Feeding your dog with healthy dog food

is not so easy!

The needs of the dog are different depending on its size of course, but not only the size.

If you take a high-end industrial healthy dog food, recommended by your veterinarian, there is nothing to add to it because it provides your dog with everything he needs.

But if you absolutely want to cook your own food use dog food recipes and know that it will always be necessary to add a supplement of vitamins and minerals. Those specially designed for dogs fed in the traditional way under penalty of deficiencies. This has to be natural food for dogs.

Finally, whether you are a cook or not, always serve it in a clean bowl and leave fresh water at will. As well as try to make a good dog food. It doesn't matter whether it is plastic or stainless steel. Unlike the cat who attaches great importance to his small equipment, the dog is more interested in the content than in the container!

Dogs do not eat only meat. Homemade food is the best dog food for allergies. For a growing puppy, give it up to 50% of its ration, to be mixed with 25% rice, 10% vegetables and 10% of a mixture of essential nutrients

Count 4 meals a day until the age of 3 months, then 3 meals up to 6 months and 2 daily meals between 6 months and a year. After a year, a single meal may be sufficient.

In addition, in adult dogs, the proportion of meat drops to 35%, for 25% of vegetables, 30% of cereals and 10% of nutrients.

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE HOUSEHOLD RATION

The first remark to make household ration is to remember that it should under no circumstances be reduced to table waste. These are meals specifically composed and prepared for your dog.

ADVANTAGES

  • Personalization to the needs of each individual

  • The fresh dog food promoting palatability in dogs

  • A greater possibility of variations

  • No preservatives or artificial flavors

DISADVANTAGES

  • Higher consumption due to faster digestion

  • A risk of obstructions by the introduction of bones that can cause foreign bodies and injuries (to be avoided in dogs who have not been accustomed from a young age)

  • A risk of contamination (bacteria, mold, worms, etc.), less if the food is cooked because be careful of the cold chain! Improperly thawed meat can do damage

  • A risk of imbalance and obesity

  • The appetite for raw meat is not obvious to all dogs

  • A more complicated transition to industrial food if your dog has specific needs conditioned by his state of health

It is by far the most reliable solution and best wet dog food and dry dog food. Everything is there, at the right dose - and the most practical, especially if you opt for kibbles , easy to carry on the go and less expensive than pâtés.

A dog never gets tired of eating the same thing all the time. Its stock of digestive enzymes allows it to cope, which is not the case if you add new foods (you risk causing it to have diarrhea). In addition, he really does not tolerate some of them like crucifers, legumes, potatoes, bread and chocolate, downright toxic to him.

ADVANTAGES

  • More practical at the organizational level

  • Time saving

  • Promotes oral health

  • The existence of ranges specific to the different physiological stages of the animal (e.g. ages, breeds, lactating female, etc.)

  • The assurance of having a complete and balanced ration with each bite

  • No sorting phenomenon

  • Safer storage

DISADVANTAGES

  • Less animal personalization

  • Less freshness

  • Presence of preservatives and artificial flavors

  • Few possibilities for variations

  • Less occupation time

The diet of the dog may vary so that it can meet its specific needs at the time.

Yorkshire will not have the same needs as a German Shepherd. As a city dog ​​will not have the same diet as a very active rural dog who spends his life in the great outdoors.

A pregnant or lactating female will have specific dietary needs. It is important that the fetuses have everything they need in, or that newly born puppies can benefit from a quality milk favorable to their growth and their development.

Likewise, an elderly dog ​​will need a supply of vitamins, trace elements in his diet in order to protect his joints. The aging dog reduces their physical activity and therefore needs less energy.

NUTRITIONAL NEEDS

First of all, you should know that the dog is a carnivorous animal. Its natural diet is based on meat and the few fruits and vegetables contained in the stomachs of its prey. Although it has evolved slightly from its life in the wild, the dog is still not made to eat in the long term a diet where meat is not the main ingredient.

To cover the nutritional needs of the dog, it is imperative to know the protein-calorie ratio (CPR) of the kibble. The latter assesses the protein concentration of a food in relation to the calories it provides.

