Diet Guide For Our K9 Friends
We have defined that our mission is to help a cause that tries to ensure that no pet goes hungry due to their owner having the unnecessary resources to feed them and that got us thinking. How much food is enough to feed various types of dogs based on size, breed, age, and other variables? As a result, that has led us to come up with a guide based on previous studies to determine the needs for each type of animal, what it would take to properly feed them and what options are available when it comes to dog food.
Further research indicates, not every dog will have the same diet as there are anywhere from 150-340 dog breeds in the world (depending on what source you are looking at) and like us, humans, not all of them will eat the same type of dog food, nor the same portions. But taking into account the size of a canine and age we can get a very brief and general idea of the number of recommended portions a dog should be given daily to ensure they are adequate without going into the specifics for each type of food which we will get into later.
FACTORS AND TIPS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN FEEDING A DOG:
Do not over supplement!- This can be harmful to your dog, so unless instructed to do so by your vet, it is best to stick to one variety of good quality “complete balanced” dog food.
Beware of overfeeding - Not all dogs can tolerate the amount recommended by manufacturers. The texture and color of the stool are a good indicator if a dog has been overfed or not.
Never change your dog’s diet abruptly - do it gradually over a period of 7-10 days.
Medium to large dogs should be fed from a raised bowl to prevent them from swallowing air while they eat - this can contribute to bloating.
Leave your dog in peace while it is eating from its bowl - Messing with and taking your dog’s bowl away while it eats can cause anxiety which can lead to aggressive behavior. Instead, try adding a bit of food to its plate while it eats as this will make it comfortable and it will see you as a friend rather than a foe.
Never feed your dog from the table or your plate!- This will just encourage attention-seeking and cause repetitive behavior that it may never break out of.
Other factors to consider when feeding your pet:
Actual calorie content of the food
The activity level of your dog (low/moderate/high)
Any additional calories from treats or table food.
Climate factors (weather affects dogs moods/behaviors)
Guide to feeding your dog based on its age
Puppy (0- 18 months of age)
Puppies are growing and need all the nutrients they can get to grow healthy and strong. Because of this, it is normally recommended for them to eat twice as much as the serving size for adult dogs.
Puppies should be fed three to five times a day. This is because puppies have an abundant amount of energy—they will burn off a lot of calories throughout the day requiring them to need more fuel.
It is recommended ½-¾ cups of dog depending on the number of times you are feeding them.
First six to eight weeks the puppy should stay with the mother and be allowed to nurse ad-lib.
Adulthood (18 months - 8 years of age)
**Adult dogs should be fed depending on their weight and level of activity. Assuming your dog has a typical activity level**
Toy breeds should have about ¼ cups to 1 cup
Small breeds should have about 1 cup to 1 2/5 cup
Medium breeds should have about 2 cups to 2 2/3 cups
Large breeds should have about 2 4/5 cups to 3 cups.
Seniority (8 years - death)
Senior dogs should be fed slightly less than adult dogs. Because they have lower energy levels, lessening the amount of food should be taken seriosuly to keep your dog at a healthy weight.
Adult dogs and senior dogs should be fed two times daily.
Pregnant dogs during their first 6 weeks of pregnancy should see a minimal increase in food intake. You should start to increase the food by 20% during week 7 to 9.
Lactating dogs are a special case as well. Immediately after giving birth, you should feed your dog up to 50% more dog food than her normal amount. During the peak lactation, which is around 4 to 5 weeks, you can feed your dog up to 30% more food than her normal amount.
should be fed three equal meals a day.
In case you did not know, there are five types of dog foods that you can feed your dog which we will list below with information about each one:
Kibble/Dry - The most economical type of commercial dry food. It does not need to be dried and it can help keep your dog’s teeth healthy by helping to reduce tartar build-up.
Canned - Tends to be the most loved and preferred by dogs and is easily located at the supermarket, but it’s often not the most protein-heavy.
Semi-moist - Commercial dog foods shaped like pork chops, burgers, or other meaty foods. They can be given to your dog as a treat, but should not be considered their main diet as they do not often provide the nutritional value your dog requires.
Home-cooked - Allows the owner to have complete control over their canine’s diet and to ensure that they are meeting their nutritional value.
Raw - Consists of raw meat, often with some bones and organs mixed in as bones are a natural source of phosphorus and calcium
It’s no secret that a lot of us love to feed our furry friends scraps of our food because how can we not? When they so helplessly stare at us with their sad eyes, we’d feel like the worst human being at the very thought that our canines are going to go hungry because we did not give them some of our food. After all, sharing is caring, right? Well, as true as that sentiment is, we often don’t pay attention to what we are feeding our dogs and this can come to their detriment as we end up feeding them foods that are not healthy to them.
Below we have compiled a table graph of human food to feed and not to feed your canine.
https://www.medicanimal.com/10-FAQs-about-dog-feeding-guidelines/a/ART111512
https://zignature.com/dog-feeding-schedule-how-much-and-how-often/
https://www.cesarsway.com/puppy-feeding-guidelines/
https://www.nylabone.com/dog101/types-of-dog-food
Written by: Erick Morales
