Is Your New Dog Getting the Proper Diet?
Puppies grow at a remarkable speed. Ensuring that your new dog is fed properly when he is young will aid his physical and behavioral development, as well as promote a lifetime of good health. To find out what the proper canine diet consists of and how that diet should be administered, continue reading this overview of veterinarian-recommended feeding practices.
- Dietary Staples
The healthiest diet a dog can have is one that closely resembles the diet of the earliest canines. A dog’s diet should include a regular mix of animal fat; animal bone, muscle, and organ meat; and vegetable matter. Most forms of veterinarian-recommended wet and dry dog food contain a good mixture of the vitamins and nutrients found in these food sources. Until your dog reaches at least six months of age, choose puppy-specific dog food.
- Feeding Routines
Dogs of different breeds require different quantities of food at different ages. For breed-specific information, consult your dog’s breeder or veterinarian. Typically, however, puppies should be fed four times a day until they are about four months of age, three times a day until they reach six months, and twice a day after that. While your dog should always have access to water, it is best to leave your dog’s food dish on the ground for only 20 minutes during each mealtime.
- Table Scraps
Too much variety in a dog’s diet can result in digestive problems, which are unpleasant for dog and owner alike. If you wish to feed your dog table scraps, exercise caution in doing so and wait until your dog is at least four months old. Foods your dog may enjoy and benefit from include cooked eggs, some fruits, some vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked meat scraps. “People food” should never total more than 10 percent of your dog’s dietary intake. Consult a veterinarian about which foods from your table are acceptable to feed to your dog.
- Foods to Avoid
Chocolate, grapes, raisins, avocados, nuts, mushrooms, onions, and raw meat are foods that you should always refrain from feeding your dog.
If you have questions about your dog’s diet, contact an experienced veterinarian. For high-quality veterinary service in the St Louis area, call Barrett Station Veterinary Clinic at (314) 822-2882!
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing veterinary advice. You should contact your pet’s veterinarian to obtain advice with respect to any particular medical issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a veterinarian-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site may not reflect the opinions of the veterinary clinic or any individual veterinarian.
- Loading comments...
