If you have a dog over nine months of age, he is generally considered an adult dog. What have you been feeding him as a puppy and what should you feed him now that he's an adult?
Caring for your dog is a major responsibility. Feeding him properly and with healthy foods will give him a longer life to care for you, his beloved master.
How and When to Feed
- Puppies need three meals a day which can be reduced to two when they reach the age of six months. From six to nine months, adult dog food can be introduced to a puppy's diet.
- Small dogs have smaller stomachs and eat less in one meal. In order to help with digestion, feed your small dog twice a day.
- If your dog is pregnant, she will need up to fifty percent more food than normal. Consult your vet for specifics for your particular breed.
Quality Dog Food: What Dogs Need in Their Diet
- protein
- essential fatty acids
- carbohydrates
- vegetables and some fruits
- vitamins and minerals
Varieties of Available Dog Food
- dry foods
- semi-moist food
- canned food
- fresh food
Dry Dog Food Benefits
If dry food is the meal of choice for your pet, you'll find its simplicity in storing and serving a plus. Dry foods have four times as many calories per pound as canned foods, so feed in smaller quantities. Easy to store, dry food is stable and long lasting with low calorie, puppy, senior and diabetic versions to satisfy almost every type of dog or puppy.
Semi-Moist Food Benefits
A complete semi-moist food has more than three times the calories of canned food and makes for a good prepared food for dogs. Providing a complete and economical diet, you can give it to your dog alone or with a cereal filler. Its high carb content is good for very active dogs.
Canned Food Benefits
High in protein, these meaty foods come in plenty of varieties. If your dog has a finicky appetite, canned food usually hits the spot. If more calories or carbs are needed for your very active dog, add an equal volume of dry food in with the canned food.
Holistic Dog Food
Meat provides most but not all of a dog's nutritional needs. Just like humans, dogs can't live on meat alone, so if you plan on feeding your dog fresh food rather than prepared foods, make sure you mix the meat with the correct amount of vegetables, pasta and rice to provide all the necessary ingredients for good health.
The benefits of this type of food for your dog are obvious - what's better than fresh food prepared in your own kitchen? A fresh food diet should include the following:
- carrots, cabbage, potatoes, spinach, green beans (steamed lightly to keep nutritional values up)
- scrambled eggs (no salt)
- pasta (when cooking, use chicken or beef broth for flavor instead of water)
- low-fat ground beef, turkey, chicken sauteed without salt (can use chicken broth to flavor)
- brown rice
- no onions
Whatever food choice you make for your own pet, be sure to put a plastic lid on partly-used portions of dog food and store in the refrigerator for no more than three days. Never serve your dog spoiled, leftover food that can cause stomach upset or illness.
If your dog refuses to eat for more than a 24 hour period, contact your local Vet.
For help in deciding what is best for your pet, check out this online source for pet info and animal care hosted by vets.
If you liked this article, you might enjoy Essential Learning for Puppies.
resources:
Palika, Liz.,Guide to Raising a Puppy. Dorling Kindersley, 2003
Fogle, Dr. Bruce., Train Your Dog. Dorling Kindersley, 2003
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