Feeding Your Dog

Keeping your puppy or adult dog healthy is an important yet complex task. There are many aspects to consider when caring for your dog. Feeding and nutrition is just one of these areas. Puppies and adult dogs both need to have a proper balance of vitamins and nutrients to keep their immune system functioning properly and help fight off sickness.

Making sure your dog gets the proper amount of food with the right nutrients for their size and age is very important. There are 3 basic types of dog food that have been around for years and one relatively new type of food that has just become popular in the last few years. Dry, semi-moist and canned dog food has been around for ages, while the new type of food referred to as BARF (Biologically Approved Raw Food) is a relatively new to hit the market. This type of was developed by Dr. Ian Billinghurst. It contains a mixture of raw meaty bones, raw vegetables, raw offal (entrails & internal organs) along with other supplements. This food usually comes in the shape of patties much like our frozen hamburgers come today. It can either be served whole or broken up into smaller bite-size pieces, depending on your dog's needs. This is a growing diet alternative that is supported by the fact that its ingredients more closely resemble the natural food that dogs have historically eaten throughout the years. In some cases dogs are actually allergic to the grain and preservatives that are present in today’s commercial dog foods. This new type of food presents a great alternative for these dogs.

However, there are some downsides to this type of food. For one, it has a very short shelf life when compared to the other types of dog food. Freezing the food may extend the shelf life a little but it is still considerably shorter that the dry, semi-moist or canned food options. This type of food also posses some risk of bacterial diseases like are found in human foods like Salmonella and E-coli.

The average dog does not have food allergies and will do just fine when fed one of the three more common types of dog food. When choosing a brand of food for your dog it is important to read the packaging carefully to see what ingredients are in the food. A good brand of dog food will have whole meat as one of the first two ingredients followed by meat by-products or meal and preferably whole grains and/or vegetables.

Reading the label on dog food packaging is just like reading labels on human food. The ingredients are listed in order of the percentage contained in the food. This means that the first ingredient listed will be the most prevalent in the food and the last ingredient listed will be the least prevalent. So, it is extremely important to find high-quality ingredients like whole meats, grains and vegetables high in the list. Foods that have ingredients like ground millet, ground brown rice, soybean meal, chicken by-product meal, cornmeal, canola oil or animal fat in the top ingredients should be avoided.

If possible feeding your dog a high-quality dry dog food is the best option. Dry food has a proven record of keeping the dog's teeth cleaner and healthier than the other types of foods. Semi-moist and canned foods tend to allow tarter to build up on the dog's teeth causing dental problems later in life. Dry food is also easier to feed your dog and is less messy both in terms of your dogs face and dishes.

Just like people, dogs go through different stages of their life that require different nutrients to keep them healthy. The length and timing of these stages depends on the size and breed of your dog. On average dogs are considered puppies until around 1 year of age. It is important to read the manufacturers label to determine the proper feeding requirements and amounts for your dog. Feeding frequency is another thing you need to consider. This refers to the amount of times per day you feed your dog. It is recommended that puppies have 2-3 meals per day because of their high level of activity and growing bodies. The frequent feeding will ensure they have adequate nutrients all day long. As your dog gets older you can limit them to 1 or 2 meals per day. Typically smaller dogs, like puppies, are able to eat less at one time and need 2 meals per day to get an adequate amount of food. If you need further assistance in determining the correct feeding instructions for your exact dog, consult your dog's veterinarian.