Dog nutrition is an extremely important thing, which influences the later stages of the animal’s life. The best food for puppies is breast milk, and in unusual situations, milk substitutes are used. Afterward, age-appropriate food should be administered.
Before the puppy appears in your home, you should find out about its diet. It is best to get this information from the farm and, if in doubt, consult an animal nutritionist or veterinarian. Feeding a puppy should take place at the same time, with inappropriate quantities and doses.
Dog nutrition must not only provide the right amount of energy but also support the proper functioning of the body and all systems. A balanced diet should contain an adequate amount of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and other micro and macro elements.
CONTENT:
- How do I determine the optimal amount of food I should give my dog daily?
- My dog is very fussy. Can I offer dry food mixed with wet food?
- What kind of food is best for my dog? Dry or wet?
- How many times a day do I have to feed my dog?
- Can I give the dog the leftovers from my meal?
1. How do I determine the optimal amount of food I should give my dog daily?
One of the main ways to keep your dog healthy is to provide him with quality food every day, which will fully cover the dog’s nutrition and energy requirements.
A less than the optimal amount of food and your dog will suffer from a lot of nutritional deficiencies (more or less severe).
When fed more than the optimal amount, it will gain weight and likely develop a lot of obesity-related conditions.
Unfortunately, there is no exact way to determine the optimal amount of food that should be given to the dog.
Establishing a correct ratio, adapted to its daily requirements depends on a lot of individual factors such as:
- The type of food offered: dry, moist, prepared by you or industrially, etc.
- Actual calorie content of the food provided (metabolic energy provided)
- Your dog’s weight
- Optimal weight to be achieved (in the case of obese or overweight specimens)
- The level of physical activity of the dog: an active, agitated specimen, always on the move, needs a higher daily food ration compared to that required for a quiet, even sedentary dog.
- Environmental conditions in which he lives: the amount of food offered to a dog housed in an outdoor environment must be higher than that raised in the house.
- Whether it receives snacks and rewards (in what quantity) during a day.
- The feeding recommendations listed on the label of various types of dry or wet food are in fact estimates of the daily rations that should be given to a dog.
The quantities indicated are based on the content of essential nutrients and energetic substances of the respective food, related to the average of a dog’s nutrition.
2. My dog is very fussy. Can I offer dry food mixed with wet food?
Yes. You can give your dog a mix of dry and wet food.
But you will lose some of the benefits of dry food: the mix will spoil more easily. It will smell stronger and the costs involved in feeding your pet will increase.
If you choose such a variant, for the daily feeding of your quadruped, take care to adjust its food ration to prevent its fattening (usually) or, on the contrary, its weakening (rarely).
Another option would be to try to feed it with an assortment of semi-medium food. You can try granulated food with a higher water content, approx. 18%).
This type of food combines the advantages of dry food (easy to serve and store, does not spoil so easily, is hygienic, has an acceptable purchase price, etc.) with those of moist foods (more appreciated taste, the granules are softer, and can be chewed more easily, is biologically closer to natural food, etc.)
3. What kind of food is best for my dog? Dry or wet?
First, an essential aspect must be specified:
For healthy dog nutrition, it does not matter if the food provided is dry or moist, as long as it is obtained from high-quality ingredients, has an optimally balanced content of essential nutrients (proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements) and ii fully meets food and energy requirements.
Choosing a certain type of food is more about personal experience (gained with another dog), lifestyle, and finally, the expenses involved in purchasing it.
Dry food has a lot of advantages that make it preferred by most pet owners:
- It is easier to serve or store
- It fully covers the dog’s food and energy requirements, with a more balanced content of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, compared to wet food.
- The smell of dry food is less noticeable, unlike the wet one, which has a strong, persistent smell, often unpleasant for you.
- Dry food can remain in the bowl for a long time, without the danger of spoiling it.
- Serving it is more hygienic and leaves much less dirt to clean.
- Not to be overlooked: dry food has a lower purchase price compared to wet food.
- Some studies show that granular food would help reduce the formation of dental tartar deposits and remove it from the teeth. (there are a lot of controversies related to this topic).
Obviously, wet food also has a lot of undeniable advantages for a dog nutrition:
- It is tastier (increased palatability)
- It often contains a higher amount of protein and fat compared to granular food.
- It can be consumed more easily, not to be neglected in the case of older dogs, or those suffering from oral diseases (gingivitis, dental problems, etc.)
- It is much closer in appearance and texture to natural food.
4. How many times a day do I have to feed my dog?
The optimal dog nutrition depends on several factors such as age, physiological and health status, the degree of physical activity, whether he lives mainly in the house or in the yard, etc.
In general, dog nutrition can be done often with small amounts of food, or less often (one maximum of two meals/day).
Frequent feeding with the administration of small amounts of food (daily ration divided into 3 – 6 meals) is recommended:
- Sick dogs, who have problems with food intake, digestive tract disorders (or the metabolism of some of the nutrients;
- In the diet of chicks and juniors under 6 months of age, who need increased amounts of food;
- Utility dogs during periods of maximum activity;
- Dogs stay outside during periods of extreme temperatures: hot, hot or cold days.
5. Can I give the dog the leftovers from my meal?
Yes. In general, you can give your dog leftovers from the table, as long as they are not rich in fat, salt, or sugar.
But it is much more advisable (and healthier) that instead of leftovers, offer rewards and snacks specially designed for him. Just make sure they don’t exceed 10% of your daily diet.
If you still want to give him the leftovers from the table, offer him the pieces of lean meat, vegetables, soups, or pasta. Avoid fatty foods (e.g. chicken skin, bacon, etc.) as well as those with a high content of refined sugar (candy, cakes, pastries, etc.) or salt.
You need to be aware that by giving your dog the leftovers from your table, you are reinforcing a behavior that is not always acceptable: “begging.” Specifically, you have chosen a “beggar” at the table whenever you want to eat.
You also indirectly encourage him to steal food left unattended (on the table, in the pantry, etc.). The dog does not distinguish between leftovers and foods intended for your consumption. For him, everything is the same: food is allowed, as long as you offer it to him once.
