Dogs are not just furry friends. They are biological systems. Every part of their health is controlled by digestion, hydration, and nutrition. And the more we understand how their body works, the more we can prevent disease before it starts.
🦴 The Digestive System is Built for Survival
Dogs evolved as scavenging carnivores. That means their stomach acid is powerful enough to handle bacteria, bones, and even rotting meat. This biological adaptation made sure they could survive harsh environments.
But modern feeding has changed that. Over time, generations of dogs fed low-grade, overprocessed food may lose some of their digestive strength. Intolerance to new ingredients is now common. But this is not evolution. This is the result of poor structure and repetitive diets.
Too many owners now get feeding advice from unqualified sources, friends, pet shop staff repeating brand scripts, random internet ratings, or online comments by well-meaning but biologically clueless voices. Most sound-like authorities simply because they own a dog. But that is like owning a car and thinking it qualifies you to rebuild an engine or teach others how to drive with ten points on your licence. It makes no sense. If only it was that simple.
💧 The Power of Water
Water is critical. A dog can survive without food for days, but not without clean, fresh water. They drink around ten times a day, more when nursing, ill, or eating dry food.
And here’s the truth, kibble increases water needs. Poor kibble creates extra strain. If fresh water is not available at all times, the risk of organ stress goes up. Dehydration is not just a summer issue. It is a silent threat.
🐶 Bone Health: Built or Broken by Food
Strong bones need more than calcium. Puppy growth, adult stability, and senior mobility all depend on the right combination of vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin K
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
A poor diet means weak joints. If the balance is wrong during puppyhood, bones form incorrectly. If it is wrong in later life, joints break down and movement becomes painful.
And some conditions, like hip dysplasia, are now better understood. It is not just genetic. It is often a combination of weak genes and a weak diet. When both fail, joints cannot function. But when diet is strong, even a genetic weakness can be overcome or minimised.
Vitamin C helps build collagen, the body’s internal glue for bones, cartilage, and connective tissue. Puppies given the right support from day one are more likely to stay strong. This is prevention through nutrition.
⚠️ Stress Worsens Joint and Gut Health
Stress depletes vitamin C and interrupts the immune and digestive systems. A stressed dog is at higher risk of joint issues, illness, and poor recovery.
Noise, poor training, loneliness, chemical exposure, all add up. This is why both food and lifestyle must be considered when rebuilding health. We cannot fix bones if we ignore the brain.
🧬 Every Nutrient Matters
There is no such thing as a small deficiency. A missing vitamin or mineral can lead to serious health problems. That is why the method of feeding, raw, kibble, tinned, does not matter unless it delivers:
- The correct 22 amino acids
- All 13 essential vitamins
- All 14 essential minerals
It is not about the food type. It is about what the body receives and absorbs. That is nutrition.
Good feeding is not an art. It is a science. When we stop guessing and start structuring, we see stronger dogs, fewer health issues, and longer, happier lives.
Nutrition is not the ingredients. Nutrition is the 22 amino acids, 13 vitamins and 14 minerals in the correct amount, absorbed from food and used by the body.
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