Nutrition Basics for Dogs

Dogs are facultative carnivores. That means they evolved primarily on animal protein but can use a wide range of plant-based ingredients efficiently. A nutritionally complete canine diet has to deliver six essential categories of nutrient: water, protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals — in quantities and ratios that match your dog's life stage and activity.

Get the foundation right and most "behavioural" or "skin" problems quietly resolve. Get it wrong and no premium kibble label will compensate. The four guides below cover the macronutrients and micronutrients in detail.