Natural feeding of the puppy is the correct menu. In what form is it better to serve meat? Which porridge is better

There are a great many recommendations for feeding dogs, as well as literature on this topic, which we recommend that you carefully study. In this section you will find only the most basic information about how to feed your pet correctly.

Why feed the dog

Before we look at ways to feed a dog, let's first decide: What should a dog get from proper nutrition?

1) The dog spends energy on all the processes of its life; it must replenish energy expenditure with food, therefore, food must meet the dog's energy needs. It is important to remember that the amount of energy a dog spends per day directly depends on its lifestyle. Therefore, an active dog that gets exercise every day needs to receive either more food or higher calorie food than a dog that lies on the couch all day and goes out for a walk for 5 minutes. A puppy needs more energy than adult dog. More for a young dog than for an old one. It is important to understand that a healthy dog ​​should receive the same amount of energy from food every day as it expends. Only then will she remain in good shape. Lack of energy obtained from food leads to exhaustion of the animal, weakening of its immunity, etc. Excessive energy intake into the body leads to obesity.

Please note Special attention to the fact that overnutrition and the resulting obesity can be just as dangerous as undernutrition. Obesity is serious illness, which, in turn, leads to other, very dangerous diseases: cardiovascular, metabolic, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, etc., etc. We draw your special attention to this fact due to the fact that most compassionate, compassionate people, having adopted a dog from a shelter, begin intensively “fattening” her, without thinking about what they might cause great harm dog health. When determining the diet and amount of food for your pet, be guided by common sense!

2) The dog should receive from food all nutrients, i.e. proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the required quantities.

3) Food is source of essential minerals for the dog. First of all, these are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and others. Although they are needed in small quantities, they play a very important role important role in the life of the body.

4) Food is source of vitamins necessary for dog health. They are also needed in small quantities and in the correct ratio to each other.

5) Food should well digested in the body and absorbed, otherwise there will be no benefit from it.

6) Food should the dog likes it. The smell of food is very important to dogs; they practically cannot taste it. But the subtlest shades can be discerned in odors.

All this is quite easy to determine from a dog. She should be happy to receive her portion of food and lick the bowl (if food remains, the portion should be reduced). The dog should look healthy: shiny coat, no discharge from the eyes and nose, good teeth, etc., be active (according to individual characteristics and age), in good health. physical fitness: The dog's ribs should not be visible, but should be felt when running your hand over them.

What to feed your dog

There are two main ways to feed dogs: dry food and natural products. These two types of dog food cannot be mixed (!), so you need to decide what you will feed your dog. To do this, consider the positive and negative sides one or the other feeding method.

Natural diet

When feeding natural products, the dog's diet should include:

— Dairy products . The dog's diet must include kefir and cottage cheese. But milk should not be given to adult animals, since their bodies do not have an enzyme that breaks it down.

— Cereal products in the form of porridges. The most useful for feeding dogs are buckwheat and rice porridge. It is also worth adding bran to your dog’s diet. It is not advisable to feed dogs oatmeal, semolina, millet, etc.

— Vegetables and fruits. They contain a large number of vitamins Some dogs enjoy eating vegetables and fruits on their own, while others have to mix them into their main food.
It is recommended to give cabbage and beets boiled, and carrots raw. Vegetables are much better absorbed if they are given in grated form.

Since a dog is a carnivore (predator), meat and meat products should make up 2/3 of the diet. To satisfy the basic needs of a dog, 150 g of meat per day per 10 kg of weight is needed. You need to give a little more by-products, because they are less nutritious. The remaining components, mainly porridge, should make up 1/3 of the diet.
It is also important to remember that When it comes to food, consistency is much healthier for dogs than variety..

