Feeding your dog
Dogs of every age need to be fed a nutritious diet
including lots of fresh water. But a puppy's diet is especially important
to ensure proper growth and development.
Puppies 8–12 weeks old need four meals a day. Puppies 3–6
months old need three meals a day. Puppies six months to one year need
two meals a day. Puppies should be fed a high-quality puppy food (ask
your veterinarian for a recommended brand) two to four times a day. Use
extreme caution in feeding your puppy human food because it can cause
puppies to suffer vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth problems,
and may cause very picky eating habits, as well as obesity. Have clean,
fresh water available at all times. Wash food and water dishes frequently.
Once your dog reaches one year of age, one meal a day
is usually enough. For some dogs (such as larger ones or those prone to
bloat), it's better to continue to feed two smaller meals. Premium-quality
dry food provides a well-balanced diet and may be mixed with water, broth
or some canned food.
What to Feed
There are many excellent commercial dog foods on the market today that
provide all the nutrients your dog needs. Select a good quality food that
is nutritionally complete. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations on
specific brands. Dogs under one year of age must have food designed to
meet the nutritional needs of growing animals. Dry food or kibble is the
least expensive, most convenient food to use. It's nutritionally balanced
and helps keep teeth and gums healthy. Canned foods may be added with
water to dry rations. However a premium dry kibble will usually be quite
palatable by itself. Table scraps are not recommended because they generally
don't provide balanced nutrition and can make your dog a finicky eater.
If you choose to add them, they shouldn't comprise more than 10% of the
diet. Lean meat scraps and vegetables are acceptable additions to your
pet's diet. Avoid spicy or rich foods, uncooked meat, or bones from chicken,
pork, steak, or fish which may splinter. Changes in diet should be made
gradually over several days. Abrupt changes in diet often cause diarrhea.
Once you have found a balanced food that your pet enjoys, stick with it.
When you adopt your pet, find out what he has been fed in his previous
place of care. You might find it simpler to continue with that brand of
food.
When to Feed
Puppies younger than three months of age should be fed four times a day
at regular intervals: morning, noon, evening and bedtime. At three months,
the bedtime meal can be eliminated. At six months, the noon meal can be
eliminated. After one year, you can switch to once-a-day feeding. It's
important to establish a feeding schedule that you can maintain. Irregular
feeding is confusing for the dog. Having food available at all times is
not recommended for most dogs. Always provide ample fresh water. Feed
your dog from his own clean bowl in the same place each day. Don't allow
children to disturb your dog while he's eating.
How Much to Feed
How much to feed your dog depends upon its individual requirements and
activity level. If your dog develops loose stools, you may be overfeeding
him. If you think you are feeding your dog adequate amounts of food, but
he looks thin or loses weight, have him examined by a veterinarian. Well-meaning
owners often indulge their pets into obesity. Overweight pets have shorter
lifespans and are more prone to heart and respiratory problems, arthritic
pain and diabetes. Help your dog stay healthy by keeping him at his proper
weight.
