Are you Feeding your Puppy the Proper Food? Head into a supermarket or pet shop and you will see rows of dog food both in cans and bags. You would think it would be easy to choose which food to feed your dog and for adult dogs there are many choices, but puppies require different nutrients than adult dogs and, therefore, should be fed a different diet and food. You should not feed your new puppy an adult food, so you must choose a food specially formulated for puppies and you dogs specific needs. At first try to use the food that he was being fed before you brought him home. The reason being puppies digestive systems are very sensitive and changing the food abruptly can cause digestive problems and stress. If you are not happy with the brand of dog food your puppy was being fed, you can gradually change to the brand of you choice. Remember your dog is a part of your family and you get what you pay for so don’t go with the most inexpensive brand. To be healthy growing puppy needs lots of important nutrients and good proteinsaE” feeding a puppy poor quality food can result sickness later in life. Also, good quality food is more nutritious so your dog will actually eat less and he will have fewer stools and they will be less smelly so even though you are paying more for the food to begin with, you will have to buy less of it.

When feeding your dog the proper nutrients, there are 6 components to keep in mind. These are proteins, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and of course, water. If you provide your pet with these in the appropriate amounts, then your dog will have the best chance of living a long and healthy life. When changing your puppy to a new food do it slowly. Replace only about 15% of his old food with new for the first couple of days. Then move to 25% for the next few days, then 35% and so on. If your dog get ill or has loose stools, then back down on the percentage of new food until his stomach adjusts. Having a feeding schedule is important. Younger dogs will need to eat more often, but probably by the time your pup is old enough for you to take him home, you should be able to feed 3 times a day. After your puppy reaches 6 months, you can taper off to twice a day. Your puppy can switch to eating adult food when he reaches his full growth which is about one year. Again, you want to gradually switch the foods so that there are no digestive or bowel problems. Feeding your puppy good nutrition will help him grow properly and help him look healthy and feel great. Proper nutrition in the beginning of his life will help live a happy and healthy life.

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“Food supplement also known as dietary supplement is an endeavor to supplement the numerous nutrients that are missing in our daily diet. Some countries define them as foods while in more liberal ones they are defined as drugs aimed at providing such missing food values.

Now that our world has “gone to dogs” the dog food supplement industry is growing by leaps and bounds. What is dog food supplement: it is simply some additional edible stuff given in addition to the regular diet to the canine member of the family. This ensures good pet health.

Proper research needs to be done before buying dog food supplement. Factors such as dog’s age, breed, weight and lot of other things determine what types of dog health food supplements can be used and how frequently they need to be given. Professional consultation is always recommended. Additional amount of dog food supplement like glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin sulphate benefits the canine by strengthening joints and so on. Additionally, dog food supplements such as L-carnitine may help a dog stay lean which will in turn generate less stress on the bones and joints and helps it stay active.

It might sound bewildering but medical surveys have proven that as dogs grow old, they suffer from chronic diseases like allergies arthritis, digestive problems, skin or coat ailments, weight concerns, calcium deficiencies, periodontal care and so on. Dog food supplements might be an answer to all these. For example, dogs suffering from arthritis benefit from additional amounts of glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin sulphate provided along with normal diet.

Dog food supplements come in various forms- tasteless powders, pills with a sweet coating or syrups. All dog food supplements are invariably sweet; otherwise it would be utterly impossible to administer the unpleasant tasting nutrients. They also come in chicken and liver flavors. With recent concerns about the safety of canned and pouch dog foods, people are turning to homemade foods. Innovations about homemade dog food supplement recipes keep coming up every now and then. However it is important to check with a veterinarian before changing pet food. These recipes need to be checked; however we must remember that they may not totally replace dog foods.”

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To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.
Picking a dog food

The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.

Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.

Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.

Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.

Types of dog food

There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you’ve never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.

Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it’s worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.

If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog’s dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.

All Natural Dog Food

Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.

Dried Dog Food

A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.

Vegetarian dog foods

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.

Conclusion

Overall it’s usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we’re eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time!

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