Dogs are relative carnivores. This means that, in the course of evolution, they have adapted eating both animal and plant-based foods. The main rule in the proper nutrition of your dog is that the food we choose for them should be complete. This means that meals should be complete and balanced – adjusted to the size, age, activity and physiological of the animal in terms of calorific value and nutrient content. Nutritionists and veterinarians therefore recommend the use of complete ready-to-eat foods that are tailored to the needs of different pets.
Feeding your dog from the very first days – how to feed your puppy?
The nutrition of puppies differs from that of adult dogs primarily because their organisms are still developing and therefore have a different nutrient requirement. In the first weeks of life, puppies feed exclusively on mother’s milk. Small amounts of solid food can be fed to them as early as around 3–4. week of life and regularly increase the portions until we are completely weaned from breast milk, which is around 6–8 weeks.
It is important that the nutrition of a young dog is adapted to its needs. A feed should be complete and balanced, as well as attractive and easy to digest. A puppy that is several weeks old does not have well-developed teeth yet, so you should start with feeding them wet food. It is also good practice to feed your dog dry granules soaked in water or milk replacer.
The puppy’s stomach capacity is small, so the portions served must be small and the meals relatively frequent. After complete weaning, it is recommended to give the young dog 4-5 small portions of food, and then 3-4 times a day. This method of feeding the dog can be used up to about 6 months of age. Later, give them 2 or 3 meals a day.
Nutrition of adult dogs – how to switch a pet to “adult” food?
It is important that the dog’s nutrition be based on complete meals, containing all the necessary nutrients. The best choice is ready-made “adult” food, selected according to the size of the animal, for small, medium or large breed dogs.
The tables on the labels of ready-made foods are a hint. They contain the most important guidelines regarding the portion size recommended for a pet with a specific body weight. When it comes to feeding your dog, it is worth consulting a veterinarian or a dietician
Senior dog diet – how to take care of the diet of an older dog?
We speak of a canine senior when they have reached the age, 75% of their life expectancy.
How to feed an old dog? In old age it is especially important to feed food of caloric value. Seniors have a slow metabolism and are usually much less mobile than when they were young. This increases the risk of being overweight and obesity. It is worth taking care determining the energy demand of the four-legged friend. Elderly dogs may also have some eating difficulties, such as a lack of appetite due to a weakened sense of smell, and dental problems. In such situations, it is necessary to ensure that the feed given to the animal has the right consistency and is tasty for him. It is often a good idea to feed your dog either wet food or water-fluffed dry food