It is PROHIBITED to include in your dog’s diet:

— pork;
— boiled bones;
— tubular bones(sharp fragments are formed that can injure digestive tract);
— potatoes and legume products (they are poorly absorbed);
— spicy and smoked products;
— fatty foods (any fatty meat, animal and vegetable fat, lard, butter, margarine);
— spices;
— sweets(especially chocolate: large amounts of cocoa are deadly for dogs!);
- harmful to give to a dog flour(including bread, pasta, etc.).

Pros of feeding natural foods:

Eating natural products healthy, because dogs have been eating natural food since ancient times.

Natural food useful, because it contains virtually no harmful chemicals.

You have the opportunity create your own diet your dog.

You have the opportunity choose, alternate different products , replace some products with others (for example, meat can be replaced with poultry or fish, one porridge with another, etc.

Disadvantages of feeding natural foods:

There are three options for feeding your dog: natural food that you prepare yourself, industrial feed, as well as mixed nutrition, which includes both natural nutrition and food. Which method to choose is up to you.

Ready-made feed

Feeding dry food is very convenient. It contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals and does not require cooking. However, such food should be High Quality. Always remember that good food it doesn't come cheap. Do not buy industrially produced food in bulk. It quickly deteriorates in stores, as it is constantly in open bags. When choosing food for your dog, consider its individuality: age, lifestyle, physical condition.

Mix dry food and natural food it is impossible, since neither one nor the other food will be digested normally. If you feed the animal in combination, then alternate days, do not feed food and natural food at the same time.

Natural feeding

If you decide to feed your dog natural food, then you need to know a few rules. The dog's diet should consist of 2/3 meat and animal products, and 1/3 from plant food. In addition to the meat itself, the dog’s diet must include offal (heart, stomach, liver, lungs, kidneys), and tendons. In addition, the diet includes unsalted fish, from which all major bones have been removed. As supplements, raw eggs, grated cheese and cottage cheese should be given in small quantities.

Milk is an undesirable product for an adult dog. Also, you should not give your dog pork (it is very fatty for a dog), raw river fish ( River fish may be affected by helminth larvae), alcohol, salty and spicy. Candies, cookies, chocolate and the like should not be given to the dog, even as an exception.

Bones belong to essential products in the dog's diet. They contain calcium, proteins, gluten and other valuable substances necessary for the growth and development of the dog. In addition, the bones that a dog chews help strengthen its teeth and gums. Bones are simply necessary for feeding puppies at the age of 4-6 months, when they are cutting permanent teeth. This makes the process of changing teeth much easier. The most useful are the bones of young animals (calves, etc.), which have a lot of cartilage and remains of meat, for example on the ribs. Boiled bones are of no value. Tubular bones are simply dangerous for a dog. During the cooking process, bones lose all of their essential nutrients. Tubular bones very fragile, especially poultry bones, crumble easily, forming fragments that a dog can swallow. In this case, urgent veterinary intervention is required. Starting when your dog is 4–5 years old, reduce the daily amount of bones.

Plant foods in a dog’s diet: rye, rice, oats, wheat, semolina, millet, as well as vegetables and fruits. Potatoes, legumes and corn are not suitable for feeding a dog. Potatoes are almost indigestible. Legumes and corn most often do not benefit the dog and cause it to vomit.

Adding to a Dog's Diet fish oil, vitamin preparations and calcium in in some cases may become necessary. It is recommended that you follow your veterinarian's advice rather than acting on your own diagnosis. A puppy or young dog should definitely add fish oil to its food.

It must be remembered that raw food It is always healthier and is better absorbed by the dog than boiled.

A dog does not have such a refined taste as a person who tries to diversify food and adds all kinds of spices to it. The dog can be content with the same food every day. However, if someone spoils their dog with sausages, various savory treats or fragrant sweets, do not be surprised if it becomes picky.

