| A dog is a man's best friend. You do everything you | | | | For Adult Dogs |
| can to maintain your optimum health. Doesn't your | | | | Your dog like you needs a combination of fats, |
| best friend deserve the same? Your dog is an active | | | | carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water |
| (rather the most active) member of your family and | | | | in a balanced diet to meet their daily needs. A lot of |
| needs the same, if not more attention to health and | | | | dog food bags claim they are in themselves complete |
| nutrition as you do, to stay healthy, and live longer. | | | | food. This ends up as null if the nutrients cannot be |
| After all it's very easy to get lost in a big pet store. | | | | absorbed by your dog's system. Major companies |
| The sea of products that we have today, aisle after | | | | take great care in this aspect by trying to provide |
| aisle is very confusing and also time consuming. | | | | the nutrients in an absorbable form. Dog foods must |
| However keeping your dog healthy need not be a | | | | also consist of mineral and vitamin supplements in a |
| career option for you. All we need to use is a little | | | | balanced form. The proportions should be accurate so |
| commonsense and good information regarding the | | | | that they do not interfere with each other in your |
| breed and age of your dog. | | | | dogs system. This would provide maximum benefit to |
| Let's divide the dogs into two categories - small & | | | | your dog. If the food consists of one ingredient in |
| adult. | | | | overdose and the other in lower doses, it could have |
| For Small Dogs & Puppies | | | | an adverse affect on your dogs health. |
| It has long been established and proven that small | | | | Given below are some feeding tips to make chow |
| dogs have a different metabolism as compared to | | | | time more pleasant: |
| large dogs, due to physiologic effect of their body | | | | Always keep the food dish clean. |
| mass. For ex., Great Dane weighing 100 pounds | | | | Feed adult dogs twice a day to prevent hogging at |
| needs to consume about 23 calories per pound of | | | | one single meal and lessens the chance of your dog |
| body weight Pomeranian weighing 6 pounds needs to | | | | developing bloat or stomach torsion. |
| consume 47 calories per pound of body weight | | | | Feeding Schedule should be relaxed so that your dog |
| every day-more than twice as much! | | | | knows the meal time but will not bother you if you |
| As owner of a small dog, you need to be certain | | | | are a little late. |
| that your dog's energy needs are being satisfied. Be | | | | Keep your siblings away from your dog while feeding, |
| sure to choose a diet that's been formulated properly | | | | so that he does not get insecure and feel a need to |
| with optimal balance of highly digestible nutrients. | | | | defend his food. |
| Digestibility determines how much your dog can | | | | Never let your dog have free access to food, lest |
| actually utilize each nutrient in a diet. Puppies require | | | | they have constant activity in their digestive |
| almost twice or thrice as much food as adult dogs | | | | systems. |
| per pound of weight. To keep up their energy levels, | | | | Never play with your dog with his dish, better to |
| they have to be fed as frequently as three to four | | | | teach him/her manners instead. |
| times till they are six months of age. | | | | Leave the dish for 15 minutes so that he licks it clean. |
| Diet is always the key to raising your children or | | | | In case of any more information and help, please visit |
| puppies. The diet should be balanced, nutrient rich, | | | | |
| should contain high levels of phosphorous and calcium | | | | NOTE: This article may be freely reprinted in your |
| and be highly digestible. It should also contain | | | | ezines, ebooks, off-line publications, or on your |
| high-quality proteins. This would ensure that the | | | | websites. |
| puppy develops strong bones, muscle and tissue. | | | | |