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A
balanced diet
Home
- prepared pet foods
Commercially
- prepared pet foods
Bones
and milk
Puppies
How
much food to feed?
Growing
dogs
Adult
dogs
Working
dogs
Older
dogs
Breeding
bitches
A diet of muscle meat
alone is not suitable for any dog. The ancestors of our pet dogs
would have consumed the whole body of their prey, and not just the muscle,
including the bones, internal organs, intestinal contents, skin and hair.
These would have provided the essential nutrients which would be missing
from a purely muscle meat diet.
Some owners like to prepare at least some of their dog's meals. If so, only a few different foods should be introduced gradually at any time, to allow the dog's digestive system to adapt to the new food. Meat, eggs, cheese and bread are some of the foods which are commonly fed to dogs. If these foods were to form the major part of the diet, then careful supplementation with vitamins and minerals would almost certainly be required.
To continue, some people add their own ingredients to supplement dog foods. You can add cold pressed oils, vitamins..... dairy products, vegetables, fruits, tuna/mackerel, cooked meats chicken or beef, raw beef cubes. You might want to try using Pectin to cut the copper content in dog foods, zinc supplement, and/or apples. You also can use a product called Prozyme, which provides the essential enzymes that cooked foods do not have. In addition, you can make a puppy soup (chicken with oatmeal) as a supplement to dried dog food/kibble in the morning and cottage cheese/yogurt on top in the evening.
Below are additional things to be aware of in dog foods and "Food" for thought:
Prepared pet foods are either complete or complementary. A complete diet provides a balanced diet when fed alone whereas a complementary diet is designed to be fed in combination with an additional, specified, food source, such as canned meat and biscuit mixer. The label on the product will state whether the food is complete or complementary.
Prepared pet foods are usually presented in three main forms - dry, wet and semi-moist. Dry foods have had most of the moisture removed, and are convenient and economical to use. They may be fed dry or gravy, or water can be added before feeding. Wet foods, such as canned diets, have the moisture content of the ingredients retained. These products tend to be the most palatable to dogs. Semi-moist foods have a moisture content which is somewhere between the two.
Whatever diet you choose for your dog, make sure that he has plenty of water available at all times. Keep an eye on the amount he drinks. A dog that is persistently thirsty may be unwell and need prompt veterinary attention. Give him his own clean bowls for food and water - wash them after use, and separately from the family's crockery. Never put down one of your own plates for your dog to feed from.
SAVE LAMB-BASED
DOG FOODS AS A RESORT FOR FOOD ALLERGIES
Some dogs have a genetic
predisposition for developing food alergies. Symptoms of food allergies
vary widely, however, common symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea, hair
loss, skin lesions, dull coat, and chronic ear infections. Because these
symptoms can be caused by a multitude of disorders, it is important for
a veterinarian to rule out other causes first. When food allergies do occur,
they commonly do so when the dog reaches about 2 years of age. For years,
veterinarians have used lamb-based dog foods for treatment of dogs who
have developed hypersensitivity to common dog food because lamb-based diets
were uncommon and thus the dog less likely sensitized to the diet. Nowadays,
however, lamb-based commercial diets are widely fed to puppies and young
dogs making this alternative diet ineffective if the dog, as an adult,
should develop a food allergy. For this reason, it is recommended that
lamb-based diets be avoided until a dog is over 2 years of age.
Choosing the correct food for a particular dog involves considering several important factors.
Although milk is a
useful source of nutrients for young dogs, it is not an essential part
of a puppy's diet once he has been weaned. Many puppies and dogs cannot
efficiently digest the sugar, or lactose, which is present in milk and
this can cause digestive upsets. If you are not sure whether your puppy
can tolerate milk, dilute it half and half with water before you offer
it to him for the first time.
A nutritionally balanced diet is crucial for the healthy growth and development of a puppy in order to prepare him for an active, long, and healthy life. Puppies thrive on the same basic nutrients as adult dogs, but owing to their rapid growth rate, these nutrients are needed in proportionately larger quantities. Like human babies, puppies have small stomachs, so they need to be fed little and often.
All puppies grow very rapidly in the early stages of their develoment and, in general, most breeds reach about half their adult weight by four or five months of age. However, there is a wide variation in adult body weight between different different breeds, and dogs mature at different rates, such that the large breeds take longer to mature than the small breeds - small and toy breeds may reach their adult weight at six to nine months of age, whereas larger breeds will still be growing at this age. A Newfoundland or Great Dane puppy, for example may not reach his adult size until he is 18 months old.