Dog food is prepared as follows. The meat is cut into small pieces or passed through a meat grinder. The bones are chopped with a special hatchet, so that it is convenient for the dog to grab them with his teeth from either side. Cereal products - wholemeal flour, bran, oat and barley flakes - are soaked in water for several hours and then doused with boiling water. Rice needs to be cooked. Vegetables and herbs are usually given raw, grated (carrots) or finely chopped (spinach, nettles, dandelion, lettuce, leeks). Fruits and berries (apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, prunes) are cut or pitted. Various products The dogs are thoroughly mixed before feeding. Fish bones and heads, in principle, do not pose any particular difficulties for the dog and are not dangerous for it. However, if the fish is large, it is recommended to first remove the dorsal fin, as well as the short and sharp pectoral fins.

The dog's food should be neither hot nor cold. Basic rule: food should be warm and mushy. If food is taken out of the refrigerator, it must be heated; if food is removed from the stove, it must be cooled.

The daily diet should correspond to the dog's physical activity, its breed and age. A completely eaten meal and a licked bowl are a sign that the volume of the diet has been determined quite correctly. There should be nothing left in the bowl. You will quickly notice whether the portion is sufficient. If your dog asks for more, looks at you and starts barking, the next time you feed, the portion should be increased slightly. If your dog starts to get too round, his diet needs to be reduced. This is done thoughtfully and without rushing. Under no circumstances should you drastically reduce your diet. However, be persistent and continue to keep your dog on the reduced diet until he is back to normal.

The dog's feeding times should be observed as precisely as possible. Never feed your dog before a walk physical activity or immediately after a long walk, training, active games with other dogs.

Puppy up to 3 one month old receives food 5-6 times a day, a young dog up to 7 months of age - 3 times a day. An already grown dog is fed twice a day.

The food bowl is placed on a stand at the dog's chest level. This requirement must be observed to avoid curvature of the spine from incorrect posture while eating. The bowl of food is placed for 15 minutes. If the dog refuses to eat within 15 minutes, the bowl is removed until the next feeding. No one should disturb the dog while eating. The dog does not need to be petted, there is no need to call it, because while eating it awakens its instinct to protect its prey from the attacks of others. After a hearty meal, the dog should have the opportunity to digest what it has eaten within one to two hours in a calm environment.

In addition to the food bowl, the dog is given a drinking bowl, which must always be pure water. You must give her the opportunity to quench her thirst when she wants it.

Despite the fact that now in the assortment of any pet store you can find dry and canned food for pet for every taste and budget, many owners, for various reasons, prefer natural feeding dogs. It is to these owners that the article by Vladimir Nikiforovich Mitin, which was published in the January 1992 issue of the journal Science and Life, is addressed. In this article, he talks in detail about which natural products should be given to dogs and which ones should not be given under any circumstances and why, how to process the products and what to combine them with.

What is most important in this article is that Vladimir Nikiforovich gives a clear justification for each recommendation, which ultimately leads the owner to understand the basic principles of work gastrointestinal tract pets. And this, in turn, helps to avoid health problems. After all, in order for our pets to live full and happy life, it is not enough just to love them. To know, understand and be able to help is what is required from a true owner and friend.

It would seem that feeding a dog is not difficult. Any food on the owner’s plate that exudes an appetizing aroma will please the four-legged friend. Of course, he cannot savor the food and will not experience any special taste. But his sense of smell will tell him that a fried piece of meat smells more appetizing than a raw one. The question is, will such food be healthy? Resistance of the liver and kidneys to harmful effects in dogs is significantly lower than in humans. Therefore, all hot seasonings, sauces, pickles, smoked products, confectionery and flour products are harmful for the dog and can lead to metabolic disorders, obesity, shortness of breath, various diseases internal organs. Even if a dog occupies the same place in your life as your closest family members, this does not make it a person and you cannot feed it everything that you eat yourself.

Over the course of 10–15 thousand years of domestication by humans, only the psyche and hormonal system. The digestive system was the system of a predator, a meat-eater, and remains so. The dog does not chew, but tears off and swallows large pieces of food. Its developed predatory jaws require active work; they are not intended for semolina porridge and sweets. A dog has different properties for digesting food than a human, so it needs uniform feeding with concentrated food. No soups, chatterboxes, liquid cereals It shouldn’t have the displacement of a bucket, even if you have a very large dog.

