Posts Tagged ‘Puppy Food’
Maybe you are changing from puppy food to an adult dog food or maybe you are changing from a regular dog food to a special diet food. What ever the reason, you need to know how to change your dog’s diet is a way that will be best for your dog and better for you as well. Sudden change in dogs’ diet often results in such stomach upset that bad gas, vomiting, and diarrhea occur. This is obviously not good for your dog. Not only is he not getting vital nutrients that he needs, but he can easily become dehydrated. The possibility of dehydration is higher according to the dog’s size. Smaller dogs, like babies, dehydrate faster than larger dogs. This is scary, since dehydration can lead to your dog’s death.
Any change in your dog’s main diet must be done gradually, over a week’s time. In addition to the above mentioned changes, changes can be something as simple as changing from one brand of dog food to another or changing from a hard food to a soft food. Plan the change in advance. For simplicity, this change is described in terms of feeding a small dog (10lbs or so). Make sure you have at least ½ of a small bag of your dog’s current dog food on hand and purchase the new dog food.
· Day 1: Mix ¾ c of the current food with ¼c of the new food.
· Day 2: Same as Day 1.
· Day 3: Mix ½ c of the current food with ½c of the new food.
· Day 4: Same as Day 3.
· Day 5: Mix ¼ c of the current food with ¾ c of the new food.
· Day 6: Same as Day 5.
· Day 7: You can now give your dog only the new food.
If your dog shows signs of stomach upset at any time, go back to the previous step and repeat for a couple more days. For Example: On Day 3 your dog develops diarrhea not long after eating; you would go back to mixing ¼ c of current food with ¾ c of new food for the next couple of days, then proceed with the next step. For larger dogs, the ratios should remain the same, no matter how much they eat.
Slowing Their Eating Style
Your dog may have a number of reasons for eating his food too fast. Often, other household pets and/or children are the cause. If you have these factors, your dog may be eating so quickly as an act of resource guarding (or food protection). They think that they have to hurry and eat or someone else will get their food. It may be true; your other animals may come in and eat food before the others can. To remedy this (whether it’s due to other pets or due to children), you will need to teach all of your dogs about sharing. Once the dog learns to share, he will not be as worried about missing out on food because he will understand that there will always be enough food to meet his needs.
It may also be that your dog is just a fast eater. This is much the same in some children, but just as dangerous. Choking is always a hazard when food is taken into the body and gulped without proper chewing. In this case, you will need to teach your dog to slow down. Here are a few tips to try that can help you teach this lesson:
· Get a large ball that is fairly heavy, enough so that he cannot knock it out of his food bowl very easily. Put the ball in the center of his dish and put his dog food around it. This way he will have to eat around the bowl and cannot grab huge mouthfuls at once and will force him to eat more slowly.
· Get an old cookie sheet and spread his dog food all over it. By spreading it out, he can only get smaller bites, which forces him to eat slower.
· Use your hands. Feed him a handful of food at a time, making him eat it out of your hands. Of course you won’t want to do this with moist food (yuck!). Make him wait between handfuls and he will eventually learn to eat slower.
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downtown doggy manufactures dog clothes and dog jackets.
Feeding your dog can be filled with stress.
Many dog owners take a zealous approach to how they feed their dog and can be quite judgmental of other dog owners when the issue of a dog’s food comes up.
The reality is that what you feed your dog is your decision. It will be guided by how you have always fed your dogs and what you think is right for your current dog or dogs.
A dog’s food is only one part of raising a healthy and happy dog, but it’s a very important part, and worth some careful consideration.
How to Choose a Dog Food
If you go shopping for dog food, you quickly see that there are many options. There’s premium dog food, low-cost dog food and so many dog food brands your head can spin.
Here are some quick tips for finding the right dog food:
* Begin your search before you go the store. If you make your choice in the store, it could easily be the incorrect one.
* Ask friends and family for recommendations. If they use a particularly good dog food, consider that as one of your viable choices.
* Ask your vet for a recommendation. Based on your dog’s age and health, your vet might have a specific recommendation for your dog.
* Remember that the best dog food for one dog isn’t necessarily the best for another. Consider your own needs and budget before settling on a dog food choice.
* Read dog food reviews. If they are reputable and published in well-known publications or web sites, you can usually trust them.
* Remember that puppy dog food is a completely different beast than food you feed an older dog. Don’t feed a puppy regular dog food, and don’t feed an adult dog puppy dog food.