Puppies of the large and giant breeds, in particular, which are most affected by the feeding regimen - as they are growing rapidly, these puppies are prone to disturbances in their skeletal development. It is unwise to overfeed such dogs at this stage in an attempt to obtain the maximum possible rate of growth.
A puppy needs between two and four times as much energy as an adult of the same size - growing is an energetic business! They must have more protein than adults - this must contain all the right buiding blocks of the protein (amino acids) for growth, and they need just the right amount of minerals for healthy bones and teeth. Puppies therefore have to eat large amounts of food in relation to their body weight, but their stomachs have only a small capacity. To compensate for this, a puppy needs to be fed several small meals a day. It also helps if his diet is designed to meet a number of useful criteria: the food should be concentrated to ensure an adequate intake of nutrients before his stomach is full;
the food should be easily digested to maximise its nutritive value;
the diet must be balanced to provide the right amount of nutrients to meet the puppy's particular needs; and
it should also be tasty so that he will eat it.
Devising an acceptable nutritionally balanced diet for growth is thus a very complex exercise. Fortunately, feeding your puppy need not be as complicated as it sounds. Diets which are specially formulated for growth take all the guess work out of rearing a healthy puppy and provide a balanced and concentrated diet which he will enjoy and thrive on. For a normal, healthy puppy there is no need to use any supplements, whatever the breed - indeed, this could be harmful. If you do decide to use a supplement you should consult your veterinarian to see whether it is not damaging to your puppy.
When you collect your puppy discuss the feeding with the breeder and ask for a written diet sheet. This should give details of the types of food, quantities, and times of feeding to which your puppy is already accustomed. Don't be in too much of a hurry to alter your puppy's diet as changing homes is a stressful time for him and continuity of feeding is important. When your puppy arrives in his new home he may show signs of stomach upsets and diarrhoea because of leaving his mother and entering a strange new environment. If he does have diarrhoea and this persists for more than 24 hours or becomes more severe, consult your veterinarian. Also, if you want to change his diet, wait until your puupy has settled in, then gradually change it over a period of three to four days.
The feeding regimen for your puppy will depend greatly on his age, breed and individual characteristics, but until they are about four months old, all puppies will need four meals per day. Feeding can then be reduced to three times a day until six months of age, when your puppy can be offered his daily food allowance in two separate meals. Toy breeds mature more quickly than the larger breeds, and they may be introduced to an adult diet from eight months of age - large breeds are still growing rapidly at this age and will need to be fed a puppy diet for longer.
Remember that since all puppies are individuals, some may need more and some less than the indicated amounts. Your puppy's condition is the best indicator of whether you are feeding the correct amount. By recording his weight regularly you will be able to check that he is growing at a healthy rate appropriate to his breed. You can then make adjustments to avoid him becoming under - or overweight.
Generally, a puppy should be allowed 10 to 15 minutes to eat at each meal time. After then discard any uneaten food.
Make sure that your puppy has his own feeding and water bowls and that they are kept clean and separate from the family's dishes. Fresh water should always be available. If you notice that your puppy is excessively thirsty all the time you should consult your veterinarian as it may be an indication that your puppy is unwell.
How much food to feed?
In our own litters, puppies are usually eating between 1/2 to 1 cup of food at each feeding (4 times/day) between 8 and 16 weeks of age. Between 16 weeks and 6 months, they are up to between 1 to 1-1/2 cups at each feeding (3 times/day). At 6 months and through adulthood, they are fed 2 cups at each feeding (2 times/day). This tentative feeding schedule we provide as a guideline to my new puppy owners with the understanding that it is to serve only as a starting point and should be adjusted based on metabolism, activity and requirements of the individual dog. When judging amount of food to feed, it is important to evaluate the results by appearance of the dog. Though puppies should be kept on the lean side during 4-8 months of age while they are going through the rapid growth phase, they should not appear emaciated. One should be able to feel the rib cage and the back bone, but not see them. Looking down on the dog, there should be a slight indentation between the end of the rib cage and the hip bones.
Most dog owners are rightly concerned that they are providing an adequate diet for their pet. Puppy owners, in particular, are aware of the heavy nutritional demands of the puppy as it grows and may be tempted to feed as much as he will eat. However, many dogs, especially Labrador Retrievers, tend to overeat and this could have damaging consequences for your puppy. In order to avoid these, it is generally recommended that food intake is moderately controlled in growing dogs.