In nature, carnivorous predators eat their prey entirely - with the skin, with plenty of blood, with the contents of the stomach and intestines, with small and large bones. Feeding dogs only muscle meat is not recommended. Scientists suggested: replacing the missing blood with water and salted herring, bones with bone glue and raw bones, skin and fur of prey with sheep or rabbit skins, and the contents of the stomach and intestines with boiled rice.

Most of all, the dog loves raw meat (excess of it does not lead, as some believe, to poisoning). But, if he really has to, he won’t refuse raw fish. A desirable delicacy is cartilage and tender beef bones. By gnawing them, the dog strengthens its teeth, and most importantly, satisfies the need for mineral salts.

Meat for dogs should not only be lean. Fat is also required. A dog can tolerate up to 15 grams of fat in its diet per kilogram of its weight, and rancid fats do not cause poisoning. It is quite possible to feed dogs pork; there is no need to worry that it may contain worms. Before going on sale, meat undergoes a sanitary and veterinary examination.

If meat is suffocated in a plastic bag, it is just as harmful to a dog as it is to a person. Under anaerobic conditions, toxic substances are formed in it, which can cause poisoning. Therefore, it is better to store meat in the freezer by wrapping it in parchment paper.

Depending on the individual metabolism, a dog needs from 10 to 25 grams of raw meat per 1 kilogram of animal weight every day. Of course, not all owners can feed their four-legged friend a sufficient amount of meat, but we must try to ensure that it still constitutes at least 5% of the daily diet.

From the age of one and a half, the dog is considered an adult. If she does not perform special work, such as hunting or guarding, then for small and medium-sized breeds one feeding per day is enough, which usually coincides with lunch, and for large breeds– two to three feedings a day in small portions.

Place raw meat cut into pieces into a bowl and raw fish(cod, pollock back, hake) in the ratio: 2/3 meat – 1/3 fish. As a supplier of carbohydrates and a filler that causes a feeling of fullness, boiled rice mixed with animal fat or vegetable oil can be added to meat and fish. Rice cannot be given separately, without meat and fish, since the dog’s intestines are not designed to digest grains.

So, meat, fish and fatty rice are mixed and placed in a bowl. Add a piece of raw liver, a very small one - from 5 to 15 g, depending on the weight of the dog. The liver contains vitamins A, D, E.

You can also include cottage cheese in your dog’s diet (but only uncooked cheese; cheesecakes or cottage cheese are not absorbed by the body), boiled egg, herring. Bone wood glue is useful. It contains a sufficient amount of macro- and microelements and there are no chemical impurities. But in principle, a raw bone with fat replaces it perfectly.

Milk is useful mainly for lactating females and puppies. It is given only fresh or fermented, and in small quantities. Sour milk can cause severe digestive upset, especially in young animals. Prolonged milk feeding leads to fullness and sluggishness of the digestion process.

There should always be fresh water on the floor in a flat bowl, not contaminated with food debris. The food bowl needs to be wide, since the dog opens its mouth wide and draws food into its stomach like a vacuum cleaner.

Large breeds of dogs need at least 600 g of meat, 200 g of dairy products, 300 g of boiled rice or bread, 50 g of fat, 40 g of bone meal; For medium breeds this diet should be halved, for small breeds – four times and for dwarf breeds – six times.

In cases where the dog's workload increases, the number of calories can triple, but only from proteins and fats, not carbohydrates.

If you feed your dog correctly, it will receive all the vitamins, macro- and microelements it needs. Concerning pharmaceutical vitamins, That healthy dog they are usually not needed. Excess vitamin D, phytin, and calcium glycerophosphate in the body can lead to exactly the opposite results.

The dog’s body, as well as the cat’s, synthesizes vitamin C on its own. This is why these animals do not suffer from scurvy.

