My Mini Schnauzer

Question
Hi There,

I have a Miniature Schnauzer who is 7 months old.  She weighs 17lbs.  I have just noticed that she has gained a few pounds.  Can you tell me what I need to be feeding her? We don't give her people food but, she loves raw hides and pigs ears. I have decided to go home and throw the pigs ears out.   For the longest time she wouldn't eat dry food...now she won't eat the wet unless she has to.  Lately I have been giving her a half cup of dry food twice a day and she has been eating that.   Can you tell me what else I should or shouldn't be feeding her?  What kinds of treats should she get and how ofter?  Thank you so much.

Warm regards, Melissa  

Answer
Hi Melissa;
Throw out the rawhide too.
That stuff is opure calories, and it is dangerous for her.
My Veterinarian says the majority of emergency surgeries he does is because of choking ot tearing of intestinal and digestive tracts, from eating rawhide.
I don't allow the stuff in my house.
For chewing, get her a Kong toy or Nyla Bones.
Any treats she gets, allow for the calories and food values in her daily diet.
I give milk Bone treats with tartar control in them, and allow for them in the daily diet.
If she gets a little peanut butter in the kong toy, cut out a little of her dog food ration to make up for it.
Go to this site, there is quite a bit of information about feeding and weight control there.
www.dogage.com.
Talk with your Veterinarian. As long as he/she says your dog is the right weight, you are ok.
the rawhide and pigs ears, being animal products, are also loaded with colerserole.
Charlotte