When looking at learning more about Best Puppy Food, read as much as you can.
The health of your dog depends on it!
What About Homemade Dog Food?
Recently, the safety of pet food was questioned when many dogs became sick and died after eating commercial dog food. Some of the brands in question were even considered premium dog food brands, so it seemed that no brand was safe.
This safety scare led many people to decide to give their dog a homemade dog food diet. It’s an excellent option if you have the time and money. Feeding a dog a homemade dog food diet can be expensive and somewhat time consuming, though it does get easier the longer you do it.
If you are thinking you might skip the dog food brands and go for the homemade dog food, consider these tips:
* Make sure the dog food you make is nutritionally balanced. Dogs need a good amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein. Do some reading ahead of time to make sure that you get just the right proportion of nutrients for your size and breed of dog.
* Be willing to cook animal body parts that you might not consider desirable. Dogs can eat legs, organs and necks. In fact, many believe that one of the main advantages of a homemade dog food diet is that your dog can get more raw meat and bones, which many consider to be the ideal dog food diet.
* Remember that if you start Rover on a homemade dog food diet, it can be hard to switch over to a more traditional diet. You can’t just put a bowl of kibble down because you are too tired to make your dog’s dinner. To that end, it’s best to do a lot of preparation ahead of time so there are packages in the freezer you can pull out and thaw.
Conclusion
The best dog food diet for your dog is the diet that proves to be best for you. Depending on your budget and time available, you might make a choice that’s different from your neighbor. The key is to find dog food brands that are accessible, affordable and that feed your dog healthfully. Or make your own. It’s truly your choice.
More Information
Further information about Dog Food or Dog Food Reviews can be found here.
Feeding your dog can be filled with stress.
Many dog owners take a zealous approach to how they feed their dog and can be quite judgmental of other dog owners when the issue of a dog’s food comes up.
The reality is that what you feed your dog is your decision. It will be guided by how you have always fed your dogs and what you think is right for your current dog or dogs.
A dog’s food is only one part of raising a healthy and happy dog, but it’s a very important part, and worth some careful consideration.
How to Choose a Dog Food
If you go shopping for dog food, you quickly see that there are many options. There’s premium dog food, low-cost dog food and so many dog food brands your head can spin.
Here are some quick tips for finding the right dog food:
* Begin your search before you go the store. If you make your choice in the store, it could easily be the incorrect one.
* Ask friends and family for recommendations. If they use a particularly good dog food, consider that as one of your viable choices.
* Ask your vet for a recommendation. Based on your dog’s age and health, your vet might have a specific recommendation for your dog.
* Remember that the best dog food for one dog isn’t necessarily the best for another. Consider your own needs and budget before settling on a dog food choice.
* Read dog food reviews. If they are reputable and published in well-known publications or web sites, you can usually trust them.
* Remember that puppy dog food is a completely different beast than food you feed an older dog. Don’t feed a puppy regular dog food, and don’t feed an adult dog puppy dog food.
When looking at learning more about Best Puppy Food, read as much as you can.
The health of your dog depends on it!
What About Homemade Dog Food?
Recently, the safety of pet food was questioned when many dogs became sick and died after eating commercial dog food. Some of the brands in question were even considered premium dog food brands, so it seemed that no brand was safe.
This safety scare led many people to decide to give their dog a homemade dog food diet. It’s an excellent option if you have the time and money. Feeding a dog a homemade dog food diet can be expensive and somewhat time consuming, though it does get easier the longer you do it.
If you are thinking you might skip the dog food brands and go for the homemade dog food, consider these tips:
* Make sure the dog food you make is nutritionally balanced. Dogs need a good amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein. Do some reading ahead of time to make sure that you get just the right proportion of nutrients for your size and breed of dog.
* Be willing to cook animal body parts that you might not consider desirable. Dogs can eat legs, organs and necks. In fact, many believe that one of the main advantages of a homemade dog food diet is that your dog can get more raw meat and bones, which many consider to be the ideal dog food diet.
* Remember that if you start Rover on a homemade dog food diet, it can be hard to switch over to a more traditional diet. You can’t just put a bowl of kibble down because you are too tired to make your dog’s dinner. To that end, it’s best to do a lot of preparation ahead of time so there are packages in the freezer you can pull out and thaw.