One fasting day a week, when they give some crackers and fresh drinking water, will not harm any adult dog. She will always have a good appetite, and she won't be picky about food.

Dogs instinctively reject leguminous plants - peas, lentils, beans: their intestines are not equipped to digest these products, they cause fermentation and gases.

Of course, you should not give food that is too hot, sour, fermented or frozen.

Boiled bones are very harmful. During the cooking process, their constituent components are so denatured that the dog is practically unable to digest them. Eating boiled bones leads to the formation of calcareous stool, which is difficult to pass and irritates the walls of the rectum. Cases of intestinal puncture are also common. boiled bones. Note, exactly boiled. Raw Bones, even if tubular, almost never damage the intestinal walls. Veterinarians came to this conclusion.

Owners often add this to their dog's food. eggshells. It has been proven that as a source of minerals, this is, in general, a completely worthless product; no more than 3% is absorbed from it. For the same reason, you should not give your dog chalk.

You need to pay more attention to feeding whelping and lactating females. To build the skeleton and muscles, embryos primarily need proteins and minerals. If in the first three weeks you can stick to your normal diet, then in the future it needs to be doubled before giving birth. The food should be easily digestible and not too bulky. If possible, the meat is not very fatty and high-grade entrails, bones with fat, cottage cheese, cheese, boiled egg. The amount of liquid should also be increased.

In the last third of pregnancy, the daily amount of food is distributed over 3-4 feedings, so as not to overload digestive organs, which are already constrained.

With the advent of puppies, the need for food in a lactating female increases 4 times, since the body loses up to 70 g of protein per liter with mother's milk. To prevent a rich diet from contributing to relaxation of the stomach walls and the formation of a saggy belly, the dog continues to be fed 4 times a day.

Puppies usually suck mother's milk for up to 1 - 1.5 months. From the 23rd day of life they can already lap milk from a bowl. From about this time, the mother's diet is gradually reduced.

Complementary feeding for puppies begins with a mixture of warm cow's milk with raw egg yolk(one yolk per glass of milk). Dogs have a hard time withstanding changes in feeding, so complementary feeding begins even when the puppies are suckling their mother's milk.

It is criminal to sell puppies up to 6 weeks old, as some owners do, taking 26-day-old babies away from their mothers. In the morning they are still fed by their mother, and in the afternoon they are sold without even starting solid food.

The transition to solid food should also occur when the mother is suckling. Gradually, from the 32nd day (not earlier! since gastric juice for complete digestion begins to be produced precisely by this time), puppies begin to be given raw meat (first scrape, then minced meat, pieces of meat), raw fish. In principle, the dog has no need for vegetables and fruits. But if you give them, it is better in boiled or pureed form.

Food for puppies should be high quality. Should not be given baby food, since the balance of the main nutrients in it, namely proteins, fats and carbohydrates, is not suitable for dogs. Most of this mixture consists of carbohydrates, and the dog primarily needs proteins and fats.

During the period of rapid growth, puppies need to be fed as much as possible. raw meat, and only raw. Their normal need for nutrition is every 2 to 3 hours.

When changing teeth, puppies desperately need beef bones that they can chew on. They can be given from the 35th day of life. Beware of feeding small and splintering bones to puppies. Puppies that are given bone glue do not chew furniture or search for lime and chalk.

Up to two months, babies are fed 6 times a day at equal intervals (4 times non-meat and 2 times meat foods). From two to four months– 5 times a day (the ratio of non-meat and meat foods is 3:2). From four to six – 4 times a day (2:2), from six to nine – 3 times (1:2). And from nine to twelve months - 2 times a day (1:1).

After each feeding, as well as after sleep, puppies should be taken out into the yard. This way they will learn cleanliness.

At good care dogs live 10 – 15 years. The most resilient are up to 20 years, which corresponds to 100 human years. But such records are extremely rare.

