Did you know a dog’s dietary needs change during the different stages of their lives? Unless your dog has specific pet health needs, what you feed him usually comes down to personal preference. This could mean your new puppy or senior dog is inadvertently missing out on much needed nutrients. In this article we will provide the information you need to keep your dog on a healthy diet.
Dog Food Ingredients
Most dog food brands you find on store shelves include the minimum daily requirements needed for a canine’s diet and must meet standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This includes protein (amino acids), fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Even so, it’s important to read dog food labels. The top ingredients of the food you choose should have high-quality protein sources such as chicken, lamb, or turkey.
Beware of foods that list by-products or other meat substitutes first or as one of the top three ingredients. Also, avoid foods containing corn, corn gluten, corn gluten meal, and soybean products, which are often substituted for animal protein. Corn and rice also have a very high glycemic index—a measure of the body’s insulin response. This can be almost as much as a chocolate bar. Starchy grain carbs are a big contributor to obesity and diabetes. Corn and soy are also common allergens in pets.
Daily Feeding Guidelines
A common question asked by dog owners is how often and how much they should feed their dog? A good starting point is to follow the recommendations made on the food’s label, but adjust the amount according to your dog’s weight, age, and activity level.
Puppies, whether they’re newborn puppies or a bit older, will have different needs, but it is best to feed adult dogs twice a day. Below are common dog daily feeding guidelines:
- Toy dogs (3-12 lbs): 1/2 – 1 1/4 cups
- Small dogs (13-25 lbs): 1 1/4 – 2 cups
- Medium dogs (26-50 lbs): 2 – 3 3/4 cups
- Large dogs (51-100 lbs): 3 3/4 – 6 3/4 cups
- Extra Large dogs (over 100 lbs): 6 3/4 plus 1/2 cup for every 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs
Switching Dog Food
Sometimes your dog will stop eating food that he previously liked. It could be that he’s become bored with it, but it can also be a sign of illness. If you offer him something else and he shows interest, it might be time to switch his food.
It’s important to gradually transition your pup from his old food to the new brand. Switching a dog’s food too quickly can create gastrointestinal problems, which include diarrhea and vomiting. The safest way to change your dog’s food is to mix one-quarter of the new food in with three-quarters of the old food for the first two days. Over the next five to eight days, continue to gradually increase the new food while decreasing the old food.
Home-Cooked Meals and Raw Diets for Dogs
With dog food recalls occurring year after year, some pet owners have become concerned about the safety of their dog’s food. As a result, homemade diets are on the rise, as are raw diets.
The advantages of homemade diets include:
- Knowledge of a food’s ingredient quality
- Fresh, whole ingredients
- The ability to fine-tune the diet to your animal’s particular needs and tastes
- The presence of natural enzymes
However, the potential downside to home-cooked meals for your dog is severe dietary imbalances due to poorly conceived recipes or failing to include all needed supplements. In a study conducted by the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, researchers found that 95% of the 200 home-cooked recipes they analyzed were missing needed levels of at least one essential nutrient, while a whopping 83% of the recipes had multiple nutrient deficits.1 Dog owners need to realize that a bad homemade diet is more dangerous than feeding your dog poor quality commercial food.
When it comes to raw canine diets, there are complete frozen diets on the market that make feeding a raw diet very easy. Contamination, however, is a common argument against raw diets. Healthy dogs are relatively resistant to most food-borne bacteria and rarely become ill from them, but when switching a sick animal to a homemade or raw diet, caution is warranted. Raw meat can contain parasites. When feeding raw, it’s a good idea to have your pet’s stool checked periodically and treat for parasites if necessary. Feeding organic meat may help minimize contamination, and freezing can eliminate some parasites. It’s crucial to do enough research so you understand how and what to feed and why. Work with your veterinarian or find a holistic vet who can guide you.
Dog Food Myths
Can Dry Food Really Clean Your Dog’s Teeth?
There is a lot of misinformation floating around regarding dog food. For example, some dog owners believe that dry food cleans their dog’s teeth. If it did, you and I could floss with toast. At best, dry food reduces tartar marginally better than canned food. Regular vet checkups and proper dental care are essential, no matter what your pet eats.
Dangers of High-Protein Diets for Dogs
Another common dog diet myth is that high-protein diets cause kidney disease. This notion stems from the fact that food with high protein levels is not good for dogs that already have kidney disease. The theory of a high-protein diet having an adverse effect on a dog with normal kidney function is unfounded.
The Myth of Hypoallergenic Dog Food
Lastly, lamb and rice foods do not prevent allergies. Lamb and rice foods were initially created to address common food allergies to proteins like chicken and beef. The reason such diets worked was not due to any particular properties of lamb or rice, but simply because most animals had never been exposed to them; they were “novel” ingredients. It takes exposure over time to develop a food allergy. A dog that develops a food allergy in the first place is apt to become allergic to any food if they eat it over a long period of time.
Overfeeding Your Dog
An overweight dog can cause harm to his joints, bones, and ligaments and create increased risks for preventable health problems like:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
Here are 3 ways to control your dog's weight:
- Limit the amount of treats given out
- Implement more fruits and vegetables such as:
- Apples
- Berries
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Green beans
- Make exercise a daily habit
No matter how diligent you are, accidents and health issues arise throughout a dog’s life. Having pet insurance for your pet is a great way to ensure that they are well-cared for in the long term. At Pets Best, every policy includes access to a 24/7 Pet Helpline to answer your pet health questions, including support for improving your pet’s diet and quality of life.
References
1 University of California, D. S. (2013, July 15). Homemade dog food recipes can be risky business, study finds . Retrieved from University of California, Davis: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/homemade-dog-food-recipes-can-be-risky-business-study-finds