What Dog-Owners Need To Know About Feeding Their Pets
If you have just got yourself a dog and feeling proud of it, then it is also important to consider what you are going to feed it. Let’s face it: it can be an overwhelming thing to choose dog food what with so many varieties available. Which one do you choose? What do you feed your dog? Well, this post will answer all your questions.
The reality of giving human foods to your dog
The truth is that we all love feeding our dogs table scraps and its okay when it happens once in a while. But it is not something that should become a habit. In fact, when you give human foods to your dog along with a diet of nutritionally balanced high-quality packaged dog food, you may unintentionally be creating a nutritional imbalance. Also, when dogs are fed under the table regularly, it can easily give rise to behavioural issues. It may start stealing food from the dining area or the kitchen and may even start expecting table scraps all the time. It is best to feed your pet at scheduled mealtimes, for example, when the whole family is sitting down for breakfast or dinner. The right amount of food is one which maintains your dog’s health. Coaxing for more food should not be encouraged and when this happens, it is best to give it hugs instead of more food.
Importance of a balanced diet
Giving your dog a balanced diet is very important from the beginning. So how do you know how much and what to feed it when you are a new pet-owner? We agree it is difficult to know what to do. And that is why a talk with your veterinarian can be a great idea. He will be able to guide you on the nutrition requirements of your pet and you will be able to know all you need to start feeding it well. Dogs have varied nutritional requirements depending on breed, age, activity level and medical condition. And that is why a consultation with the veterinarian is a great place to start off.
Be cautious about raw food diets
It is important that you consider a few things before giving your pet a raw food diet. Raw food diets are popular among some pet-owners and it is something that should be considered properly. Feeding raw meat to your pet poses a significant risk to pet and human health and is best avoided. This is because the consumption of raw meat may lead to contamination, and also, raw meat may contain too much or too little phosphorus, calcium or Vitamin A. When you give your dog nutritionally balanced dog food, you can be assured that you don’t have to worry about any of these things. The best thing to do is to get as much info as possible about what to feed your pet.
The right amount of food
This is another thing that dog-owners have trouble with: how much to feed their pets. One thing that is known for certain is that calorific restriction is the way to keep a pet lean all its life and it also leads to an increased life span. There are too many dogs around that are too well-fed and this can easily give rise to obesity. Obesity causes significant risk to the health of dogs including heart diseases, diabetes and liver problems. So the best thing you can do is not to feed your pet too much food no matter how much it wants it. This is another reason to have a talk with your veterinarian to find out how much your dog actually needs because individual requirements vary. Yes, treats and occasional table scraps are okay but they should not be too many or should not happen too often. You need to give your dog the calories it needs to maintain its ideal body weight and as long as you don’t go over 10% of that ideal number of calories, you are doing okay.
Feeding your dog does not have to be a difficult proposition if you choose the right brand of dog food that provides adequate meat, fish and nutrients for your furry paws.