Having a four-legged friend at home, the owner must realize that he has a huge responsibility for the life and health of the pet.

In addition, it is worth thinking about regular trips to veterinary clinic, arrangement sleeping place, the development of walking systems that should be carefully followed and, of course, about proper nutrition. How to feed a dog? What to feed your dog at home?

If we are talking about dry complex fortified feeds, then in this case it is recommended to consult with veterinarian or a breeder who will help you choose the optimal brand of food and calculate portions. Many more questions arise for those owners who plan to feed their pet regular products nutrition. Today in our article we will talk about feeding dogs at home.

Feeding dogs: fundamental rules

To date, perhaps an incalculable amount of research has been conducted regarding the proper nutrition of dogs, but on some issues leading experts cannot come to compromises. But still, despite this, there are basic rules for feeding animals:

Dry food and natural food

1. metabolic disorders;
2. ready-made feed enriched with fortified complexes, and when mixing diets, the development of hypervitaminosis can be allowed;
3. provides negative impact on intestinal microflora.

What to feed your dog?

If a dog's entire diet is divided into percentages, then the nutrition of an adult healthy animal should look approximately as follows:

• Vegetables - 10-15%;
• Fermented milk products - 20-30%;
• Cereals - 25-35%;
• Meat and offal - 30-50%.

The best option healthy eating is a diet consisting largely of dairy and meat products, and cereals and vegetables supplement the missing elements. IN in this case meat and fish should be at least 50%, dairy products - 35%, and grains 10-15%.

An example menu shows that keeping a dog is a very expensive business and not everyone can afford to keep a four-legged friend. When getting a pet, a person must realize that a dog is not a herbivore; it constantly needs meat.

It is worth noting that dairy products do not need to be given every day, let’s say an interval of a day or two. These products can easily be replaced with poultry, fish or offal.

What is the best food to feed a dog? Important rules:

1. You cannot combine meat products with dairy or vegetables in one meal;
2. Fermented milk products should always be given separately;
3. Meat products can be given to dogs raw or subjected to heat treatment;
4. You can add a little to the meat vegetable oil and finely chopped greens.

Daily requirement of vitamins and minerals for an adult animal

Water

The key to proper metabolism, digestion and good health is water. The daily norm of fluid intake should be calculated according to the indicators 40 - 60 ml per kilogram of weight, if the air temperature environment does not exceed 25 C. It is also worth noting that daily norm water consumed includes liquids that are part of cereals.

Squirrels

Proteins are an extremely important material for the functioning of the body, intended for cell repair and division. This element is the only one of its kind that is not accumulated by the body, therefore, it should always be present in the diet. The dog’s body is capable of synthesizing a large number of macro- and microelements on its own, but a number of essential amino acids are included exclusively in protein foods. Complete sources of protein are meat, eggs and natural milk.

It is also worth noting that with natural food the pet should be provided with cartilage and bones, but taking into account the following nuances:

• You should not allow your pet to gnaw on rib, tubular and other bones., which break and crumble into fragments under direct pressure. Otherwise, the consequences can be extremely unpredictable and sometimes tragic.
• Bones should be fed exclusively raw.. Tested bone tissue becomes like glass; when chewed, it crumbles into many sharp fragments that can harm your pet.
• You can safely give your pet produce spongy or porous bones (sternum and scapula).
• During teething and while brushing your dog It is recommended to give sugar bones. The moslak should not fit completely into the dog's mouth. When your pet is playing with a bone, he should not be left unattended, since a dog that is playing can cause harm to itself if the bone gets stuck in its mouth.

We hope that our article was useful to you and you realized how important it is to approach your pet’s diet. Love your pet, pamper it, and it will repay you with boundless love and devotion, sharing with you all the joyful moments of life!

If a dog appears in the house, you are responsible for its life and health. And this health largely depends on nutrition. Compilation proper diet nutrition for an animal is the key to its normal functioning, long life and absence of problems with the body. After all, the dog must receive with food the entire complex of minerals and vitamins that it needs.

