People often write to us asking how to properly feed a dog. The fact is that in the last few decades dogs became a part of the family both at home and at the table. In the past, dogs were given cooked food, leftovers from lunch, but today dogs are given dry, dehydrated food in most cases. The food that humans eat, even if it is meat-based, does not always suit dogs because it may contain spices, oils or spices that are not good for dogs and may cause indigestion and other serious medical conditions. Every dog owner should keep in mind that poor quality food can lead to weight gain of the dog. Also, obesity can cause poor liver function, kidney failure, and other illnesses, and even premature death.
There is a large selection of dog dry food on the market that is adapted to the dog’s age, breed, physical activity and health. Typically, premium food is the highest quality as it contains the best balance and ratio of protein, carbohydrates and fats, as well as all the necessary essential vitamins and minerals. This kind of diet is also the simplest one as no additional supplements are needed. Also, dry dog food does not spoil easily and can easily be stored in a bag or in an adequate package. In addition to dry foods, you can feed your dog with canned food, but you should know that this food contains a large percentage of water, so it should be combined with dry food or other food. Canned food gets spoiled easily, especially at high temperatures. Therefore, it is best to keep it in the refrigerator and not to leave it in the bowl for more than half an hour. Of course, you can always feed your pet with home-cooked food that includes ingredients such as meat, rice or pasta, but with these foods it is difficult to achieve the optimum ratio of all the ingredients your dog might need. Premium dry dog food contains all the vitamins and minerals needed for a particular age and activity level of the dog. If a dog is fed with low-quality dehydrated foods or only canned foods or home-cooked foods, it is recommended that additional vitamins and minerals in the form of supplements are provided.
Dogs are generally less moving today than ever before, so it is important not to feed the dog excessively. Spayed or neutered pets are particularly prone to gaining extra pounds. Also, older dogs who have movement problems get overweight as a result of inactivity. Of course, excess weight can be of a hormonal nature, that is, metabolically caused, so it is necessary to consult the veterinarian to carry out additional analyzes and consistently apply a diet and therapy plan when needed. If you notice your pet chewing grass in the park from time to time, you shouldn’t be worried in most cases. By eating grass dogs absorb voluminous substances. Sometimes they will throw up the same grass, it is quite natural because this is how dogs clean their stomachs. Dogs sometimes eat human, feline or even their own feces, because they contain some digestive enzymes as well as vitamin B1. Don’t get angry at your pet if he eats feces, but still teach him or her not to do it for hygienic reasons. If so often, add in Vitamin B foods and consult your veterinarian.
There are numerous recipes how to prepare dog food at home, and we have many tips and experiences on the Internet. However, the best advice is to follow your own choices. Each dog is an individual creature and we must treat them as such. What may fit one dog, it may not be the best option for another. So, there is no exact pattern for all dogs. In no case should industrial food be rejected. There are plenty of good companies whose research has contributed to improving dog nutrition and whose food is truly quality. In the end, the choice is yours!
