The best example to illustrate a dog’s nutritional needs is to compare a similar size dog and child. The example below uses information supplied by the USDA and the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

A 50 lb. girl and a 50 lb. dog need almost the same amount of calories per day. The dog requires more protein per day than a similar-sized child, and the best protein source is meat. In addition, the dog needs more of specific vitamins and minerals (especially calcium) than a growing child.