Conclusion
The best dog food diet for your dog is the diet that proves to be best for you. Depending on your budget and time available, you might make a choice that’s different from your neighbor. The key is to find dog food brands that are accessible, affordable and that feed your dog healthfully. Or make your own. It’s truly your choice.
More Information
Further information about Dog Food or Dog Food Reviews can be found here.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Find out more of the vital things you need to know about Dog Food. Our complimentary Healthy Dog Food newsletter is available for a limited time from our website.
Depending on what kind of dog you have, there are so many different recommendations on what types of dog food are and are not good for your dog. It is said that it is best to make dog food with dog food recipes at home by some, and others say that there is no substitute for a good brand of dog food, while others may say that any type of dog food is okay. If you are a first time dog owner, it can be hard to know who to listen to, and to really understand what is best for your dog, but you aren’t alone.
Puppy Food
If you have a puppy, it is always bet to feed him or her puppy food, at least until they get out of the puppy stage of their life. This varies from breed to breed and your veterinarian should be able to tell you for sure, but feeding your dog puppy food for at least one year is the best way to be sure that you aren’t cutting them off too soon. As far as brand names go, there are a lot of great brand name foods that your puppy would love; a few suggestions are Hill’s Science Diet, Eukanuba, Purina Puppy Chow, and more.
Brand Name: Necessity or No?
The less expensive a dog food is, the less likely it is to contain the meat and nutrients necessary for your dog to lead a happy and healthy life. The normal components of good dry dog food are food grease, meat, corn or wheat, rice and then some color extracts to make the dog look appealing. It is okay to buy the occasional bag of off brand food for the budgets’ sake, but making a habit of that is never a good idea. This can lead to weight loss, lethargy and health problems in your pet that are otherwise avoidable.
Should I Prepare Meals for Fido at Home?
Many people think that making home made dog food on the stove is the best thing for your dog, and while it is a good idea to add some variety to your pet’s food repertoire, it is not always a budget conscious or time conscious idea. There are many great recipes on the internet for dog food that you can make for your best friend, but it can get very pricey and time consuming, not to mention the fact that it can really put some weight on your dog, and that goes into a whole separate area of health problems. To keep weight problems down and prevent the ultimate spoiling of your pooch, keep the home cooked meals to a minimum, so they are viewed as a treat and are not something that your dog will expect.
Dog food is more than just what you feed your dog. If you are like any other pet owner, you want your dog to live as long and healthy of a life as possible and feeding them the right stuff is the best thing you can do to increase the quality of your lives together.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Michael Murray is an author of dog articles. Learn how to increase the lifespan of your dog by up to 134% in this special report: Click Here!
This article focuses on some of the nutritional foundations needed to insure your puppy grows into a healthy adult.
The mother’s milk provides the puppy with all the nutrients and antibodies he needs for the first four weeks of life. You can introduce moistened puppy kibble around the age of four weeks. This will be introduced to the puppy as he continues to nurse. You may feed the puppy his kibble twice a day as long as he is still getting enough of his mother’s milk. Whenever he gives up his nursing, which will be around the age of seven to eight weeks, his dry food feeding will increase. It is still advisable to moisten his dry food with warm water for a few weeks until he has adjusted. Unless your breeder or vet advises, it is not necessary to add canned puppy food to your puppy’s dry kibble. The dry puppy kibble is sufficient as long as you use a high quality puppy food.
Giving your puppy the right nutrition will provide him a healthy beginning for a healthy life. During a puppy’s first six months, he will need a highly digestible diet consisting of more protein and fat. A puppy is usually fed three to four small meals a day until he is about four months old. The amount at each feeding will be determined by the brand of food and the advice of the breeder and your vet. It is very important not to over feed the puppy as this may lead to problems later in their life. Along with the vet, your breeder will be able to guide you on the proper feeding plan of your new puppy.
When the puppy is four months old, you may start feeding him three times a day. Once again, the amount of each feeding will be determined by many factors including brand of food, breeder and vet advice. Around nine months of age a puppy is fed twice a day. Some vets recommend feeding a puppy once a day when they reach a year in age. There are some who think you should continue feeding a dog twice a day; just feed them smaller amounts in the morning and evening. This will help avoid gastro-intestinal problems, especially in larger breed dogs. This varies of course and should be discussed with the vet and breeder.