Dry food is a real godsend for owners. With its help, a person no longer needs to worry about the proper nutrition of the dog. Many dry foods are labeled “complete.” This means that such food can completely replace other types of food, without compromising the dog’s health. But how to feed an animal correctly so that it feels good?

Benefits of dry food

Why has dry food become an integral part of our lives and the lives of our pets? Why has dry food become so popular that today it is bought for almost every domestic dog?

Dry food has many benefits. Firstly, this balanced diet, which can satisfy the dog’s need for all essential vitamins and microelements. The owner does not need to worry about what else the animal may need - everything is in one package. Secondly, dry food is convenient for the owner - pour it into a bowl and there are no problems. No need to waste time on cooking, heating, cooling. No dry food required special conditions storage This convenience makes it easier to keep a dog in the family, which is a definite plus.

If necessary, you can buy dry food for a dog that is at a certain point in its life. If a bitch is pregnant or feeding puppies with milk, she needs more nutrients, which is taken into account in a special series of dry food for pregnant and lactating women. There is also a line of food for dogs that are sick, active, allergic or obese. This allows you to adjust the animal’s nutrition according to different periods his life.

There is another advantage of dry food - the financial side of the issue. Yes, many people don’t bother and feed the dog from the common table - they don’t spend a lot of money on it. However, the dog will not last long on such a diet. For normal functioning, he needs vitamins, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, meat, fish every day. Dry food is much more profitable than preparing a natural, complete meal for your dog every day.

Dry food is small pieces foods that differ in calorie content, quality and taste. When choosing a brand of dry food, pay attention to its class. Premium dry food usually contains absolutely all the minerals and vitamins that an animal needs. However, in order for the dog to assimilate them all, the animal must be fed dry food according to the rules.

1. First you need to choose food. If you constantly feed your dog the same food, do not change its type. There is a misconception that says that you need to add variety to your diet and change the brand of food. This is wrong. If your pet is completely satisfied with his food, his coat is silky, and he feels good, do not change the type of food.
2. You can buy food in bulk only in large veterinary stores, which have a high turnover. If a large bag of food was opened more than a week ago, you should not take such a treat.
3. Don't buy pet food that is too cheap. Often they do not contain the stated vitamins and microelements. In addition, they need to be supplemented with complementary foods - other necessary minerals. From cheap food often more harm than good.
4. If the dog eats only dry food, there should always be a bowl of fresh water within its visibility range. Since the food swells in the animal’s stomach, this can cause thirst; in this case, the dog drinks water in excess.
5. You need to feed your dog dry food strictly on a schedule. Give your pet food at the same time, preferably twice a day. The serving size should also be the same.
6. Some dogs enjoy crunching dry food and then washing it down with water. This is correct, since solid food relieves the animal of tartar. If your dog does not like to chew crackers, the food can be soaked - it swells beautifully, becomes soft and appetizing. Some gourmets prefer to eat food only in wet form. For soaking, you can use not only water, but also kefir, yogurt, etc.
7. Dry food should be stored in a kitchen drawer in a well-closed bag. Be careful and close the package tightly to prevent cockroaches and other living creatures from getting inside. In addition, if the package is left open, the contents quickly deteriorate, become rancid and lose their beneficial features. Often the owner does not even suspect that the pet continues to eat spoiled food.

These are the basic rules that must be followed when feeding an animal with dry food.

Is it possible to feed a dog exclusively dry food?

Not only is it possible, but it is necessary! When developing the composition for future dry food, manufacturers expect that the dog will eat this product constantly. But many owners do this - they feed the dog regular food, and give food only as a treat or reward. This is fundamentally wrong. If you are going to feed your pet dry food, everything else should be removed from his diet.