In the small - and medium - sized breeds, overfeeding of the growing dog is likely to cause obesity. The extra food received is converted into fat and stored in the body. While a dog is still young and growing, his body will produce extra fat cells to store the excess fat and, once formed, these cells stay with him for life. This may make him prone to obesity as an adult.
In the large and giant breeds, overfeeding of rapidly growing puppies can cause a number of skeletal deformities.
It is therefore important
to monitor your growing dog's weight and his general condition to be sure
that you are feeding the correct amount. If he has more than a moderate
covering of fat over his ribs he may be getting too fat. Ask your veterinarian
for advice if you are unsure about your growing dog's condition.
A balance of energy is important to maintain a dog in good health at all stages of his life. Too little can result in loss of weight, lethargy and poor condition, too much will lead to obesity and all its complications - such as growth deformities in the puppies of the large and giant breeds.
The energy requirement of your dog will depend on how active he is, for example if he is working, kept either indoors or outside, and if he is ill, elderly or still growing. Pregnant and lactating bitches also have a greater energy requirement. If your dog is less active as he gets older, you may need reduce his food ration a little so that he doesn't become fat.
When you use a prepared pet food, the label on the packaging will provide a guideline as to how much to feed your dog. Bear in mind that these recommendations are a guideline only and you must make adjustments according to your dog's needs. If he is very active, he may need more than the recommended amount, but if he is quite sedentary then he will probably need less. Don't forget to allow for any other food he is receiving - the calories in biscuits, treats and other titbits soon add up!
The easiest way to keep an eye on your dog's feeding habits and general health is to use the evidence of your hand and eyes. If the dog appears alert and bright-eyed and is neither thin nor overweight, then he is probably in good health and benefiting from a properly balanced diet.
However, if your dog seems to be getting fat, you may well be overfeeding him. In this instance, try to establish a balance by cutting down the total amount of food or by reducing the amount of biscuits if you are feeding him a meat and biscuit ration.
Most adult dogs of nine months and older can be given their daily food allowance in one meal, although this can be divided into two or more meals if it is more convenient for you or suits your dog better. Remember that small dogs have small stomachs and may prefer to be fed twice a day.
Similarly, growing
and working dogs, bitches that are pregnant or lactating, and dogs that
are sick or convalescing will usually need more than one meal a day. Use
your judgement to ensure that your dog is taking the right amount of food
at the right times.
Typically, a true working
dog will require two to four times the adult maintenance ration, which
is usually fed as one third in the morning and the remaining two thirds
on completion of the working day. You can offer your dog the extra energy
in his diet by increasing the amount of mixer you feed him - this is more
economical than increasing the meat content of his meal.
In some dogs, the digestive system becomes less efficient with age. These dogs may be unable to use all the nutrients in their food and they may have difficulty in maintaining their body weight. In these cases, small but frequent meals may be more suitable. An ideal diet would be concentrated, tasty, and easily digested.
Some medical conditions which may benefit from changes in the diet, for example the level of phosphorus and protein in kidney disease and the level of salt in congestive heart failure. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on a suitable diet for your dog.
Water should always be available for your dog - you should keep an eye on the quantity he drinks and seek medical attention if this increases suddenly as this could signify the onset of a medical condition, such as kidney disease or diabetes.
Some old dogs may be
a little arthritic in the neck and will have difficulty in bending down
to eat. If this is the case, the food bowl should be raised off the floor
at a comfortable height or placed on a step.
As the pregnant uterus occupies a lot of space in the abdomen, a bitch's stomach is unable to expand as much as normal. Therefore, it is best to feed several small meals a day and to use a more concentrated and palatable food, so that she is able to consume enough to meet her demands.
While nursing her puppies, her demand for nutrients and energy will increase dramatically. During this time, she will need to eat up to three or four times her normal maintenance ration. This is to ensure that she can produce enough milk for the puppies and maintain her own body condition. At peak lactation (usually about 3 to 4 weeks), she will be giving between 4 to 7% of her body weight per day to her puppies in the form of milk.
Again, it is necessary
to feed her several meals - probably three or four a day - of a concentrated,
highy palatable diet, with perhaps a night feed as well. Feed her as much
as she needs - she is unlikely to overeat. Make sure, also, that she has
an unlimited supply of fresh water during this critical period.
