Your dog requires a well-balanced diet and proper feeding for better health and overall well-being. As such, you have to make important decisions on when, how, and what you feed your dog. Here are five diet and feeding tips for dogs.
1. Choose dog food based on nutritional needs and age
Not all dog foods are created equal, and it is vital to settle for a feed that best suits your dog’s age and nutritional needs. For example, if you know your dog’s system is a little more delicate, you might want to look into what you should feed your dog with a sensitive stomach to make sure that you choose something suitable. Whatever it is you are looking at, always take time to evaluate the ingredients and nutritional profile of commercial meals to ensure they align with your dog’s breed demands. A good rule is to settle for natural and grain-free feeds that meet the nutritional levels set by AAFCO, such as Abound dog food. Extra care is required if your dog is overweight, has allergies, or has an underlying health condition, as they will need a special feed that strictly contains specific ingredients as recommended by a vet.
2. Have a feeding routine
It is essential to establish a feeding routine for your dog and ensure everyone adheres to these schedules. This will enable you to monitor your dog’s food consumption, making it easier to maintain a healthy pet for life. Common pet problems, including obesity, diarrhea, and vomiting, are easily managed when you know what your dog eats and how much you feed it. Typically, you should feed adult dogs twice a day, while puppies should be fed three to four times, and the amount of food for each meal should be dictated by dog breed and body condition.
3. Avoid giving your dog toxic human food and treats
You need to know the right and wrong food for your dog, especially when it comes to what we feed our pets. While some human food is safe for your dogs, such as meat, chicken, carrots, apples, peanut butter, and plain yogurt, you should avoid feeding them most of what we consume. Many human foods are toxic for dogs, including chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, macadamia nuts, grapes, onions, garlic, and fatty, sugary, or salty foods.
4. Train your dog to eat slower
Dogs tend to eat quickly, but if your pet gobbles food, this is a problem that you need to address. Training your dog to eat slower is an essential process as it will help ensure your fur child is properly chewing and digesting their food. If you have more than one dog, it is recommended that you feed them in separate rooms to encourage good eating behavior and reduce the feel of competing for food.
5. Allow your dog time to rest after eating
It is vital to exercise your dog. However, this should never be done immediately after a meal as it can lead to health problems such as bloating and vomiting. Always allow your dog time to rest and digest food for at least an hour before you can take them out for a walk or play their favorite games.
Endnote
Mastering the best ways to take care of the nutritional needs of your furry friend is the first step to becoming a good dog parent. Stick to these tips, and you will have a proper foundation for keeping your dog happy and healthy.