The 2 Most Important Food Tips For A Healthy Dog

A balanced and nutritious diet is important for the health of your pet dog. You should know what you are feeding your dog at every stage of her/his life. Pet nutrition assumes a lot of significance, as a lot depends on what they eat on a daily basis.

When it comes to nutrition needs of your pet, you need to know that it is a lot similar to human beings. Grains, meat and vegetables can all be part of a dog’s daily diet. Just like humans, dogs need a balanced diet that can fuel their activities and keep them healthy.

The meals must be moderately sized, as an overindulgent diet can make them fat and increase the risk of diseases like diabetics. How much diet your pet needs depends on many factors. These include:

• Age
• Breed and Weight
• Activity level

A German Shepherd, for example, requires a lot of exercise and this means a lot of food to keep them active. However, a Chihuahua may not have a big appetite due to its reduced activity level.

“However, a Chihuahua may not have a big appetite due to its reduced activity level.”

Pet Portion Size. Pet food labels usually provide guidance on the portion size. If you have any doubts, it is best to consult the local veterinarian as they know how much food each dog may require and may be able to guide you correctly.

The vet can also specify the calories the pet needs each day. The food labels may not contain information pertaining to calories and you can contact the food maker for such nutritional information. The diet of a dog must be based on its condition and needs to be tailored to its specific requirements.

Pet Food Labels. The pet foods are often labelled as “gourmet”, “natural”, “premium” and “super or ultra-premium”. Most pet owners are not aware of what they mean and this can be confusing when making a choice. The fact is this kind of labelling is just hype and they do not contain anything different in the ingredients. Any food labelled as “balanced and complete” may be able to meet the nutritional needs of your pet.

When choosing food for your pet, avoid items that have used artificial flavors to enhance taste. Artificial colors used to entice the purchase also need to be avoided. These ingredients have no nutritional value and may cause allergic reactions or other illness in your pets.

Manufacturers need to list all the ingredients they have used in the preparation of food. If you find any ingredient that has not been approved, it is best to avoid the food item. Be careful and read the food label carefully before making a choice.

Although there a lot of choices when it comes to pet nutrition, you may not be able to know that you have made the right choice until after feeding time. Pets tend to show if they are thriving on their food. If they are doing great, you are doing fine but if they exhibit any kind of illness or discomfort after consuming the food, you need to change it immediately.

 

If you enjoyed this post, you should read “Why Dogs Make Great Companions” here.

Do you read your pup’s nutrition labels? What have you learned? Share below!