There are many commercial pet foods available for puppies and the quality of these foods vary. Normally the higher quality foods cost more as they use higher quality ingredients and less fillers. This means your puppy will be able to get more nutrients while consuming less food. During a puppy’s growing stage is not the time to try to save money on cheaper pet food or to feed your puppy table scraps. A quality puppy food will have all the necessary vitamins, proteins and nutrients the animal needs. Also, it is not necessary to give your puppy extra vitamins or supplements if the animal is on a quality pet food unless your vet advises you to do so. Along with quality puppy food make sure your puppy has fresh water at all times.
Large breed puppies actually need less calories and calcium in their diets. A puppy who consumes too many calories and too much calcium may develop joint problems. Large breed dogs have a slower metabolic rate and actually reach their adult weight later then smaller breed dogs. It is essential that large breed puppies don’t grow too fast or put on too much weight as puppies as this could cause developmental skeletal problems in later life. Large breeds are usually kept on puppy food longer then smaller breeds; sometimes from one year to eighteen months. Ask your vet or breeder when the large breed puppy should be switched to adult dog food.
As discussed before, table scraps are not recommended for dogs. Any human food that contains salt, sugar or other addictives may upset the puppies or dogs gastro system. Animals don’t need salt or sugar in their diet and human food is loaded in these ingredients.
Good nutrition for your puppy is the stepping stone to a healthy, happy dog. A well cared for puppy is easier to train and will make an obedient and trusted member of the family.
Article Source: http://www.hobbyarticledirectory.com
Jim McKiel lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife Doris and their pet family members Buddy and Buster. They have devoted their lives to the betterment of pet ownership. For more information, visit Large Breed Family Dogs
You just brought home your new puppy, now, what should you feed him? There are a million types and brands of dog food, from canned to kibble. How do you know how much you should feed your puppy? For medium to large size puppies, they need to be fed a well balanced, quality, dry, puppy formula, 4 small meals a day, up to 4 months of age. They are growing so fast and using up so much energy, they need to be refueled frequently. From 4 months to 8 months of age, they should be fed 3 meals a day, and from 8 months to 12 months, feed 2 times a day. If puppies are started on dry kibble from the time they are weaned, they will have no problem eating dry puppy food.
Treats can be given in moderation, especially small treats for reward during training. Table food and leftovers should be avoided, although the occasional piece of apple or carrot is okay. Certain foods are not safe for puppies or dogs to eat. Most people know chocolate can harm dogs, but raisins, grapes, onions, garlic and certain nuts are also harmful.
It is important for large breed puppies to be fed a dry puppy food specially formulated for large breeds. Also, do not overfeed your puppy to increase or speed growth. This is especially important for large breed puppies because rapid growth causes improper skeletal development, which leads to bone and joint problems. A slower, steady growth rate is better. You should not encourage your puppy to become an oversized adult to make him look more impressive.
There are some key ingredients important for your pups diet. DHA, which is a fish oil has been shown to promote faster learning in puppies. Protein is important for muscle, skin, coat and organ development. Calcium and Phosphorous are needed in the proper ratio for teeth and bones to grow correctly. Omega-3 fatty acids help develop a healthy immune system.
Dogs do not naturally produce all the nutrients they require so a quality dog or puppy food is crucial for healthy growth and development. An all natural, human grade pet vitamin is also beneficial because it provides an important digestive enzyme lost during the processing of dog food. A quality pet vitamin also provides Essential Fatty Acids not produced in the body. A good pet vitamin also helps protect against allergies and immune disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Disease.
With the proper care and nutrition, your puppy will grow to be strong and healthy. You will be able to enjoy your new best friend for a long time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol
You just brought home your new puppy, now, what should you feed him? There are a million types and brands of dog food, from canned to kibble. How do you know how much you should feed your puppy? For medium to large size puppies, they need to be fed a well balanced, quality, dry, puppy formula, 4 small meals a day, up to 4 months of age. They are growing so fast and using up so much energy, they need to be refueled frequently. From 4 months to 8 months of age, they should be fed 3 meals a day, and from 8 months to 12 months, feed 2 times a day. If puppies are started on dry kibble from the time they are weaned, they will have no problem eating dry puppy food.
Treats can be given in moderation, especially small treats for reward during training. Table food and leftovers should be avoided, although the occasional piece of apple or carrot is okay. Certain foods are not safe for puppies or dogs to eat. Most people know chocolate can harm dogs, but raisins, grapes, onions, garlic and certain nuts are also harmful.
