FEEDING CAIRN TERRIER

Question
MY CAIRN TERRIER ABOUT 7YRS. FEMALE, RESCUED FROM A SHELTER SHE IS ABOUT 20 ISH LBS, EXTREMELY FAT, I FEED HER NOW, IAMS WEIGHT CONTROL., I DONT KNOW HOW MUCH TO FEED HER, I USUALLY JUST EYE IT, AND I ALSO GIVE HER A LITTLE CANNED WITH IT, AND HOT WATER? I FEED HER ONLY AT NIGHT, COULD YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH TO FEED HER? TO HELP HER TO LOOSE WEIGHT?  THANKS

KIM

Answer
Kim -

I do cairn rescue so I'm really familiar with feeding them.

First off, I would recommend a better quality food and not a weight control formula. Those are just full of fillers like corn, and what the dog needs is lean nutritious food.

The only brand that I think is OK that is in grocery stores is Purina One, though I prefer the premium brands like Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, Wellness, Nutro Premium (or even Nutro Natural Choice), Purina ProPlan (I feed Nature's Variety or Eagle Pack Holistic Select but I admit to being extra fussy)

I also recommend 2 small meals per day.  I feed my cairns 1/4 cup of good quality kibble twice a day - and I measure strictly.  If they are still hungry, they can get "extras" like green beans, peas, carrot, apple (no seeds), squash and canned pumpkin (not the pie filling - the real stuff) - You can share off your dinner if you like - but only the non-starchy veggies !

Cairns can be quite prone to food allergies, primarily corn - another reason why I don't feed most brands - it makes a marked difference in their health - AND it ends up costing about the same because you feed less volume.

I suspect I've told you more than you ever wanted to know.  Bottom line - 2 meals of 1/4 cup a day for starters.  You can adjust what they really need by watching their weight after that.

Good luck !

-Beth Adams

Col Potter Cairn Rescue Network   www.cairnrescue.com
Above & Beyond English Setter Rescue   www.esrescue.org