Dog Feed | Essential Elements of Dog Feeding

Although dogs are carnivores and enjoy meat, they are actually omnivorous and usually both willing and able to eat and digest various types of food. They do not require such high protein content in their diet as cats do. However, although a dog can live perfectly well on a completely balanced but unvaried diet there is evidence that dogs enjoy some variety in their food.

Whether choosing to feed one of the many complete diets or create one's own food combinations, the diet must be well-balanced, containing both protein and carbohydrates. A certain amount of fatty acids, vitamins and minerals are also needed for healthy skin and coat and a variety of body functions. Fruit and vegetables are beneficial to a dog's diet, and for the convalescent dog boneless chicken or fish with boiled brown rice are highly digestible.

An active dog obviously needs a higher protein content in his diet than the dog which lazes around all day, and likewise overweight dogs should have fewer calories. All packeted, ready-prepared foods contain comprehensive lists of ingredients and these should be studied carefully before you make your selection.

When and what to dog feed
Never change suddenly from one type of diet to another for this can give a dog loose motions. Instead, introduce the change gradually, mixing the new one with the other in increasing quantity over a few days. Fresh and tinned foods should be removed and disposed of if left uneaten, but dried foods can remain available all day. Adult dogs will usually require one main meal daily, with a light snack given at the other end of the day. On the other hand, this may be divided into two smaller meals if preferred.

Under no circumstances should a dog be allowed to exercise energetically within half an hour following a heavy meal. Also, as an aid to digestion, large or tall dogs should ideally have their food dish raised off the ground so that they do not have to bend down so far to the bowl. Bones can be dangerous for dogs as they are liable to splinter and cause them internal damage. However, marrow bones are usually considered safe, but even these must be discarded if they begin to break up in the packet. Fresh water must be made available at all times. Non-spill bowls are available and can prevent spillage, and stainless steel dishes are the most hygienic both for food and drink.

Dog obesity and overfeeding
A high proportion of dogs suffer from obesity and this is primarily due to the most common dietary problem -overeating. Some breeds are more prone to problems of obesity than others – the Cocker Spaniel and Labrador are two prime examples of breeds affected, whereas most of the terrier reeds are less susceptible than others.

If a dog has a weight problem, ensure that he only eats what you give him. Stop other people feeding tit-bits between meals. Sometimes there is a medical reason for the dog carrying too much weight, so speak to your local vet before putting a dog on a diet.

If a dog is given an especially enjoyable meal it may eat more than it might otherwise have done, but with regular appetizing meals, it reduces its intake accordingly so there is no harm in feeding tasty but sensible food all the while. There is a social factor related to a dog's appetite. If puppies are fed in a group, on average they eat more than if they are fed alone. This rule applies in adulthood also because of the competitive element involved.

In general, dogs that are particular about their food have fewer problems of obesity, it is the breeds which are habitually less choosy in their feeding habits that suffer most. Other factors which can cause dogs to put on excess weight are hormonal. A bitch that has been spayed, or a castrated dog, undergoes hormonal changes which alter the weight-regulating mechanism.

A dog's appetite increases during cold weather so in winter is often prudent to increase the overall bulk of the diet while reducing the calories if one's dog has a tendency to become overweight. Uncooked carrots are a good stand-by as a dog usually seems happy to crunch on these instead of biscuits, and apart from limiting the calorie intake, they are a good aid to the teeth cleaning process. They can be given in lieu of snacks, and can be then chopped up and mixed in with a meal to make it last that little bit longer and appear to be more substantial.