It is important for large breed puppies to be fed a dry puppy food specially formulated for large breeds. Also, do not overfeed your puppy to increase or speed growth. This is especially important for large breed puppies because rapid growth causes improper skeletal development, which leads to bone and joint problems. A slower, steady growth rate is better. You should not encourage your puppy to become an oversized adult to make him look more impressive.
There are some key ingredients important for your pups diet. DHA, which is a fish oil has been shown to promote faster learning in puppies. Protein is important for muscle, skin, coat and organ development. Calcium and Phosphorous are needed in the proper ratio for teeth and bones to grow correctly. Omega-3 fatty acids help develop a healthy immune system.
Dogs do not naturally produce all the nutrients they require so a quality dog or puppy food is crucial for healthy growth and development. An all natural, human grade pet vitamin is also beneficial because it provides an important digestive enzyme lost during the processing of dog food. A quality pet vitamin also provides Essential Fatty Acids not produced in the body. A good pet vitamin also helps protect against allergies and immune disorders, such as Irritable Bowel Disease.
With the proper care and nutrition, your puppy will grow to be strong and healthy. You will be able to enjoy your new best friend for a long time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_M_Sabol
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to petvitamins4u.com or to theroadhousedobes.com for further information
Your choice of dog food makes a huge difference in the health of your dog. Pet foods range radically in quality from the supercheap to the highly expensive. They are geared for diverse ages, stages, sizes, and even breeds. How the heck do you discern which pet food to select from amongst the many that decorate pet and grocery store shelves?
With the assistance of your vet, you can establish what your dog needs to eat. If your dog is healthy, a first-rate adult maintenance diet is most likely just fine. Read the label, look for identifiable meat protein sources listed among the first few ingredients, and get assistance from your vet. If you are not positive about which food is best for your dogs, puppies, adult dogs, senior dogs, and dogs with special needs.
Puppies need a high-quality puppy food, but large breed puppies, even the skinny ones, must grow slowly, therefore after the first few months of life, most of these dogs need to be weaned off puppy food. Large breeds like Labs, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and large mixed breeds are suceptible to bone and joint abnormalities as they get older. If they grow too quickly bones will not be as dense, and joints will not develop well. Feed large-breed puppies a high-quality food with modest amounts of protein, fat and calories.
Senior dogs and dogs with special needs, for instance injuries or diseases, may have specific nutritional needs. Dogs that develop kidney problems might need a low-protein food, but other seniors must have enough protein to keep their muscles nourished. Many good prescription foods focus on specific health problems and chronic diseases. Consult your vet, who can advise you best about prescription diets to meet your pets individual needs.
To a large degree, price is a good indication of quality, but more high-priced premium foods are actually more of a good buy than you might think. Cheap pet foods are packed full of fillers, such as protein sources that are not as digestible, where as the more pricey protein sources include quality muscle meat. When dogs eat cheap foods, their stools are large, soft, messy, and quite bluntly, stinky. When they consume premium foods, their stool is smaller, tighter, easier to clean up, and scarcely smell at all. That is because dogs actually digest more of the food and that means you will not have to feed your dog as much food to get the similar or greater nutritional value.
Quality diets come in dry kibble, canned, frozen raw meats, or dehydrated patties. Every one has its specific benefits, and your decision usually depends on what you are able to spend, how much time you have to take preparing the food, and if your dog in fact eats it. Dry kibble contains greater fiber and helps keep teeth clean, but it contains less water, so dogs might need to drink more water to compensate. Canned food may taste better and contain more water, but some vets think it may donate to tooth decay. It also gets pricey for large dogs because it is less concentrated than kibble, so you feed your dog more of it. For some dogs, frozen and dehydrated raw diets may be healthy, if they are from a reputable company, but they can be costly and need to be defrosted or rehydrated. Raw food is controversial, debate rages over if it is more nutritious or more likely to harbor harmful bacteria, so consult your vet about whether raw food is a good diet for your dog. One type of food that the majority of vets will not recommend is semimoist. While these chewy kibble pieces might taste good to dogs, they are usually packed with sweeteners and artificial colors and are not a good nutritional choice, semimoist dog food would be considered junk food for your dogs.
Your choice of dog food makes a huge difference in the health of your dog. Pet foods range radically in quality from the supercheap to the highly expensive. They are geared for diverse ages, stages, sizes, and even breeds. How the heck do you discern which pet food to select from amongst the many that decorate pet and grocery store shelves?
