Proteins: Body tissues are made of proteins. Your dog's body makes only 13 of the 23 amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins. The other 10 have to come from food.
Fats: Fats give your dog energy. They also help keep your dog's skin and hair healthy. Your dog's body can't make enough essential fatty acids on its own, so they need to eat food that has them. Some important fatty acids for your dog are:
- Linoleic acid
- Omega-6
- Omega-3
Carbohydrates: Carbs power the tissues in your dog's body. They also help keep your dog's intestines healthy. Carbs come from plants. When your dog eats grains and vegetables, they get:
- Sugars
- Starches
- Fiber
Vitamins and minerals: These are needed for many of the chemical reactions in your dog's body, such as building bones and keeping them strong.
Your dog can get all the vitamins and minerals they needs in "balanced" dog food, including:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- B-complex vitamins
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
Water: Even if dogs lose all of their body fat and half their protein, they can survive. But water is so important that they could die if they lose only 10% of the water in their body. Make sure your dog always has fresh, clean water available.