These reports, established for several decades by specialists in canine nutrition. Depend on the ideal weight of the animal and factors reducing energy requirements such as sedentary lifestyle, sterilization or belonging to a breed with reduced metabolism.

A RPC of 55 is commonly accepted for dogs of small breeds and an RPC greater than 65 for those of large breeds.

If the CPP is too low, there can be consequences such as weight loss or muscle wasting. Conversely, if the ratio is too high, the dog will inevitably have a weight gain. This is particularly the case for the Labrador which tends to be overweight.

Today, there is a debate on grain-free kibble versus traditional kibble. Starch is essential for the practical realization of the croquette (to give it its texture). It is therefore important to remember that there may be “grain-free” kibble on the market, but there cannot be kibble without starch.

When the latter is present in too large a quantity, the energy carbohydrate intake it generates will lead to too much digestive fatigue and an over-diet of the pancreas.

Some manufacturers have taken advantage of this craze for “grain-free”, by taking advantage of the ambiguity between the terms “grain” and “starch”. What is interesting in a kibble is not so much that it is grain-free, but that it is low in starch to respect the dog's carnivorous nature.

In summary, kibble low in starch and rich in quality animal proteins will have a positive impact on your dog's health, coat and digestion.

However, the manufacturer is not required to indicate the amount of starch on his packet of kibble ... so this is where we can fall into the trap.

In summary, the choice of the kibble requires an individual approach, on a case by case basis!

If you give your dog dry food, an indication of the daily dosage should be written on the bag. The back of the kibble packets contains tables allowing the daily dose to be adjusted according to age (growing or adult) and weight (generally the male is bigger than the female).

It is even advisable to give a little less than what the table indicates to avoid overweight. A dog that does a lot of physical activity will need more energy than a couch dog. This is also why the portion is adapted according to the age of the life and the habits of the dog.

Some owners give croquettes AND pâtés. In this case, it is necessary to adjust the respective quantities to be given… which is not always easy!

For household food, a "standard" ration will include:

  • 1/3 of meat (10 to 15g per kilo) or cooked fish

  • 1/3 of rice cooked for a very long time which provides energy. The daily amount will be adapted to the energy needs of your dog.

  • 1/3 of cooked vegetables preferably which facilitate the transit

  • 1 tablespoon of rapeseed oil for the supply of essential fatty acids

  • As well as a vitamin mineral supplement

FOCUS ON PUPPY FEEDING

HOW TO CHOOSE THE DIET OF YOUR PUPPY?

A well-balanced diet in quantity but also in quality is essential for the harmonious growth of your puppy. The proper development of the skeleton and musculature largely depends on the intake of proteins (meat), minerals (calcium and phosphorus) and vitamins.

Not all the breeds have the same growth. Small breed dogs (Yorkie, Chihuahua, etc.) have a relatively high birth weight compared to their adult weight and meeting their dietary needs rarely poses a problem. Conversely, large breed puppies (German Shepherd, Labrador, Setters…) have a very low birth weight and can be prone to undernourishment and nutritional deficiencies. Some giant breed dogs (German Mastiff…) do not finish growing until around the age of 18 months.

Many brands of Premium kibble offer puppy food adapted to the size of adult dogs: Mini, Medium, Maxi and Giant.

In addition to the size of the kibble (obviously larger for large breed puppies), the composition varies according to the specific needs of the puppy's breed.

HOW MANY MEALS A DAY SHOULD YOU GIVE YOUR PUPPY?

A dog's stomach reaches its final size and development from 7 months old. This is why the number of meals the puppy varies according to his age:

  • From 4 to 6 weeks (at the time of weaning) and up to 3 months, the daily ration is divided into 4 or 5 meals.

  • From 3 to 5 months, 3 daily meals are recommended.

  • From 6 or 7 months, 2 daily meals are recommended.

HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD A PUPPY DRINK PER DAY?

The puppy drinks more than an adult dog because it needs water to maintain its body as it is PLUS its growth. He drinks especially when he is very young, about twice as much as an adult at the age of 3 months. He will thus consume between 100 and 200 ml of water per kg of weight. From 2/3 of growth (between 5 and 8 months depending on the racial format), the puppy drinks an amount of water almost comparable to that of the adult.