Feeding Mini Pinscher

Question
How many ounces of food should an eight year old Mini Pinscher eat a day , and should it be dry only or a mixture of wet and dry food?

Answer
Hi Lisa,

Whatever brand of dog food you're currently using probably has feeding guidelines listed on the package. Usually, Min-Pins weigh in between 8-10 pounds, so something like 1/3 to 1 cup of food a day sounds about right. The variable is your dog's activity level.

If your dog isn't as active as he used to be, and you've noticed that he's gaining weight, you can give him a little less than whatever you've been feeding him.

If your dog already has tooth problems, he might find it easier to eat a canned food, but that would also mean that your dog needs to see the vet, since tooth pain is treatable and preventable.

A good rule of thumb is to buy the best dog food you can afford. Most dry dog foods are soybean, corn or rice based. Some of the better brands have meat or fish meal as the first listed ingredient. Although higher priced, they are worth looking into. Dogs eat less of the higher quality products, thus reducing the cost. Dry dog foods also have greater "caloric density" which means simply, there is less water in a cup of food as compared to a canned food diet.
The premium brands are more concentrated and digestible, therefore they produce less fecal material.

The only difference between the dry and canned versions of food is generally the water content. It is okay to feed canned foods if you want to deal with the added mess and work. Dry food is, however, is very good for the teeth.

If you do not feed dry food at all, and even if you do, be sure to give your dog things to chew on and consider brushing his teeth.

Dog's teeth get tartar and plaque build up just humans do. A good raw, marrow bone, or knuckle bone will keep your dog's teeth free of tartar. The gnawing motion effectively scrapes all the gunk off your dog's teeth, and he'll have a great time chewing the bone! The amount of bones your dog goes through will be determined by his size and teeth condition. When your dog looses interest in the bone, you'll know it's time for a new bone.
They don't actually eat the whole bone, but they can make a mess, and once the bone has been whittled down and small, throw it out to prevent your dog from swallowing it by accident.

I hope I've been a help.

Patti