How to Plan a Dog's Diet
Diet is an essential part of your dog’s overall health. However, it’s difficult to plan a dog’s diet without the details of what makes good canine nutrition. Here’s how to plan a healthy diet for your canine.
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Instructions
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Pick a dog food. You may be wondering if expensive dog food is a marketing ploy or if there’s really a difference. When choosing a dog food, look for a high percentage of digestibility (82-86 percent). The challenge is this information isn’t always on the labels. When you visit a store, write down your top dog food choices. Then call the manufacturer and compare the digestibility percentages.
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Control your dog’s portions. Many dogs are overweight because they are eating large portions. To find out your dog’s portion size, review the back of the dog food bag. If you have an extremely active dog, it may be alright to increase the portion slightly for activity level.
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Check the date on the dog food. If you can’t find a date on the bag, call the manufacture and ask them to explain their codes.
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Give your dog fresh veggies Veggies aren’t just good for humans; they’re good for your canine also. To ensure a balanced canine diet, give him a little every day. However, you should avoid onions.
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Pay attention to protein. Since dogs are carnivores by nature, protein is a very important part of their diet. When purchasing a dog food, make sure animal protein is the primary source. Stay away from corn gluten or soybean meal.
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Talk with your vet about canine supplements. Many dog owners wonder if supplements are right for their dog. Don’t ever give your dog a supplement without talking to your vet first. Currently there isn’t a quality control for canine supplements.
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Tips & Warnings
Omega fatty acids are great for canines.Look for safflower oil, corn oil, fish oil and fish meal in dog food. Some manufactures will list the ingredients, but you may have to call.
Be aware of allergies. Food allergies are a very common problem with dogs. If your dog is suffering from allergies, he may begin to itch excessively. Common canine allergies are beef, wheat, artificial food additives and milk.
