Dogs are omnivores like humans. This means they can eat lots of different types of food and they like both meat and vegetables. Their big canine (which means ‘dog’) teeth can tear and shear. Their flatter teeth are for grinding and crushing.
If you un-rolled a dog’s stomach (or intestine) it would be six times as long as the dog’s body! This makes it easier for dogs to digest things like plants and grasses.
Dogs enjoy meat, cereals and vegetables, which is great because there are 37 essential nutrients that dogs must eat in their food every day (don’t worry, they’re all included in good quality dog food!).
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes and there are foods available to suit large breed dogs, like German Shepherds, Labradors or even the huge St Bernards, and small breed dogs such as Terriers or Dachshunds (also known as sausage dogs). There are also foods for a dog’s different life stages, puppy, adult and senior, and their level of activity. The different types of food contain different combinations and amounts of essential nutrients such as protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals; each combination of nutrients is suited the age, size or activity level of the dog it is made for. So, check dog food bags or cans to help you choose the right food for them.
