9 Key Tips to Feed and Treat Your Dog the Right Way
Are you feeding your dog properly and making sure they get all the nutrition they need while maintaining a healthy weight? It may come as a surprise but most pets actually tend to be overweight due to the fact that their owners don’t take the right approach to feeding and treating them.
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If you want your dog to be healthy and maintain a good quality of life, here are 9 key tips you need to follow:
- Visit the vet regularly
Schedule a visit to your vet at least once a year so they can check on its weight and spot any conditions due to poor nutrition. Veterinarians should be your first port of call for diet or weight loss recommendations.
- Follow feeding guidelines
Pet food generally comes with feeding guidelines based on your dog’s age, size, lifestyle and breed. Be sure to follow them, unless advised by a vet to do otherwise in order to lose or gain weight.
- Prioritize a balanced diet
The main priority when choosing dog food should be ensuring it is complete and balanced for dogs – which you can typically check by looking for the AAFCO label. Aside from that you can natural dog food or therapeutic diets that may cost more but are often a little bit healthier.
- Do not treat excessively
It is normally recommended that any treats you give your dog do not exceed 10% of their daily calorie intake. If you treat your dog too much it may cause weight gain and make their diet imbalanced.
- Be careful with home-prepared diets
Home-prepared diets can be a good option, but you need to be careful when making them. Many dog owners who go down this route fail to create complete and balanced diets for their dogs, which can lead to major health issues in the long term, including malabsorption in dogs. To avoid this be sure to talk to your vet beforehand.
- Avoid feeding table scraps
Slipping your dog table scraps may seem like a good idea but it can quickly lead to them becoming overweight. Additionally some foods and ingredients (such as chocolate, raisins, onions, and many others) may be toxic to dogs – and can cause indigestion or other issues.
- Get your dog to eat more slowly
If your dog eats too quickly it can cause bloat – which is a serious condition. Pay close attention to your dog’s eating habits and if they are eating too quickly try using a slow-feeder bowl, food puzzle, or feeding them in smaller portions to slow them down.
- Try to feed twice a day
Generally it is best to feed your dog twice a day so that they don’t go too long between meals. Of course puppies and some dogs that require special diets may need to be fed more frequently.
- Don’t use elevated feeders
Recent studies have shown evidence that elevated feeders can increase the chance of bloat – so it’s best to avoid them unless they’re necessary due to some other health-related issue. It is best to feed your dogs in normal bowls that are preferably ceramic.
By following these tips you’ll be able to ensure that your dog eats right and is all the healthier for it. It should make it easier to keep their weight at optimal levels and avoid many health issues that are often linked to dogs being overweight.
Always remember that the key to keeping your dog happy and healthy is consistency. Make each of these tips a habit and both you and your doggy best friend will benefit from it in the long term.
