How to Feed Your Dog a Balanced Diet
No single dietary plan can be considered ideal for every dog. Here are some general guidelines to follow that can keep your dog healthy and her appetite satisfied.
Instructions
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Be sure to choose a reputable brand of dog food. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations.
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Select a high-quality dog food that's appropriate for your dog's age, weight, activity level or size. Make sure to feed your dog dry food as well as moist canned food to help keep his teeth clean.
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Be sure that protein ratios are appropriate for your dog's breed and age. Typically, dog food with 20 to 30 percent protein content provides a healthy balance.
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Avoid overfeeding, since obesity can lead to a variety of medical problems, including musculoskeletal problems, and can aggravate hip dysplasia (abnormal growth or development of the hip joint).
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Avoid feeding your dog table scraps'it encourages begging and may not be good for her digestive system. If you must give her 'people food,' put the scraps in her dog bowl after the family has finished the meal. Be careful to avoid giving her onions or chocolate.
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Feed your dog a measured amount twice daily, but keep in mind that some dogs prefer to eat one meal a day.
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Tips & Warnings
When switching dog foods, do it gradually over a week by increasing the ratio of new food to old food. This will help avoid digestive upsets.
Avoid oversupplementing your dog's diet with vitamins and minerals. Excess dietary supplements cause nutritional imbalance and medical disorders. Some vitamins and minerals are toxic in high dosages.
Never feed your dog chocolate. Chocolate is toxic for dogs.
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Comments
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I have found that a lot of the problem with My lab is from gulping her food. She now eats from a slow feeder bowl that keeps her from eating fast and swallowing air. My Lab eats an all natural dog food that contains no corn or wheat and the first ingredients are actual meat not by-products.
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Anonymous
Jun 20, 2011
This is all wrong. Get meat that hasn't been sold by close of business from your butcher. Feed meat. Avoid carbs - dogs wouldn't naturally touch cereal, and that's what makes up half of dried dog food (together with the worst animal scraps like chicken feathers and nails). -
That doesn't sound cute Jeri!
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Discovered that "doggie bag" liver (from leftover dinner at restauran) not good. 2 dogs experienced tummy aches and when walked, ugly greenish stools. Won't do that again.
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y2k8
Sep 28, 2009
Not only bad dog food advice, but also poor diagnoses of swapping bacteria from owner to pet back and forth. The truth is that most pet owners stop the antibiotics before ALL of the "germs" have been destroyed. The weaker ones die quickly,the stronger take longer. And if the meds are not administered for the full course, the bacteria that are left grow stronger and another infection occurs once the numbers increase to that original level. This is basic, common knowledge to any med student, or vet.
