Dog Dietary Needs
Each dog dietary needs are individual which will change at the various stages of its life. All dogs, however require minimum quantities of a wide range of nutrients if they are to remain healthy. Dogs are not true carnivores and cannot exist on meat alone. Therefore, met, which provides protein, should never form more than half your dog's diet.
Meat also provide fat for your dog dietary needs, which contains essential fatty acids necessary for a variety of body functions, including good skin and coat condition. The remainder of a dog's daily calories should come from carbohydrates such as dog meal. A balanced diet has all the necessary vitamins. With a well balanced diet a puppy will grow to have a shiny coat on a well-muscled, straight-boned body.
Correct Feeding:
In the wild, dogs gorge themselves when any kind of food is available and then live off that nourishment for several days. This food sits in the stomach, where not much digestion takes place, and is passed into the intestines a little at time. In domestic dogs, this behavior can lead to obesity. some pet dogs, especially small breeds, are very fussy about what they eat.
They turn up their noses at certain foods and blackmail their owners into offering them full menus from which they choose a daily selection.
Your dog should only eat what you want to feed it. The frequency of meals does not really matter, although once or twice a day is the norm. If your dog is overweight, reduce its calorie intake, or increase its consumption of calories through extra activity.
If your dog refuses to eat seek veterinary advice about its healthy, then offer it food twice daily, and remove any uneaten remnants after a short period. The war of will between you and your do can lat up to a week, but the do will eventually eat whatever you decide to feed it. Eating bones: Gnawing on bones massages the gum and exercises jwa muscles, but it can also damage the teeth and mouth.
GUIDELINES FOR FEEDING
- Provide prepared foods from a reputable manufacturer.
- Never offer spoiled or stale food to your dog.
- A blow of fresh water should always be available.
- Never feed a dog cat food. it's too high in protein.
- Always server your dog's food at room temperature.
- Dispose of any canned or moist food left uneaten.
- Discard leftover dry food at the end of each day.
- Watch you dog's weight. Do no let it get fat.
- Never feed your dog brittle bones, such as cooked chicken bones.
- Consult a vet for advice if your dog refuses to eat for 24 hours, since this may indicate an illness.
DAILY WATER REQUIREMENTS
A dog loses water daily in urine and feces, through panting, and to a limited extent through sweating from the pads. Dogs dietary needs are as dependent upon water as humans are, and can suffer irreversible body dehydration and damage if it is unavailable for over 48 hours.
Although canned dog food is usually three-quarters liquid, this in not enough to satisfy a dog's needs, as it is for cats.
You should fill your dog's bowl with fresh water to the same level each day. If you notice that it is drinking more than usual, contact a vet, since this may indicate an internal disorder.