Feeding A Dog - 5 Dog Feeding Tips

Feeding a dog can be an enjoyable experience for you and beneficial one for your best friend if you follow a few simple guidelines. Here are a few feeding  tips  to follow that will help you to provide a healthy and safe diet to ensure him or her a long and robust life.

* Puppies should eat small meals four times a day and adult dogs should eat twice a day. Be aware that if you feed your adult dog a large meal only once a day, from a bowl that’s down low on the floor, he or she may be at risk of developing a stomach ailment that can often be fatal. Some large dog breeds are more susceptible to this than small dogs, therefore, if you have a large breed dog it would be wise if you feed him or her smaller meals twice a day, from a bowl that’s raised up off of the floor.

* Follow the guidelines that are listed on the package…this will help you learn how much you should give to a dog that’s of a certain age, weight, etc. There are many factors that can influence the quantity of food your dog may require such as; energy level of the dog, environmental, health, etc. The guidelines listed on the package are only a broad suggestion…you should adjust the amounts based on your own knowledge and understanding of the various circumstances that relate to your dog. Keep in mind that this is more of a gut reaction than an exact science.

Whenever in doubt, it’s always better if you put less in the bowl than to give your dog too much. Overweight dogs are at risk for a multitude of ailments. However don’t let your dog ever get too thin as this can also be dangerous.

* Make sure you do not give your dog any food that’s too hot or too cold as this cause stomach and intestinal problems like vomiting or diarrhea, etc. Try to always serve the food at room temperature in order to eliminate any possible health issues caused by extreme temperatures. Also, try not to alter the ingredients in your dog’s diet too drastically, all at once, as this can upset your dog’s digestion and also cause vomiting and, or diarrhea.

It’s OK to introduce new ingredients gradually but watch how your dog reacts to the change…if any issues arise, discontinue those ingredients.

* Be very careful what you feed to your dog…some very fat and spicy foods from our table should never be fed to them as they can be harmful. Also, other foods we eat, like onions, chocolate, garlic, etc. are toxic to dogs and can make them very sick, even kill them. And, do not ever give your dog cooked bones, they can cause severe internal damage to your best friend and avoid giving treats too often as too many can also be harmful

*If feeding a dog raw meat, always take precautions when you handle it and make sure you thoroughly clean the prepping area, wash your hands and be sure to clean the feeding area; this will prevent any serious bacterial issues like salmonella, etc.

VERY IMPORTANT!!! Keep fresh water available to your dog at all times…this is especially critical in the warm months, and make sure that the bowls and location where your dog eats is always clean and sanitary.

Source by Anita Boyd

This site is using SEO Baclinks plugin created by Locco.Ro

Thank-you-for-share:

Feeding A Dog - 5 Dog Feeding Tips