With the assistance of your vet, you can establish what your dog needs to eat. If your dog is healthy, a first-rate adult maintenance diet is most likely just fine. Read the label, look for identifiable meat protein sources listed among the first few ingredients, and get assistance from your vet. If you are not positive about which food is best for your dogs, puppies, adult dogs, senior dogs, and dogs with special needs.
Puppies need a high-quality puppy food, but large breed puppies, even the skinny ones, must grow slowly, therefore after the first few months of life, most of these dogs need to be weaned off puppy food. Large breeds like Labs, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and large mixed breeds are suceptible to bone and joint abnormalities as they get older. If they grow too quickly bones will not be as dense, and joints will not develop well. Feed large-breed puppies a high-quality food with modest amounts of protein, fat and calories.
Senior dogs and dogs with special needs, for instance injuries or diseases, may have specific nutritional needs. Dogs that develop kidney problems might need a low-protein food, but other seniors must have enough protein to keep their muscles nourished. Many good prescription foods focus on specific health problems and chronic diseases. Consult your vet, who can advise you best about prescription diets to meet your pets individual needs.
To a large degree, price is a good indication of quality, but more high-priced premium foods are actually more of a good buy than you might think. Cheap pet foods are packed full of fillers, such as protein sources that are not as digestible, where as the more pricey protein sources include quality muscle meat. When dogs eat cheap foods, their stools are large, soft, messy, and quite bluntly, stinky. When they consume premium foods, their stool is smaller, tighter, easier to clean up, and scarcely smell at all. That is because dogs actually digest more of the food and that means you will not have to feed your dog as much food to get the similar or greater nutritional value.
Quality diets come in dry kibble, canned, frozen raw meats, or dehydrated patties. Every one has its specific benefits, and your decision usually depends on what you are able to spend, how much time you have to take preparing the food, and if your dog in fact eats it. Dry kibble contains greater fiber and helps keep teeth clean, but it contains less water, so dogs might need to drink more water to compensate. Canned food may taste better and contain more water, but some vets think it may donate to tooth decay. It also gets pricey for large dogs because it is less concentrated than kibble, so you feed your dog more of it. For some dogs, frozen and dehydrated raw diets may be healthy, if they are from a reputable company, but they can be costly and need to be defrosted or rehydrated. Raw food is controversial, debate rages over if it is more nutritious or more likely to harbor harmful bacteria, so consult your vet about whether raw food is a good diet for your dog. One type of food that the majority of vets will not recommend is semimoist. While these chewy kibble pieces might taste good to dogs, they are usually packed with sweeteners and artificial colors and are not a good nutritional choice, semimoist dog food would be considered junk food for your dogs.
Article Source: http://www.articlewarehouse.com
This author is a huge dog lover, she has several dogs herself, you are invited to visit a couple of her websites at Dog Supplements Dog Food
Puppies should be eating solid food and should no longer be nursing at around 8 weeks of age. At this tender age, puppies are ready for their new homes and life without their mother.
* Choose food designed specially for Puppies. Puppies over the age of 8 weeks no longer require milk. In fact many puppies develop diarrhoea if you feed them milk.
* Raw meat should not be given to puppies. Dogs are just as susceptible to Salmonella or Campylobacter diarrhoea as you are. If you feed your dog with raw meat and it catches these bugs, you might catch them from your dog too.
* Human foods should be given in moderation. There are no major reasons as to why you cannot feed your puppy or dog food such as breakfast cereals, table scraps and other titbits once in a while but it is best to avoid them for the following reasons:
– If fed in large quantities and regularly it causes an unbalanced diet.
– You will teach your puppy bad eating habits. It will quickly get used to tastier human foods and refuses puppy food.
– It will cause serious behavioural problems by elevating the puppy’s status in the household through the feeding of human foods. You should always start your puppy on less palatable puppy/dog food, not human foods. Dogs have a pack instinct, with a dominant leader in a strict hierarchy. You must train your puppy to know you are superior to him to overcome dominance and aggression issues in the future.
* Additional vitamin supplements and minerals should only be prescribed to your puppy following advice from your veterinarian to treat a specific condition. There is a high risk of skeletal damage when adding supplements that are unnecessary for a normal healthy puppy.
