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Why Dogs Need Protein, Fat and Fiber in Their Food
Why Dogs Need Protein, Fat and Fiber in Their Food

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Why Dogs Need Protein, Fat and Fiber in Their Food

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Providing your dog with a balanced diet of nutritious dog food will ensure they get adequate amounts of protein, fat and fiber. All three are essential to your dog’s health and happiness — and all three can be found in every IAMS™ product we produce. Learn more about how these three vital elements can support your dog’s whole-body health.

 

The Important Fatty Acids in IAMS™ Dog Foods

The Important Fatty Acids in IAMS™ Dog Foods

 

Protein Protein helps keep your dog’s muscles strong.

 

Protein helps keep your dog’s muscles strong. It also provides the amino acids necessary to build and repair proteins in their body. Many of these amino acids must be acquired through a dog’s diet.

Recipes contain animal-based proteins that provide the essential amino acids dogs need. Plus, we conduct special refining and quality assurance tests to ensure we only use high-quality, highly digestible protein sources for increased digestibility.

Important Fatty Acids in IAMS Dog Foods


 

Fat gives your dog energy and helps nourish their skin and coat.

 

Fat provides energy. Your dog needs two types of fatty acids: omega-6 andomega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in chicken fat and corn.Omega-3 fatty acids are found in ingredients such as canola, fish meal or oil, andflax. Both types help nourish and support your dog’s skin and coat.


Fiber and prebiotics help support your dog’s digestion.
 

IAMS™ dog food recipes feature a tailored blend of natural fiber from ingredients like beet pulp, as well as prebiotics to help support your dog’s digestion. Research has shown that moderately fermentable fiber, such as beet pulp, enhances intestinal health.

Feeding your dog a balanced diet that contains the right amounts of protein, fats and fiber is one of the most important ways you can care for and nourish them. To see the di!erence a healthy diet can make in your dog, feed them an IAMS recipe that’s tailored to their unique dietary needs, such as their size, age and breed. Are you ready to See the Wow?

  • Small-Breed Dog’s Nutritional Needs
    Small-Breed Dog’s Nutritional Needs
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    Small-Breed Dog’s Nutritional Needs

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    Not all small dogs have the same nutritional needs. Giving your dog a food specially formulated for her size and activity level is the easiest way to make sure you’re providing complete and balanced nutrition. Here’s how to provide the right nutrition for your small dog.

     

    How to Select a Food for Your Small-breed Dog

    Small adult dogs require a food that offers complete nutrients essential for health and vitality. Here’s what to look for:

    • Vitamin-rich fish oils for a healthy skin, a shiny coat and overall health
    • Essential vitamins and minerals to help support the immune system and help maintain good health
    • High-quality animal-based protein sources to help maintain muscles
    • A fiber source to promote intestinal health, enhance nutrient absorption and reduce backyard cleanup
    • A special carbohydrate blend of select healthy grains to help maintain normal blood sugar levels for sustained energy

    These ingredients are the keys to nutrition whether you feed dry or wet dog food or give your dog treats.

     

    Dietary Considerations for Small-Breed Dogs

    Small dogs have small mouths and stomachs. You may want to feed your dog a formula with a small bite size for easy chewing. A nutrient-dense food will help make sure she’s absorbing essential nutrients even though her stomach can only accommodate what seems like a small volume of food.

     

    When choosing a food for your small-breed dog, also ask:

    • Has she been spayed, is she not getting enough exercise or is she overweight?
    • Is she about to have puppies?
    • Is she considered mature or senior (7 years or older)?

    Special conditions like these dramatically affect your dog’s nutritional demands.

     

    Controlling Your Small Dog’s Weight

    Less-active dogs and dogs who have been neutered or spayed are prone to weight gain. Controlling your dog’s weight is an important step toward protecting against complications of excess weight, such as diabetes or joint health problems. If you use a weight-control food, look for these ingredients:

    • A reduced fat level that still offers essential nutrients for skin and coat health
    • L-carnitine, a key nutrient that helps burn fat during weight loss
    • Special carbohydrate blends that help maintain energy while managing weight
    • Vitamin-rich fish oils for overall health

     

    Providing Nutrition for Pregnant Small-Breed Dogs

    Starting in the seventh week of her pregnancy, a mother dog will need to increase her energy intake up to 50% by the time she gives birth and increase it even more when she starts nursing her puppies. Because she may lose her appetite at times, it’s important that she eats a nutrient-dense food. A complete, balanced small-breed puppy formula can give her the extra nutrients she needs.

     

    Switching to a Mature Diet

    Unlike larger dogs that are considered mature at age 5, your small dog can remain on an adult diet until age 7. In fact, small-breed dogs tend to live longer and don’t experience age-related changes as early as bigger dogs. However, it is important to make a proactive transition to a specially formulated mature diet, such as IAMS™ ProActive Health™ Mature Adult Small & Toy Breed, so you can help keep your dog healthy and active for years to come.

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