| ==========The Scoop on Premium Dog | | | | vet.===========Life |
| Food========If you're interested in premium | | | | Stages============Puppies need more |
| dog food, then I probably don't have to tell you | | | | calories and essential nutrients than adult dogs. |
| about the importance of diet in keeping your dog | | | | They need up to twice as many calories per |
| active and healthy. You already know you want | | | | ounce of body weight and should get 25% to |
| something better than "average" for your furry | | | | 30% of their energy from protein depending on |
| friend.But how much do you really know about | | | | the breed.Most premium dog food brands take |
| what's in a premium food and what your | | | | this into account in their puppy formulas, but it |
| particular pet's needs are? I'm no veterinarian but | | | | doesn't hurt to check the label. By six to eight |
| I do know a thing or two about health and | | | | weeks of age a puppy should be fully weaned |
| nutrition. (As a family dentist who practiced for | | | | and eating his dry food consistently. After that, |
| twenty years, I saw first hand the effects of | | | | different breeds reach their mature weight at |
| poor dietary habits on human health -- and | | | | different rates, by anywhere from 9 months to |
| particularly on human teeth!!).Like you, your dog | | | | 24 months old. So it's hard to give an age or |
| has to deal with the effects of stress, age, | | | | weight by which you should take your pet off |
| exertion, a polluted environment, and foods grown | | | | puppy food. Again, your vet can help out |
| in nutrient-depleted soils. Unlike you, he has to get | | | | here.Also, remember not to try to "rush" the |
| practically all of his nutrition from a single food. | | | | growing process by overfeeding. If she grows too |
| Sure , you may give him a few treats or the | | | | fast, a dog can develop bone growth diseases. A |
| occasional table scrap (not too many I hope!), but | | | | puppy should get three to four meals a day |
| otherwise he's eating out of the same bag or can | | | | because he's growing fast but still has a small |
| day in and day out. You want him to get | | | | tummy, but don't overdo it with portions |
| complete nutrition out of that one | | | | size.Adult dogs need to eat according to their size |
| food.===========Complete | | | | and energy requirements and should be fed two |
| Nutrition?===============Even the experts | | | | meals a day. This is frequently referred to by the |
| seem to disagree on exactly what complete | | | | premium dog food companies as a "maintenance |
| nutrition is. Maybe this explains why there are so | | | | diet".Unlike cats, dogs are not strictly meat eaters. |
| many formulas for premium dog food out there. | | | | In fact, a dog is more like an omnivore and will |
| There's one thing they do agree on, though: | | | | eat just about anything, whether it's good for him |
| premium dog food is better for your pet than | | | | or not! A certain amount of vegetable matter is |
| economy and grocery store brands. Although | | | | part of a dog's natural diet. Dogs love vegetables |
| you'll pay more, it usually holds true that you get | | | | such as broccoli, carrots, zucchini, peas, and |
| what you pay for.Experts also agree that, | | | | beans, and fruits such as bananas, apples, and |
| because premium foods are more nutritionally | | | | melon. These make great low-calorie treats, |
| dense and easier to digest, your dog won't need | | | | too!One thing you should never feed your dog is |
| to eat as much. One study even concluded that if | | | | chocolate--it contains a chemical called |
| you fed your dog the recommended amounts on | | | | theobromine which is toxic to dogs.Senior dogs |
| each package, you'd end up saving money on the | | | | need a premium dog food that will help head off |
| premium formulas. That's because your dog | | | | and manage the effects of aging. Since different |
| needs to eat a lot less of it. (You'll save on | | | | breeds vary so much, it's hard to give an age by |
| pooper scoopers too!)Another way to know if | | | | which you should switch to a senior diet. The |
| your dog is getting a proper diet is simply to | | | | ASPCA recommends using weight as a guideline, |
| observe him. Are his eyes bright, his coat silky | | | | and offers the following:Small breeds or dogs |
| and shiny, and his skin free from dryness and | | | | weighing less than 20 pounds:7 years of |
| itching? Is he at a healthy weight? How about his | | | | ageMedium breeds or dogs weighing 21 to 50 |
| energy level? This may vary from one animal to | | | | pounds:7 years of ageLarge breeds or dogs |
| another, but as you get to know yours, you'll | | | | weighing 51 to 90 pounds:6 years of ageGiant |
| know when your dog isn't feeling up to par.Of | | | | breeds or dogs weighing 91 pounds or more:5 |
| course, any persistent health problems should be | | | | years of ageThe ASPCA recommends that you |
| looked into by your vet, and the same goes for | | | | begin dealing with the symptoms of old age |
| any special dietary needs. But in general you'll | | | | before they're obvious. Just like us, dogs will begin |
| know if your friend is doing well on the diet you're | | | | to accumulate more body fat as they age even |
| feeding him. If you see signs that he isn't, try a | | | | as they consume fewer calories. (At least we're |
| different formula or another brand of premium | | | | not alone!). Muscle mass will tend to decrease, but |
| dog food.Introduce new foods gradually, especially | | | | this doesn't mean you should lower your older |
| if you have a picky eater. And while we're on that | | | | dog's protein intake. If anything, protein is more |
| subject, it's always nice if your dog enjoys eating | | | | important than ever to help maintain muscle |
