* Change brands or flavours of
dry dog food every three to four months to avoid deficiencies or excesses of ingredients which may be problematic for your
dog's health. * When changing
dry dog foods, mix 1/4 of the new dog food with 3/4 of the old dog food, and increase the new dog food a little each day. Some finicky dogs may need a more gradual change over two or more weeks. Never let a dog skip more than one or two meals; return to the old dog food if necessary.
* With any new dog food or supplement, watch for subtle changes in your dog's skin and coat, appetite, energy level, mood, itchiness, discharges or odors, body weight, and the size and consistency of stool. If negative changes occur, try a different dog food. If the change persists, consult your veterinarian.
* If your dog companion is on a prescription diet, check with your veterinarian periodically (at least every 6 months) to make sure the diet is still correct. Many conditions resolve over time, and a diet that was needed for a younger dog may be inappropriate when she is older.
* It is usually preferable to feed one or two meals per day rather than leaving dog food out all the time. However, some medical conditions require more frequent feeding. Check with your veterinarian about recommendations for your dogs.
* Feed some
canned dog food, which generally contains more dog protein and less grain than dry foods. Plain dry dog food does not clean the teeth and is not an essential for dogs.
* Supplement all commercial
dog foods with other foods, such as organic meats and steamed, pureed or finely grated vegetables (most cannot be very well digested by carnivores raw). Dogs may be supplemented with tofu and cooked grains. If you are supplementing more than 15-20% of the diet, however, you will need to consult one of the many available books or websites for information on balancing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
* Other helpful supplements that are especially important when feeding commercial food include probiotics such as acidophilus, digestive enzymes, and the antioxidant vitamins E (alpha tocopherol) and C (either Ester C, calcium ascorbate, or sodium ascorbate).
Your veterinarian only sees your dog once a year. Since you are with her every day, it is essential that you monitor her general health and how she is responding to the dog food she's eating. Changes in appetite, coat quality, weight, stool, urine, or water consumption may signal a problem with the dog's food, or a more serious medical problem. Report these or any other unusual changes or behaviors to your veterinarian. Source: Animal Protection Institute
Dog Feeding Guidelines courtesy of
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