* It is important to measure the total amount of food given daily to suit your puppy’s nutritional needs. Dietary requirements are not fixed. Factors such as age, activity, the type of breed and health of a puppy play significant roles in determining the amount to be fed. But generally for a 10-week old puppy, it should be fed 4 times a day.
* If you change the type of food your puppy has been fed with, do it slowly over 3 or 4 days. Feed your puppy a proprietary puppy food designed to supply all the essential nutrients that a growing puppy needs. Check the package label to ensure it provides a complete and balanced ration, and that the Association of American Feed Control Officials (or the appropriate food control body) has approved the food. Their official stamp of approval ensures that the food has been tested and found satisfactory for feeding puppies that are growing rapidly.
* Your puppy can be fed both dry and wet food. Dry food is generally cheaper but is less palatable than wet food. Try mixing in a little chicken or beef stock over the dry food with a little warm water – this will make the food more appetising and softer for your puppy.
* Try not to make food readily available to your puppy (i.e. dry food always available in its food dish) as this encourages your puppy to over-feed and become overweight which puts undue stress on their soft growing bones and joints at a most vulnerable time. Not only it makes house-breaking much more difficult as there are no predictable regular feeding times, it also makes it harder for you to spot any problems with your puppy’s feeding behaviour. By 12 weeks of age, feeding can be reduced to 3 times a day, and by 16 weeks to twice daily. Try and keep to a regular schedule, as puppies are creatures of habit. An easy schedule consists of waking up around 7 a.m., with a quick trip outside to empty his bladder, followed by breakfast. After 5 minutes of feeding, take another trip outside to a designated potty area as your puppy will need to both pass faeces and urine, and when it’s successful, reward your puppy with praises.
* Nap time is next, followed by play time (you can include obedience training such as sitting and staying). At around noon to 1pm is lunch time, with the next meal at between 5 to 6pm and possibly a small snack or treat at bedtime. At 10 weeks old, your puppy is too young to go without food from 5pm to 6 or 8am the next morning.
* Be consistent about where you feed your puppy and keep to a time schedule for feeding. If your puppy gulps his meal down very quickly and then looks for more, the amount may need to be increased. If there is still food left in the bowl after 15 minutes, pick it up and feed a little less next time. Look at the size of your puppy. Viewed directly from above, she should appear to have the indication of a waist. If the puppy looks round with no waist, then she may be a little too fat.
* Treats may be used as a reward for good behaviour when training a puppy, but don’t over do them. Treats should be small and used sparingly; otherwise they could cause an imbalance in the diet. Words of praise work very well for housebreaking, reserving treats for when training the puppy to come when called and other basic training. At this age puppies get more than enough exercise running around the house and yard and do not need to be taken for walks. In fact, excess exercise may be detrimental to their development and predisposing your puppy to various joint problems later.
* Never feed your puppy scraps from the table at meal times, as this will lead to begging and pestering people at meal times. This may be cute in a puppy, but irritating in an adult dog, and once the habit has been formed it is very difficult to break.
* Do not feed raw meat to your puppy, as it may be contaminated with a variety of bacteria that can cause life threatening vomiting and diarrhoea. Many people do not feed any sort of human food table scraps as they think it leads to fussy feeding, but a few cooked steak remnants added to the regular meal does no harm, especially for Labradors, which normally do not develop any hang ups over feeding. Greed is more of a problem than finicky feeding.
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How you should be feeding your puppy is perhaps one of the first concerns of the new puppy owner. After all, you want the little guy to grow up big and strong, or at least as big as he will grow. So just how will this puppy feeding be carried out?
First off, realize that your puppy is not just a miniature version of an adult dog. He has his own nutritional requirements that go into puppy feeding. Pound for pound a puppy needs about twice the nutrition of the adult dog. What the requirements are for feeding an adult dog varies with breed, size, activity level, etc.
And although you may have thought dogs were carnivores, understand that they are really omnivores just like us. This means they can and will eat more than just meat. In fact to have a balanced diet, they require more than just meat. So, first off, don’t begin your puppy feeding with just meat. (Have I repeated that enough?)
Dogs, like humans to some extent, require protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. Studies have shown that dogs seem to have no need for carbohydrates although many prepared dog foods and puppy foods may be up to 50% or more carbohydrates. This is why it is very important to read puppy food and dog food labels.
