Dog Nutrition
To assure your dog or puppy is receiving good nutrition, you need to understand pet food ingredients, labeling, and nutritional requirements for fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in canines. Good dog nutrition is no accident. It takes time and patience to learn what your dog needs to stay healthy, happy and active.
It also takes dedication and perseverance to make sure your dog eats what he should, rather than what he wants. To make your job a little easier, here are some tips to ensure your pet gets all of his nutritional needs met.
Why is good dog nutrition important?
It's vital that your dog eats a complete and balanced diet. He needs fresh water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins. The most important nutrient is water, which makes up 60 percent of a dog's weight.
Proteins, fats and carbohydrates are necessary for energy; minerals are important for nerve conduction, muscle contraction, among other things; and vitamins are important to help your dog process biochemicals.
How often should I feed my dog?
Puppies under 3 months of age should be fed at least three times per day with four times being the optimal. Puppies between 3 and 5 months of age should be given three meals a day. Depending on the health of your dog, adult dogs can be fed once or twice a day.
Dogs like routine, so establish a feeding schedule and stick to it. A good time to fed your dog is after the family has eaten, this shows your dog that you and your family are higher than him in the pack. To learn more about pack behaviour you can buy videos and books which explain the issue into more detail.
How much should I feed my dog?
The amount your dog needs to eat depends on many factors, including: life stage (puppy, adult, pregnant or lactating), lifestyle (active versus the 'coach potato'), size and general condition. Select a high quality food, weigh your dog (don't try to guess) and then read the feeding guidelines provided on the package.
It is important for you to know what is in the food that you are buying your dog, first of all it is very important that your dog has fresh bones to chew on - once a week should be sufficient. When reading the label on the dry dog food the ingredients are always recorded from the largest portions to the smallest. So if the first ingredient on the package is grain, then grain is the main ingredient.
Remember, though, that every dog is unique, so you might have to adjust his feeding accordingly.
Is it okay to give my dog bones to chew on?
It is very important for your dogs health that they get bones to chew. The best bones for any dog are mutton flaps as well as chicken frames and necks.
You must never feed your dog bones that have been cooked - especially the poultry bones. Cooked poultry bones can splinter and become lodged in your dogs mouth, they can caus constipation or even bloody diarrhea. Round bones can get stuck around the lower jaw and if swallowed, can get stuck in the esophagus.
When should I change from puppy to adult food?
Puppy food is different from adult food. It is designed for a rapidly growing pup. In his first year, your puppy will grow very quickly. You can begin to switch to an adult diet when he reaches 80 to 90 percent of his anticipated adult weight. For most dogs, this occurs around 9 months of age.
Giant breeds, such as Great Danes, have special needs. They require a more specialized diet until they are 12 to 18 months of age. Learn more about how to adjust to your dog's nutritional requirements by reading When to Change from Puppy Food to Adult Food.
How do I change my pet's diet?
Don't change his diet all at once. Do it gradually over three days. Begin changing his diet by feeding 1/4 adult food and 3/4 puppy food for a few days. Then add 1/2 adult food and 1/2 puppy food. After a few more days, feed 3/4 adult food and 1/4 puppy food. Then, you can feed straight adult food.
Can my dog be a vegetarian?
Believe it or not, yes, your dog can be a vegetarian, as long as his meals are well balanced with protein from other sources. There are a number of commercially available vegetarian foods, but you should first discuss his diet with your veterinarian.
