“You look so sad, you’re definitely hungry, here you are.” This is the sentence I often hear when my dog shows one of its dog faces. And he deserves “little something to eat” doing it before I even manage to do anything against that. To feed a dog resting at a table or to feed it with human food are not the only sins we should avoid in the context of dog nutrition. What are the others and why should we avoid them?
“You look so sad, you’re definitely hungry, here you are.” This is the sentence I often hear when my dog shows one of its dog faces. And he deserves “little something to eat” doing it before I even manage to do anything against that. To feed a dog resting at a table or to feed it with human food are not the only sins we should avoid in the context of dog nutrition. What are the others and why should we avoid them?
It was once completely normal to feed the dog with leftovers. The dog wasn’t even considered a pet. But as its social role evolved and doggies became equal members of many households, the approach to their proper nutrition have changed. I tried to write down eight most common mistakes dog owners still unconsciously make and vets and nutrition specialists both here in the Czech Republic and in the world warn us about. Besides others, it is because of the ongoing trend of increasing obesity of dogs.
#1 Unbalanced diet
If you wish to provide your dog a full-value nutrition, I recommend you to look for the so-called holistic dog food. Some dry dog food may not contain everything a dog organism needs for a healthy development. Holistic, or in other words complex, dog food should fully replace the natural diet of a dog. One of the variants is the so-called hypoallergenic dog food which does not contain gluten.
#2 Too many rewards
Rewards are an inseparable part of a dog’s upbringing. But there shouldn’t be too many treats and their caloric value shouldn’t exceed more than 10 % of the daily caloric intake. And we should also pay attention to the quality of the treats. Your pack of treats definitely shouldn’t be full of sponge biscuits your dog likes but which also contain a lot of sugar. Dried meat may be the perfect option.
#3 Overfeeding
To be sure you don’t overfeed your dog, put a proper portion of one food ration in a cup. And make a mark on the container using a marker. You will find the recommended daily amounts on each package of the dog food. If you feel your dog’s losing weight, do not only start to give it more dry dog food. The problem may have a different cause and you risk your dog’s obesity. It can be caused for example by an increased energy expenditure. A vet can recommend switching to high-energy dog food in such cases.
#4 Dog food not considering the age of dog
For dog nutrition, we should also take into account the dog’s life stage and physical condition. We should adjust the diets of our dogs as well as we adjust our own diet during our lives. There are many types of dog food which are not only adjusted for puppies who need a completely different composition in first few months of their lives than an adult dog or a senior dog. When selecting the right dog food, check that it corresponds to the age of your dog as well as to its size
#5 Feeding with human food
Sometimes, we may want to give our dogs more. If you give it a few slices of a cucumber or a carrot, you will definitely do no harm. Our doggie loves a teaspoon of a quart treat from time to time. If you cook for your dog, it should be according to your vet’s instructions, e.g. rice with carrot for a reduction diet, and it should not replace normal dog food. And it can happen that your dog refuses to eat anything else. Definitely avoid anything dangerous for your dog, e.g. chocolate and citruses.
#6 A bowl which is always full
Some may feel that if a dog has enough dry dog food in its bowl all the time, it will give up begging. I heard some dog owners practice the so-called free-feeding also to make their dogs stop gulping. But a dog doesn’t count how much it ate, and this way, you also lose control of that. The whole routine of feeding is also an important part of dog’s upbringing. It’s not only about the health of your dog but also about strengthening of your mutual relationship. Your dog should eat only after you finished your meal yourself and not dive into the bowl until you give the right command (e.g. “come eat”).
#7 A sudden change of dog food
If you suddenly change the food for your dog, e.g. because the one it was used to is no longer available, it can cause your dog digestive problems. The best way to prepare your dog for this change is a gradual mixing of both types of dog food with increasing ratio of the new one. Observe your dog’s reaction to this change. By this, you’re giving your dog enough time to get used to new food. And you may see if the food is not good for your dog and you need to find another.
#8 Feeding before walks
You shouldn’t definitely overfeed your dog before going for a walk. It increases the risk of stomach torsion which often leads to the death of animal. Your dog shouldn’t go for a walk with an empty stomach either. If it’s hungry you can give it a handful amount of dry dog food. But it shouldn’t become a habit. You should feed your dog regularly and in a perfect case, at the same time every day. Do not give food to your four-legged sidekick immediately after a walk, wait until your dog’s organism rests a little. Its stomach could be irritated and it could throw up the food.
If you are not sure about how to feed your dog, for example if you can give it a bone because you heard cooked bones may be dangerous for dogs and have a negative impact on digestion, always consult your vet. First-time dog owners should get advice from a breeder about dog food he/she finds good and what the nutrition needs of the parents of their new doggie are at least for the start. You can also search the Internet to get tips and advice from vet associations and organizations.
Did you know that the domestic cat which is now kept as a pet all over the world, is probably a domesticated form of the wild cat, specifically of its subspecies the African wildcat, European wildcat and Asiatic wildcat?
Apart from regular care for the fur and dog’s teeth we should include also the inspection and cleaning of the eyes and ear inspection in the list of everyday tasks. Even though the cats are rather known for cleanliness, it’s important also for a...
Cat is a perfect tool for hunting. It owes it to the dozens of years of evolution. While in dogs, their physical signs have been emphasised or suppressed, cats got to keep, apart from several exceptions, their main anatomical features unchanged. In...
According to various statistics, the number of cats in our country is increasing. Not only dogs, but also cats belong to increasingly more common pets. So, it can happen to us more often, that we'll meet an abandoned cat in the street and we're...
Some dogs take the arrival of a new family member in a hard way. Previously, we described how to prepare them for this situation already before the baby even arrives home and today, we will take a look at the introduction itself.
It's no longer a strange thing when a municipality sets up a dog park or a dog playground. Due to frequent regulation of off-leash movement of dogs, this should, however, often be obligatory. Do you know how to behave in such places so that you...
Another possible sport at which you can play with your dog and exercise with them at the same time, is the Dog Puller. You can practice it with all the dog breeds, no matter the size or age.
Nowadays, cats are increasingly more often becoming members of our households. Cat toilets producers are adapting to this trend as well. They can provide cats with a greater comfort in their daily need. From the perspective of the owners, the producers...
Vacation time is finally here and many of us are planning where they will be headed this year. If you decide to go for an adventure by car and to take your dog friend with you as well, a bit of advice might come in handy on how to provide safety for...
Of course that we won’t talk about how to teach a dog the swimming technique. We want to talk about how to teach the dog to get used to water and how to make swimming a positive experience for it. Since not every one of them trusts water and some are...
If you’re planning to bring a new addition home and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a kitten or an adult cat, it is necessary to prepare the flat for it as well. Do you know what will the animal need and what you shouldn’t forget about or how to choose...
No matter how thorough we are with the prevention, a situation might come up when a dog or a cat will get to a poisonous thing, whether it’s by our inattention or it's somebody else’s fault. That’s why it’s not off-topic to prepare yourself for the...
