Dogs - Feeding

Numerous brands of dog foods are available in pet stores, vet offices, even in supermarkets. Most brand-name foods provide the nutrients a dog needs. Check the labels, and select a brand that contains proper amount of protein, carbs, fat and vitamins. Most dog foods come as puppy food, adult food, for weight control and less active dogs, etc. Select the food according to your dog’s need. If in doubt, ask your veterinarian for recommendations. Try to avoid generic products since many are full of empty calories. Check and compare labels with brand-name food before you go for the cheaper alternative! Be aware of the fact that Organic Food contains better quality meat and less “fillers”. Especially if your animal has health issures you might want to switch to organic food. See also our article and links at >> Organic or not Organic.

Dry food, kibbles, is one of the most convenient foods to use. They don’t spoil, even they do have an expiration date, and are less expensive than canned food. Besides being nutritional balanced it helps keep the teeth and gums clean and healthy. Canned food may be mixed with dry food for some variety. Dogs with teeth or chewing problems should be fed the soft can food to avoid more stress on teeth.

Some dog owners prefer to cook for their animals and are quite chefs in this field. If you cook and don’t use kibbles make sure that your dog still gets all the nutrition he needs. Check with a veterinarian for recommendations and maybe additional vitamins, minerals, etc.

Table scraps is something no dog will decline. It must be the fact of the owner eating it that makes it so attractive to dogs. If you give your dog table scraps make sure that they are not heavily salted, not spicy, and that they don’t exceed 10 to 15% of his daily recommended food intake. Don’t add table scraps to the regular amount you feed your dog! Lean meat scraps and vegetables are recommended, some dogs prefer rice and also. My dog is a very picky eater and rather skinny. I do add some additional carbs in form of unsalted, cooked rice and sometimes noodles to his diet. Avoid raw meat, raw bones, and chicken bones that might splinter and get stuck in a dog’s throat.

If you decide, for whatever reasons, to change the brand of food you are feeding you dog, do it gradually. Add some of the new brand to his usual food and increase this amount until you can discontinue the old brand, normally within 5 to 7 days. Don’t just switch to a totally different brand, it might often cause diarrhea. Once you have found a balanced food that your pet enjoys, stick with it. When you adopt your pet find out what it has been fed in his previous home. You may decide to continue with that brand of food, or gradually exchange it with a food of your choice.

How often to feed?
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Puppies under three months of age should be fed four times a day at regular intervals: morning, noon, evening and bedtime. After they pass the 3 months mark you can skip the bedtime meal. At about 6 months the evening or lunch meal can be eliminated. At about one year you can switch to two feedings a day. Some feed their dogs only once a day, I have made the experience that my animals respond better to feeding them twice, one in the morning, once in the late afternoon.

Though some say that having food (kibbles) available at all times is not recommended for most dogs, I have had good experience with this method with all my dogs. If you do so, make sure not to refill the bowl, stick with the amount of food that is recommended for the whole day, don’t add if the bowl should be empty late afternoon. Always provide enough fresh water, during summer add ice cubes. This is especially important if you feed dry food (kibbles). Keep the bowl clean at all times and rinse it daily, run it through the dishwasher once a week for dry food, daily when feeding canned foot. Throw away leftovers of canned food. Not only will it smell bad, it might spoil during hot days. Keep the bowl at a certain place and don’t change locations. You will confuse your animal if it has to hunt for his food bowl.
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How Much to Feed
How much to feed your dog depends upon its size, age, breed and activity level. Ask the breeder, the shelter or your vet if in doubt when you get your dog. Make sure not to overfeed animals. Overfeeding makes them lazy and reluctant to exercise which again leads to weight gain and shortens their life expectancy. Heavy dogs are more prone to joint problems, back problems, heart problems, etc. Keep your dog active and take at least one long walk a day. Even if you dog is kept partially in a yard, don’t expect him to do this “fitness workout” there while left alone. Most likely the dog will just sit or lay in the sun.

Help your dog stay healthy by keeping it at the proper weight.