sweet potato, oats and rice can therefore have a place in a fresh diet, depending on the individual dog and the overall way the diet is constructed. They can provide energy, fibre and other nutrients.

There is a tendency to turn nutrition into an argument where one food must be either “good” or “bad”. Real nutrition is rarely that simple.

A food does not have to be essential to be useful.

DON'T FORGET THE WATER

Water is arguably the most important nutrient of all, yet it is often overlooked when we talk about what dogs need to eat.

Water is essential for circulation, digestion, temperature regulation, cellular function, waste removal and virtually every other physiological process in the body. Fresh foods naturally contain a considerable amount of water, particularly raw meat, fish, eggs and many fruits and vegetables.

This is one of the simple advantages of feeding food in its natural, moisture-rich form.

Fresh drinking water should of course always be available, but the moisture contained within fresh foods contributes to the dog's overall water intake as well.

VARIETY DOESN'T MEAN COMPLICATED

One of the biggest misconceptions about fresh feeding is that variety means preparing a completely different gourmet meal every day.

It doesn't.

Variety can happen naturally over the course of a week or two. Beef one day, chicken another, lamb another. Some fish during the week. An egg added to a meal. Appropriate organs included regularly. Different vegetables and fruits depending on what is available.

You don't have to create a complicated menu.

Think about the diet as a whole rather than becoming anxious about whether every individual meal contains everything.

One meal might be particularly rich in protein. Another might include fish and provide more omega-3 fatty acids. Another might contain egg and vegetables. Over time, these foods complement each other.

That is how real food works.

FEED THE DOG IN FRONT OF YOU

There is another important principle in nutrition: your dog is an individual.

A Border Collie running several hours a day has different energy requirements from an older Border Collie who spends most of the day sleeping. A growing puppy has different nutritional demands from a mature adult. A dog living in a cold climate may use more energy than one living in a warm environment.

This doesn't mean you need a calculator every time you prepare dinner.

It means you pay attention.

Look at your dog. Their body condition, muscle tone, coat, energy levels, appetite, stools and overall wellbeing all provide useful information.

If your dog is gaining too much weight, reduce the energy density or quantity. If they are too lean and active, they may need more food. If their activity changes, their food requirements may change too.

Feeding is not a one-time decision. It is an ongoing conversation between the food you provide and the dog you see in front of you.

FRESH FEEDING IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE

Perhaps this is the most important message I want people to take away from this article.

Feeding fresh food does not require a nutrition degree.

Parents manage to feed growing children without calculating every vitamin, mineral and amino acid in every meal. We understand that children need variety, nutritious foods, enough energy, adequate protein, healthy fats, fruit and vegetables and plenty of water. We use common sense, we learn as we go and we pay attention to the child in front of us.

We can approach feeding our dogs in much the same way.

That doesn't mean nutrition doesn't matter. It matters enormously. But understanding nutrition should make us more confident, not more frightened.

Learn what different foods contribute. Offer variety. Choose good-quality ingredients. Include appropriate sources of protein, fat, calcium and nutrient-dense foods. Add fish, eggs, vegetables and fruit. Adjust quantities according to the individual dog.

And then observe.

Your dog is giving you information every day.

REAL FOOD, REAL NUTRITION

The wonderful thing about fresh feeding is that food becomes understandable again.

You can look at a piece of meat and know you are providing protein and amino acids. You can add an egg knowing you are contributing highly digestible protein and a range of micronutrients. You can offer sardines for protein and those valuable omega-3 fatty acids. You can include liver because it is exceptionally rich in particular vitamins and minerals. You can add appropriate vegetables and fruit for fibre, micronutrients and plant compounds.

Instead of thinking about food as a list of ingredients that you are allowed or forbidden to feed, start thinking about what each food brings to the table.

That is where feeding becomes simple.

It isn't about finding the one perfect recipe. It isn't about making every meal identical. And it isn't about being afraid that one imperfect meal will somehow undo everything you have done.

It is about providing good food, providing variety and understanding the nutritional contribution of what you feed.

Dogs need nutrients, and real food is how nature packages those nutrients.

The more we understand food, the less complicated feeding becomes.

And perhaps that is the best thing about fresh feeding of all.

It puts food back where it belongs: in the bowl, not in the realm of fear.