Good quality and nutritious dog food plays a vital role in dog's health and fitness. It consists of essential nutrients including carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, minerals and fats. Every dog has a different nutrients requirement depending upon the age and breed. A healthy diet for your dog should consist of sufficient proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins and water.
Homemade dog food should be given to dogs consisting of raw meat or nutritious vegetarian diets. Dogs can be fed on brown rice, brown pasta, meats, eggs, and vegetables. Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods (BARF) diet is also getting popular.
In general, dogs should be fed with vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, peas and beans. You can also include fruits such as bananas, apples and melon in the diet. Health supplements including acidophilus, digestive enzymes, antioxidant vitamins E and C can also be given to dogs.
How much should I feed my dog or puppy?
During few initial weeks from the birth, puppies should only be fed with mother's milk. Mother's milk provides them with essential nutrients and antibodies to become healthy dogs. After 3 or 4 weeks, they can start eating solid food. At the beginning, keep the food in semi-solid form as it will be easier to digest. You can choose puppy food that contains all essential nutrients required by the puppy. Calcium supplements can also be given for strong and healthy bones.
After 3-6 months, puppies start teething. A puppy tends to become a finicky eater and spoils your clothes. You have to be a little cautious with puppy during this time. Also, provide him/her with a chewing bone. Puppy should continue the puppy food till 1 year incase of smaller breeds while 2 years incase of larger breeds. Consult a veterinary doctor about the specific dog food requirements when your puppy grows old. Every individual grown dog's food requirement differs from others. The feeding direction is based upon the breed , so it would be good if you could consult a veterinary doctor for guidance.
What should not be included in dog food?
There are certain things you have to specifically avoid in dogs' food including:
- Chocolate: Chocolates should never be given to dogs for eating, as it contains theobromine which is a toxic chemical for dogs.
- Large or splinter bones: While giving bones ensure they aren't larger in size or have splinter because it can choke their neck and lead to death.
Some Dog Eating Habits Guidelines
- Dogs should be given minimum one or two nutritional meals per day.
- Regular feeding schedule should be maintained in order to keep his/her bathroom schedule fixed.
- Keep bowels and water container always clean.
- Always keep fresh water available.
- Consult a veterinary doctor for eating habits appropriate for dogs during illness.
- You must reward your dog with dog treats once in a while to develop a special bond.
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