There’s no denying the importance of nutrition to family wellness, but what about the wellbeing of your furry little friend? It’s just as vital for your dog to eat well if he’s going to live long and avoid wellness problems, and so you need to ensure you’re making the right food buying decisions. The next time you’re in the pet food aisle, ask yourself the following questions:
1. What does the label say? Although commercial brands of pet food are more expensive, this generally means they meet strict government ingredient standards and are more digestible for your dog. Make sure the label states that it meets these standards, and as well as a clearly listed expiration date.
2. What are the ingredients? The breed and age of your pup will affect the quantities it needs of certain ingredients, but this should include a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. When it comes to proteins, you need food that is high in meat content and low in grain content. The fats should come from chicken or beef rather than general “animal fat” as this means the meat is healthy and easily digestible. Processed grains are really harmful to man’s best friend, so instead go for whole grains, such as oatmeal, brown rice, and barley.
3. Is there enough variety? Your pet needs variety to ensure his diet is balanced and that he is happy and satisfied. This means rotating three or four foods containing different meats, and giving your dog an occasional treat of a small amount of fresh meat, vegetables, rice, plain yogurt, and plain pasta.
4. Is it going according to schedule? Dogs thrive on routine, so you need to know the proper amount of food to be given and the time and frequency of meals. Set specific feeding times and locations.
5. Is the diet age-appropriate? As puppies are still growing, they need to be fed more often. Give four meals a day to puppies aged eight to 12 weeks, three meals up to the age of six months, and reduce it down to two meals for dogs aged six to 12 months. Most adult dogs can be fed once daily, but this might need to be two small meals per day if your dog is a larger sized breed.