Adult Dog Feeding Guide

If you are planning on adding an adult dog to your home
you need to get an idea of the adult dog feeding guidelines
that you will need to follow. Our canine friends come in
many shapes and sizes. The levels of activity can vary
greatly among pets and is an important consideration
in determining energy needs. Sufficient nutrients are
necessary to meet energy needs and to facilitate the
repair and maintenance of body tissue.
There are a number of methods you can use to feed your
dog dependent on your particular schedule and needs.
One method is to provide two meals in a day preferably
served in the morning and evening. This method employs
giving equal portions for both meals and helps to monitor
an animals caloric intake and thus maintain a desired weight.
Another method is designed to make food available
through out the day. This method benefits owners who may
be away for long periods during the course of a day. This
method runs the risk of your dog consuming excess calories
which leads to weight gain. Dry food is best used for this method as dry food is less likely to spoil when left out all day long.

Another method for feeding your dog involves
feeding your dog for a specified time period say thirty minutes
and then removing the food. Again this can be used if your
dog has a weight problem and you want to control how many
calories she is consuming. For practical purposes it is advised
that you feed your dog twice daily.

Activity level is an important consideration in determining
how much food your dog will need. If your dog is a normal
house dog he should receive a maintenance level of energy.
If you have a less active dog you should reduce by 10 percent
the maintenance level of energy. If you have an extremely
active outdoor dog you should increase the maintenance
level of energy provided by 20 to 40 percent.
Get the advise of your veterinarian for the best type of food products
and feeding schedule for your particular dog. Additionally an animal
that is ill or recovering from surgery will have differing dietary needs.
Consult your veterinarian for proper guidelines in this instance.

to find out more about dog feeding
ckick here

How To Feed A Puppy

It is Important to look after our dogs to the best of our ability, and feeding a puppy correctly is important to give it the very best start in life. For optimal growth and health, a balanced diet is necessary. This means the diet includes the right amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals, in the right proportions.

Puppies need to take in proportionally more calories per pound of body weight than adult dogs do, because they need more energy to grow. Commercial puppy foods take this into account. It is very calorie dense, which means that it includes more calories per bowl, compared to adult dog food.

Since puppies have little stomachs, they should be fed small meals regularly. This means three small meals a day up to twelve weeks of age, then reducing frequency to two meals a day. You can keep feeding your dog two meals a day throughout adulthood, or further reduce to one meal when he's around 12 months old and close to fully grown.

You should feed your puppy according to the guidelines on the food packet. Overfeeding puppies can make them overweight. This can predispose to orthopedic problems such as hip dysplasia, and may lead to obesity later in life. It is undoubtedly easier to prevent your dog from getting overweight in the first place than it is to get rid of the excess weight later in life.

It is a good idea to base your puppy's diet on quality commercial dog food, and then add extra things such as rice, pasta and raw bones. Remember to never feed your dog cooked bones, as these are dangerous and may splinter, damaging the gastrointestinal tract. When choosing a dog food, take a close look at the ingredient list. The top two or three ingredients on the list should be meat or meat protein. Dog foods which may be less expensive are higher in cereal, and therefore not as good for your pet.

Home cooked diets are possible, but it can be very hard to maintain nutritional balance. One of the best examples is calcium. A predominantly meat based diet can contain too little calcium, leading to poor bone density and increased risk of fractures. Conversely, adding too much calcium supplement to a diet can also lead to developmental orthopedic disease. It is very important to get the balance just right.

It is also important to choose a commercial dog food which is appropriate for the breed. For example, giant breed puppy food allows for slow steady growth. This helps to avoid orthopedic problems in your dog such as osteochondrosis dissecans which is often associated with rapid growth in large breeds of dog.

As puppies get older, their growth rate slows, and they can be switched to adult food when they're close to maturity. This is usually around twelve months for most breeds, and eighteen months for giant breeds.
It is very important to choose the right dog food for your puppy, as the effects of poor nutrition can last a lifetime. Make sure that the food is both of high quality, nutritionally balanced and appropriate for the breed.

dog food feeding tips

Maintain a regular feeding schedule, twice a day or three times a day depending on your schedule and your animal.  Due to the fact that puppies have smaller stomachs, they will need to eat at least three times a day.  By the fifth month your puppy can be fed twice a day.  Don’t let your pet eat when he/she feel like it.

