The perfect dog diet
Dogs behave like carnivores and pretend that they prefer to eat fresh meat. The truth is that, unlike cats who really cannot survive without eating meat, dogs are actually like their omnivore owners, creatures willing and able to devour and digest most types of food, including fruit and vegetables.
Most dog owners rely on pet food manufacturers to produce nutritious and well-balanced meals. These come in various textures, tastes, and energy levels. Portioned according to the dog’s size and age, these foods will provide all the protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals he needs to thrive. Of course, fresh and clean drinking water should also be available at all times, especially when the dog is fed dry food, is very active, pregnant, nursing or the weather is hot.
Many pet owner like to spoil their dogs with treats, which is actually unhealthy. Following sensitive feeding guidelines is important and will help prevent dietary and behavior problems. First-time dog owners should read the food labels, which suggest food amounts that are acceptable. Indoor dogs usually need less food because they are less active, while those living outdoors may burn more calories when running around. In the winter they will also need to eat more to stay warm.
The owner has complete control over his dog’s food rations and should feed 2/3 of the daily ration of the animal in the morning and the remainder in the evening. Since dogs have a tendency to nap after meals they are less likely to chew or bark, which is especially useful to animals staying alone during the day. These guidelines apply mostly to healthy adult canines and depending on their age, puppies need to be fed more – three or four times a day. Dividing meals also helps to avoid gastric torsion, better known as ‘bloating’.
What types of food are there? Dry food or kibble is usually the cheapest. Canned food is a dog’s favorite, but rather expensive and, if not consumed right away, it soon becomes unattractive to the less voracious eater. Semi-moist chow is designed to resemble human food, and the shapes and colors often look more attractive to people than to dogs. Like their masters, each dog is different and only trial and error will reveal which diets are the healthiest and the most liked!