Dog Food Habits – Tips & Concerns
Feeding your pet the right amount and quality of food is extremely important. It is significant for his health, as food and life style are directly proportional to weight and health of the pet. Too much food may result in obesity, which is the main cause of many health problems in dogs and cats. Too little food will make your pet weak and he may suffer from malnutrition and get frequent hunger pangs. Thus, pet parents must form good food habits for their pet.
Apart from the type and quantity, the time of giving food also holds great value. Giving meals to the pet at awkward time may disturb his biological clock. Ideally give four meals a day but stick to the rules of quantity and quality. To develop proper food habits, you should focus on three factors – dog’s breed, age, activity level and sensitivity towards allergens. Keeping all these facets in mind you should design adequate food portions such that your pets get maximum benefit out of the food they intake.
Factors affecting dog food habits:
Age: This is the first thing to consider while giving food to a pet. As we know, a puppy cannot have lager meals while a fully-grown up dog will need extra food as per his size and activity level. Younger pups keep sleeping for hours and thus need no extra energy or calories and so, giving them little quantity of food is fine. While grown up pets would definitely need more quantity of food. Aging pets may not intake more food as per their size, health condition and activity.
Breed: This may sound ambiguous but it is easy to relate when discussed with an example. For example, a Chihuahua will not be able to eat as much food as a Great Dane. Smaller breeds of dogs need smaller quantities of food while larger breeds will require oodles of food as their basic need. So, keep the breed in mind while you want to prepare food for the pet.
Activity level: Your pet’s activity level is directly proportional to his food requirements. An active pup or dog burns calories quite easily and so needs to substitute it. Instead, a laid-back dog or an aging one will not be able to burn the excess fat and so, will require much less food. In such cases, you need to give them food that is low in calories but rich in nutrients to improve their metabolism, stamina and overall growth.
Sensitivity towards food items: Some dogs may be allergic to certain food items. They may be hypersensitive towards a particular type of food and may develop skin, intestinal, eye and ear problems. Thus, you can consult your vet and get an allergy test done for them. This will help you in finding out food items that does not suit your pet. Ensure your pet does not get these things and remains at the peak of his health.
Say no to toxic foods: Items like chocolates, grapes, dairy products etc are toxic for your pet. Make a list of these items and just keep them away from your pet. Even little quantity of these items may hamper a pet’s health and so refrain from giving all these stuff.
Once you have a fair idea about all these things, just make sure you have a good discussion with your vet about the pet’s food. Follow his guidelines while administering food and treats to your pet. This way, you can choose and give best food for your pet’s best health.