Making sure you are feeding your dog the right diet will ensure they live a healthy and happy life. Feeding them the right amount of food is crucial as this ensures they maintain a healthy weight. Here are some nutrition tips for your dog.
Dogs need a balanced diet that includes fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. Finding high-quality food is always best compared to the cheap and low-quality alternatives.
When choosing the right food for your furry friend always look at the ingredients. These will be listed proportionally, you should find the meat listed first as it is the best source of protein for your dog. Foods that use terms such as ‘cereals’, ‘animal derivative’ should be avoided as this suggested low-quality food.
Can a dog’s health be improved by diet?
There may be a time when you need to change your dog’s food to help support certain health conditions. These include skin problems, arthritis, food allergies and digestive problems. Your vet will be able to recommend the best option to help improve your dog’s health.
Treats? Good or Bad?
Giving your dog a treat is a great way to reward good behaviour and can be used during training. It is important not to give too many as they can be high in calories. When choosing a treat go for low sugar and natural product. Most dogs love fruit and vegetables which are healthy and a better option for them. Some include carrots, apples and bananas. It’s still a good idea to keep these treats to a minimum because they might be heavy in natural sugars.
Poisonous Human Food
Some human food is poisonous for dogs and could make them very unwell here are some foods which you should not give your pet:
- Onions
- Raisins
- Cooked Bones
- Chocolate
- Nuts
- Garlic
- Leek
- Grapes
Hydration
Water is extremely important for your dog’s diet, not getting enough could have major effects. Although the majority of dogs drink plenty of water, others may not. Here are some ways you can urge them to have more water.
Ensure their water is fresh and the bowl is clean. Have the bowl easy accessible. Depending on the breed of your dog depends which bowl is best, for example, larger dogs will need a larger bowl.
If you are worried about the amount of water your dog has speak to your vet.
These are a great addition and give your dog comfort while eating. Benefits include better posture, slows down fast eaters, helps with swallowing and helps bowls stay in place.
Stay healthy
Sally