Measure out the food that your pet should eat in one sitting.  Dog foods packaging will have a serving suggestion based on the weight of your dog.  But also consider the energy of your pet.  The best rule of feeding is first start with the amount of food he/she eats within a 15-minute period, which will be what he/she needs per feeding time.  Adjust the amount of food being fed based on the weight gain or loss of your pet.  Soon you will have just the right amount of food.

Each dog should have his or her own dog food dish.  Supervise that one of the dogs is not taking the other dogs’ food.  Using this method will allow you to notice if one of them has lost their appetite indicating a health problem.

Feed your pet in various places--inside, outside, in the kitchen, or anywhere that works for you.  This will come in handy when you have to travel with your dog or if he/she has to be placed in a kennel that will have its own way of feeding them.

Don’t change dog food brands and types on a regular basis.  Change of food can cause upset stomach and possibly diarrhea.  A good quality dog food will provide everything your pet will need in nutrition.

If you do have to change dog food, change it gradually.  Start making the transition by mixing a little bit of the new dog food with your dog's current dog food.  Over days increase the new food and start phasing out the old food.

Wash the dog food bowls and water dish regularly.

Don’t leave food and water outside while your pet is inside overnight.  Unwanted critters can come along to freely eat out of your dog’s food and water bowl putting your pet at risk of catching disease or illnesses.

Store the dog food in a container that you can close to protect it from getting stale.  The older the food gets the more nutrients it will lose.  Don’t purchase more than a months worth of dog food that your pet can eat.

Expecting mothers will need more protein and calcium added to their deit .  Change her food over to puppy type dog food and mix it with cottage cheese.

Raw Dog Food: Transitioning Your Dog From Dry Food

Raw Food and Your Dog

Dog lovers know that no two dogs are the same, and because of this, there isn't a single answer when it comes to weaning your dog off of dry kibble and into a natural, raw diet. You can still employ some basic techniques which can get you moving in the right direction, though.

1. Stay positive. Your pets can be extremely perceptive, and they'll know if you have any doubts about this transition to a raw food diet. If you are confident, your pets will feel more certain about this alteration of their usual diet.

2. If you have an older dog who has been eating the same food for a long time, it will take more time to establish this raw diet.

3. It's important to employ variety when introducing a meat-based, raw deit to your dog, but it's usually best to use only one kind of meat to begin your transitioning with - usually the type of meat which is already in your dog's kibble. By doing this, your dog's digestion will be made simpler.

4. Don't feed your dog prior to beginning this change. If your dog is hungry, it will be far more interested in what's in their bowl, and it will also provide some down time for their digestive system.

5. As this transition is happening, don't give your dog too many treats. This will prime your dog's appetite for its new food.

6. Give your dog lots of clean, filtered water to drink.

Raw Diets for Puppies

A puppy will usually be able to make this dietary transition in just a couple of days, as their digestive systems are able to process new foods with greater ease than older dogs might. To begin, switch out a quarter of your dog's food with Darwin's. As time goes on, increase the amount of Darwin's and decrease the amount of kibble, until all that's left is the new, raw diet.

Healthy, Young Dogs & the Raw Diet

Younger dogs will have a simpler, more rapid transition when compared to older dogs, or dogs who might be unhealthy. Transitioning within a week is generally possible, providing that your dog doesn't show symptoms of being sick, such as vomiting, constipation or loose stools. By making this transition slowly, your dog's digestive tract will have more flexibility to adjust to new foods.

1. Start out by switching out 1/8th of your dogs usual meal with raw food.

2. Once your dog has eaten three times, try switching out 1/4 of your dog's food.

3. Repeat this again after three meals, introducing a mixture which is half kibble and half raw food.

4. Finally, after three more meals, give your dog a completely raw meal. Ideally, your dog will not show any signs of distress. If your dog seems okay, you've successfully made the switch!

Old Dogs & Choosy Eaters

Dogs who have old habits might not accept the texture or scent of a raw diet. This is not uncommon, especially with smaller breeds of dogs. There are a few simple steps that you can take.

1. During the change, don't allow your dog to have treats.

2. Don't feed your dog prior to switching their food.

3. Raw meals can be lightly cooked in order to activate their flavors and smells. Be sure to only cook these slightly. A quick poach on the stove or a pass through your toaster oven should do the trick.

4. Present this meal in a way which will make your dog comfortable, such as a secluded spot in your home or kitchen.

5. By adding extra flavor to their meals, like egg yolks, cheese or garlic powder, most dogs will give in and try out their new food without much trouble!