When feeding puppy, realize he usually requires about 28 – 30% protein in his diet. Protein can, and should, come from more sources than just meat. Include milk, eggs and cheese along with meat when feeding your puppy.
When considering feeding fat to your dog, the amount you feed varies by the requirements of the dog. An inactive dog may only need 5% fat. A very active working dog may need up to 20% fat. Going with puppies needing generally twice what adults need, you can see you need quite a bit of fat when feeding your puppy but it does vary. Best thing to do when adding fat to your puppy food is to keep an eye on your puppy. Don’t let him start getting fat.
Just like with humans, too many carbohydrates can be bad for your puppy. Usually carbs are used to bulk up a prepared dog food with 50% or more of the food coming from inexpensive carbohydrate, and especially starchy, sources. This is not necessary for dogs and studies have found that dogs do not need carbs as an essential part of their diets.
Reading puppy and dog food labels you may find carbohydrate sources such as grains, potatoes, rice, milk and even sugar in some form. As these usually have been cooked, a dog can digest them somewhat. Give a dog a raw potato or whole grains and you will find a dog that will not be able to handle these. In other words, you will have a dog with an upset digestive system. Some uncooked starches cause diarrhea and some, such as whole grains, pass right through untouched by his digestive system. Not a good thing when puppy feeding.
So read your dog food labels and make sure the puppy food or dog food you buy has these elements within it. Don’t buy anything with too much carbohydates in it as dogs just don’t need it. But do buy puppy food and dog food with protein sources, fat and vitamins and minerals. Some green vegetables in the mix won’t hurt at all.
copyright 2005. Sandra Dinkins-Wilson
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As you may imagine part of dog care is the basics of dog food. Most dogs have different stages of growth like humans, so they need different foods at those different stages. Some does have trouble with their digestive tracts and need to have specialized dog food. To compare dog food you need to know what most are made of, the cost, and why they are considered best for your dog. Keep in mind that puppy food is going to be softer and have a higher nutritional value for the growing dog than some of the other foods. Larger dogs will need an increase in certain ingredients, which accounts for the adult dog food.
Most dog food is plant or animal material that has been ground up for the dog to eat. Depending on the type of dog and their system you may even find food from the grocery store or health food stores is better for them than the actual dog food you can purchase. Speaking with a vet about the dog food brands is a great way to learn what they consider to be the best for your dog breed.
You will also find a choice between dry and wet dog food. Each will have its own benefit and you may find combining them is the best way to feed your dog the appropriate nutrition. Purina, Pedigree, and Pet Pride are just three of the top dog foods you will find in the stores. The contents of these three dog foods involve meat by products, meat and bone meals, grain, and horse meat. The less expensive brands are going to have fake substitutes for the dog food with a lot of grain fillers. This means your dog is not going to have the proper amount of nutrition in their meals.
Before you purchase any dog food you need to read the ingredients of the package to find out what they have used and how much nutrition is actually to be found in the dog food. Purina and Pedigree have several different options when you consider dog food. You will find healthy dog food, their regular brands, and different levels of dog food. These two are the best brands on the market for considering nutrition.
Dog food ingredients you will find in Purina or Pedigree include chicken, wheat, corn, lamb, beef, whitefish, venison, duck, rice, barley, potato, quinoa, buffalo, fruits such as apples and berries, salmon, carrots, green beans, and sweet potatoes. Depending on your dogs need you will find that some of these ingredients are found only in the allergenic specialty foods. Specialty foods for weight management, arthritis, breeding, dental conditions, diabetes, nursing females, and senior needs are also available.
All dog food is inspected by the food and drug administration to help make sure the meat and other ingredients are good. They also make sure that drugs are not involved in the process and that the food stays healthy and clean. If you are going to raw feed your dog you need to make sure you are buying healthy food that is stamped by the Paw Naturaw symbol as they inspect the meat to make sure it is not contaminated. It is not always a large deal, but sometimes brands have been recalled due to bad batches. You will find that recently there was a recall due to wheat gluten from a Chinese company.
Dog care is extremely important and feeding your dog properly is going to determine whether they live a healthy full life or become sick. Monitoring what your pet eats and making sure to keep human food off the menu is important. There are certain products dogs can eat and others they should not touch. Dogs often suffer from cholesterol issues because of human food full of fat and grease.
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Gerry Ronson – Dog Supplies, Dog Leads and <www.dog-toy.co.uk/dogproducts/?page=14″>Luxury Dog Beds.