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.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog Bones
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Food
• Dog Treats
• Reduced-calorie Dog Food

1. Be sure to choose a reputable brand of dog food. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. 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.

6. Feed your dog a measured amount twice daily, but keep in mind that some dogs prefer to eat one meal a day.

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.

[Remykins]

on 1/3/2009 Dont consult your vet about food.
Vets learn nutrition for 2 days, and it is sponsored by Science diet, purina or pedigree which are TERRIBLE brands of food.

Consult an animal nutritionist

[Micky81]

on 12/23/2008 DO NOT FEED UR DOG DOG FOOD ITS MADE OF CATS AND DOGS AND ROADKILL. READ THIS TWO ARTICLES AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE IF U JUST RESEARCH IT.
http://www.pcoc.net/dog-food.htm#Food%20Pets%20Die%20For
http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/mad6301.cfm

[Micky81]

on 12/23/2008 DO NOT FEED UR DOG DOG FOOD ITS MADE OF CATS AND DOGS AND ROADKILL. READ THIS TWO ARTICLES AND THERE IS SO MUCH MORE IF U JUST RESEARCH IT.
http://www.pcoc.net/dog-food.htm#Food%20Pets%20Die%20For
http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/mad6301.cfm

[mfahrney]

on 9/30/2008 Vets really don't have a clue on what your dog should eat. They only receive a few hours on nutrition while in school. They recommend what the "salesmen" tell them to recommend. Moist food is a NO-NO it sticks to the teeth and promotes tooth decay. Plus it is expensive and you are paying for water. Always check the first ingredient on the bag, make sure it starts with chicken meal, this is dried chicken. If it starts with chicken or chicken by products you are paying for the water that is naturally held in the meat. Dont feed bone meal as a first ingredient. Ground up bone is not a good meat product. And please do NOT buy anything that starts with ground corn.

[flintlock6]

on 6/18/2008 What would i feed my dog if i gave him homemade food?