LET’S TALK ABOUT COMPLETE AND BALANCED DOG FOOD
Ever wondered what complete and balanced dog food means? Our Nutritionist, Sara, explains why it is so key to ensure that your dog is eating 100% complete and balanced food every mealtime. Butcher’s promises nutritionally balanced dog food for every dog!
Meet Sara, our Nutritionist
Sara is a proud pet parent to Mae the Cocker Spaniel, 2 cats and a growing flock of hens. She knows that nutrition is key to their happy and healthy lives. Sara has a degree in Animal Science and over 12 years’ experience as a Pet Nutritionist. Sara shares useful information and resources on dog nutrition with pet parents like you. Over to Sara…
What is complete and balanced dog food?
I often get asked, “what do I need to look for when choosing a food for my dog?”. The first thing I say is that the food should be 100% complete and balanced.
For a dog food to be complete and balanced, it must be made up of all the essential nutrients needed for your dog to live a healthy and happy life. It must also meet the energy requirements of your furry friend, regardless of their age or activity levels.
All our nourishing recipes tick this box as they contain every nutrient required to support each stage of your dog’s development, so you can feed them their favourite recipe continuously.
Watch our video with Sara below.
A LOOK AT NUTRIENTS
I talk about nutrients a lot; they are the building blocks of every healthy diet, have a function in body processes and are essential for development.
Here’s what every bowlful needs to include to support your dog’s overall health and vitality. However, remember that many factors can influence the nutritional requirements of your four-legged friend. From their life stage, breed and health to activity levels, environment, pregnancy and lactation.
HIGH-QUALITY PROTEIN
Animal and fish sources are highly digestible, high-quality proteins. The function of protein is to help grow and repair tissue, regulate the metabolism and serve as a source of energy.
You can find a range of different proteins in our recipes to cater for your furry’s friend’s tastes, from delicious chicken to sumptuous salmon!
With sustainability in mind, all our meat is British and Irish farmed to help to reduce our environmental footprint. We use fresh ingredients as much as possible and carefully control what goes into our food. If the ingredients do not meet our high standards, we do not use them.
FAT
Essential fatty acids are another great energy source and transport vitamins, protect vital organs and support brain development. They must be supplied via the diet as dogs can’t make them in sufficient amounts. Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in joint health, skin and coat health, heart health and brain development in puppies.
Our Joints & Coat recipes include Salmon Oil which helps in supporting healthy joints, skin & a shiny coat.
FIBRE
Fibre aids digestive health and can be found in grains like wholegrain rice. The two types of fibre, soluble and insoluble, help your four-legged friend pass food, preventing constipation, and slow the rate of digestion to give that “fuller for longer” feeling.
That’s why our Lean & Tasty range includes wholegrain rice, to help you mange your dog’s diet if they are overweight.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Vitamins and minerals are provided by a variety of ingredients, like animal protein sources and vegetables. It is important that vitamins and minerals in complete dog foods are carefully balanced to help maintain optimum health and vitality.
In our Healthy Heart recipes, we include Vitamins C & E. They are antioxidants to help strengthen natural immune defences.
WATER
The most important nutrient. Essential for all functions, for example, transporting some vitamins around the body, temperature regulation and aiding waste removal. Dogs typically require around 60ml per kg of their body weight each day.
By feeding wet dog food, like Butcher’s nourishing food for dogs, this can help contribute to their hydration. You can read more about the advantages of feeding wet dog food here.
A WORD ABOUT CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are a fast-acting energy source for the brain and muscles. Although often present in dog foods, there is no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates in nutritionally complete dog foods. Instead, fat and protein can provide energy to your four-legged friend. Carbohydrates are necessary for pregnant and lactating dogs, though.
A 100% COMPLETE AND BALANCED MEAL EVERY TIME
All of our nourishing dog food recipes are 100% complete and balanced, giving your loyal friend everything they need. But to maintain their health and vitality, it’s important to ensure the recipe you choose for your dog is right for the individual stage of their development.
That’s why there’s a nutritionally balanced food for every dog, from puppy and adult to those with a sensitive stomach or watching their weight. Each meal is packed full of all the nutrients your dog needs.
Our brand values
Not only do we promise that our nutritious meals are 100% complete and balanced, but we also promise that they’re made with natural ingredients and from British and Irish farms. They’re all in recyclable packaging too.*
Read more about our brand promises and what they mean in our blog here.