If you feed your dog food and supplement it with meat, an excess of protein may occur in the body, which leads to various problems in kidney function. If you give your dog dry food and supplement it with fish, this leads to an excess of phosphorus. If there is a lot of phosphorus in the body, the dog will suffer from urolithiasis, bones become loose and brittle, anemia appears. When feeding porridge, there will be an excess of carbohydrates, which leads to excess weight and related problems.

In addition, with a mixed diet, a dog’s stomach has to constantly adapt to either dry food or regular human food. Frequent changes can lead to gastritis.

The exception to the rule is small pieces of treats that can be used as rewards during training. You can pamper your dog with pieces of cheese, dried fruits, crackers or boiled meat.

All these arguments suggest that you can feed your dog only dry food, and it will not need additional nutrition. But how much food does a dog need to keep him from overeating and feeling good?

Puppies tend to eat more often, but in small portions. If this is your first time giving little puppy Dry food should be introduced gradually, starting with a teaspoon per day. If the dog does not have an allergy (which may be manifested by redness of the skin, itching, restlessness), you can increase the dose of dry food gradually to age norm. Give your dog only food that is appropriate for his age. After all, babies need different vitamins and microelements than adult dogs.

In general, each package indicates the amount of dry food that a dog needs per day. Puppies up to two months of age eat 5-6 times a day. At three months, the number of feedings is reduced to 4 times. At six months the dog eats 3 times a day, and after a year it is transferred to two meals a day. You need to feed your dog at the same time, preferably at regular intervals, that is, at 8 am and 8 pm. The amount of dry food per day is calculated based on the pet’s weight. If the dog weighs less than 2 kilograms, the amount of its food should not exceed 60 grams of food per day. A 5-kilogram dog is given 90 grams of food, a 10-kilogram dog is given 160 grams. If a dog weighs 20 kg, it needs 300 grams of dry food per day, and if a giant weighs 40 kg, it needs almost half a kilo of food.

This is the norm for active dogs who play, jump and run for more than an hour a day. For couch potatoes, the amount of food needs to be reduced by 20-30%, otherwise they will begin to gain weight. excess weight. Also, the dog’s diet should be reduced by a third if it is elderly. But if the dog works, feeds milk or is pregnant, its diet, on the contrary, increases by a third.

Types of feed

Just like food for humans can be of high quality or not, dog food is also divided into classes.

1. Economy class. Such food is not very high in calories and requires a larger volume so that the dog receives enough nutrition. Economy class food is made from low quality products, essentially waste. If you give your dog such food, take care of additional vitamins and mineral complexes, since economy class food does not replenish daily requirement dogs in nutrition.
2. Premium class. The calorie content of such a product is 300-350 calories per 100 grams of product. This food is made from offal, contains a sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins, and does not require additional enrichment.
3. Super premium. This is a high quality product that contains all the vitamins necessary for a dog’s body. This is a balanced diet that can become a complete diet for constant feeding.
4. Holistic class. This dog food is made from high-class products, the food is great nutritional value. Created for show dogs, pets who are in rehabilitation period after illness, as well as for pregnant and lactating bitches.

If you only want to feed your dog dry food, choose at least a premium brand. Otherwise, the dog may develop health problems over time.

Separately, I would like to say about fresh food, which is also available for sale. Most manufacturers have wet food in their product line in the form of canned food with pieces natural meat. It can be given to your dog as an additional source of protein, in the form of a treat. Contrary to popular belief, wet food is not a replacement for dry food and does not contain the full range of beneficial ingredients. However, this food is great for older dogs with bad teeth or gastrointestinal problems.

Dry dog ​​food is a real breakthrough in veterinary medicine. The presence of dry food makes life much easier for both the dog and its owner. If you feed your dog dry food all the time, he will get sick less and his teeth will remain strong. long years, and the fur shines. If you decide to have a pet in your home, take care of its diet and do not rely on your own strength. Choose a balanced diet from natural products quite difficult - this can only be done with the help of a doctor, given individual characteristics dogs. Take care of your pet's health, feed him dry food!

Video: how to feed your dog dry food