Everyone knows that dog food care is essential to keep the animal's health up to date. However, what few people understand is that there are different types of dog food and that all of them are specific to a certain stage of the animal's life and also taking into account its physical size. Yes, that's right: the size of the animal also influences the dog's health.The small dog food has some nutritional differences compared to a large dog food, and vice versa - which can harm your pet's health if consumed improperly. To answer the main questions on the subject, Patas da Casa has prepared an article with several information about it. See below!

Why is it important to know how to differentiate between dog foods?

Just like humans, dogs also need specific nutrients to stay healthy. But it is necessary to take into account that the size of the animal is a very important factor in defining this, since the organism of a small dog acts totally different from the organism of a large dog and, therefore, they are animals that need different amounts of nutrients. ignorethis can end up causing an excess or deficit of components in the animal's body, significantly affecting its quality of life. Therefore, always try to buy dog food that is specific to the size of the pet.

Feed for small breeds contains more protein

If you have a small dog, you will need a small breed dog food to take care of your pet. The big difference between these types of dog food is that, as smaller dogs have a faster metabolism and consequently consume more energy, the diet is basically based on proteins and fat. This is a very valuable nutritional difference and one that does notshould be ignored, because if the guardian chooses to give a large dog food to a small breed, this may end up triggering a deficit of nutrients in the dog's body. Therefore, it is important to always follow the recommendations made for the size of the breed and the animal's life stage. If you are in doubt as to what is the best type of food for your four-legged friend, it is worth consulting a professional.veterinarian to ask for some suggestions.

Large dog food has reduced fat content

Unlike small dogs, large dogs do not need to consume a large amount of fats or proteins. In fact, it is ideal that these nutrients are part of the animal's diet in a more balanced way. In this way, the formula of the food for large dogs has less fat than the food for small dogs, since the metabolism of the dogslarger is much slower and the absorption of a large amount of fat can end up causing canine obesity. Excess weight, in turn, makes the animal much more prone to various diseases, such as diabetes and heart problems, so it is important to pay close attention to this situation.

In addition, other important nutrients in large dog food are minerals, calcium and phosphorus. These substances help strengthen the animal's bone structure and also help the dog's joints, preventing diseases that are more common in large animals.

Puppy food: large or small?

Although puppy food (large or small) is less concentrated in proteins and fats and more focused on other essential nutrients (calcium, phosphorus and minerals), puppy food has some particularities. That is, as this food is intended for the initial phase of the puppy, it should naturally contain a higher concentration of fats and proteins. This is because thePuppies use a lot more energy than an adult dog, and consequently need to meet these expenses adequately. However, it is important not to forget to make the transition to a more specific food for large dogs when the puppy turns one year old. This way, he starts to receive the nutrients in the right way to help him in adulthood.