| his food. This has a lot less to do with taste than | | | | mass, so avoid senior dog food formulas with |
| it does with smell. Dogs have fewer taste buds | | | | reduced protein.One thing you will want to feed |
| than we do, but about 40 times as many scent | | | | him less of is calories. Obesity is a real problem |
| receptors. So make sure he eats with gusto, and | | | | with adult dogs, and many owners don't even |
| doesn't just pick at his food. | | | | realize their dog is overweight. Aside from portion |
| Here are some basic guidelines you can | | | | size and calorie content, one way to avoid an |
| follow:============Essential | | | | overweight dog is to resist giving him table scraps. |
| Nutrients=============Every dog needs the | | | | Most human food isn't good for your |
| right amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, | | | | dog.===========How Much to |
| vitamins, minerals, and water. Your dog must | | | | Feed============How's your dog's weight? |
| have all these in correct proportions to stay | | | | You should be able to feel your dog's backbone |
| healthy. Needs vary with life stage, breed and | | | | and ribs with light finger pressure, but not actually |
| activity level. Dog food companies make premium | | | | see them. If you have to "dig" to find them, your |
| dog food for all life stages, from puppy to senior. | | | | dog is overweight and if you can actually see her |
| An average adult dog needs a daily intake of | | | | ribs, she's underweight.If you're not sure how |
| about five ounces for every ten pounds of | | | | much to feed, you'll love the interactive Dog Food |
| weight, with essential nutrients in the following | | | | Calculator on PetsMart's home page! It's the result |
| proportions:Protein --23% of total intake | | | | of considerable research that has been published |
| Fats --5% of total intake | | | | in scientific journals and accepted by industry |
| Carbohydrates --65% of total intakeAdditional | | | | experts. You can determine the right amount of |
| vitamins and minerals your dog needs are: | | | | food to feed your dog and find out how long that |
| Vitamins A, D, E, B-complex, Niacin, Biotin, Folic | | | | 40-lb bag will |
| Acid, Choline, and Pantothenic Acid; Calcium, | | | | you're all ready feeding a nutritionally complete |
| Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium Chloride, | | | | premium dog food, do you still need supplements? |
| Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Iodine, | | | | This is another hotly debated topic. As a rule, it |
| and Selenium.It's generally agreed that dogs do | | | | seems that most dogs do just fine without |
| better on a protein source that's primarily meat | | | | supplements. For certain dogs and certain |
| rather than soybeans and grains. Check the label. | | | | conditions supplements can make a differenced. |
| All US food labels must list ingredients in order of | | | | For example, a dog who isn't thriving and there's |
| their quantity. If meat by-products are listed, they | | | | no other medical explanation for it might improve |
| should come after the real meat, not before it. | | | | with supplements. Or, dogs with certain skin |
| Meat by products are an inferior source of | | | | conditions have been known to improve on |
| protein, and are basically what remains after the | | | | supplements. Since there's a danger of doing |
| good quality meat has been removed. "Crude | | | | more harm than good, you should definitely |
| protein" can be a similarly poor source, since it | | | | discuss supplements with your vet.If you do |
| may include parts of the animal that can't even | | | | decide to use one, pick one that's made from |
| be digested or absorbed by the average dog | | | | natural sources and is designed as a multivitamin |
| (hair, beaks, etc.).Omega fatty acids are a hot | | | | formulated specifically for dogs. That way she'll |
| topic in human nutrition these days, and have | | | | get everything in the right amounts and ratios. |
| been found to be just as important in the canine | | | | Add it to the diet twice weekly so you won't |
| diet. Both should be present, and in the right ratio. | | | | overwhelm or suppress your dog's own internal |
| Most premium dog food companies have done | | | | regulating mechanisms.=======Special |
| the research on this and adjusted the ratios, but | | | | Diets==========There are many reasons why |
| as usual, ask your vet if your | | | | a dog might be put on a special diet. Some dogs |
| uncertain.===========Wet vs. | | | | are very sensitive to certain ingredients in |
| Dry============You can buy premium dog | | | | commercial dog foods. Even if you're feeding her |
| food in just about any form, but which one is | | | | the best of premium dog food , if your dog isn't |
| best? Again, most experts seem to agree. Dry | | | | thriving, it's possible her diet is a problem for her. |
| food is less likely to allow plaque to accumulate on | | | | Owners have resorted to alternative diets -- |
| the teeth, less likely to harbor bacteria if left out | | | | holistic, raw foods, even kosher -- to optimize |
| too long, and results in firmer, more compact | | | | their pet's health. Some choose these diets simply |
| stools. Semi-moist foods are convenient but for | | | | because they believe they're better, not because |
| some reason (I'm not sure what) don't offer the | | | | their dog is having any issues.We'll discuss special |
| same nutritional benefits as premium kibble or | | | | diets in a future article. For now, I hope you've |
| canned foods.That said, I have also heard | | | | gained some useful insights about the benefits of |
| arguments suggesting that a diet of exclusively | | | | premium dog food over and above economy |
| dry food can be a strain on a dog's kidneys. So, | | | | brands. |
| to be on the safe side, check with your | | | | |