Pampered Dog Blog

Successful dog health care can only be achieved by fulfilling their dietary requirements.

A dog’s nutritional requirements differ depending on their age, so managing their diet is not as straightforward as it initially appears.

This article will highlight the basics of managing a dog’s diet to make sure it is benefiting their general health. The cornerstone of successful dog ownership is a good diet.

Adults

Balance is the most important aspect of a dogs diet, just like in humans. Protein is fundamental in maintaining this balance. It is recommended their protein content is 20 to 30 per cent, so be sure to include protein rich foods in their diets, such as chicken, salmon and lamb.

Pastas, cereals and rice will give your dog the crucial carbohydrates they need to fuel their energy.

To ensure smooth bowel movement, complement their diet with plenty of fibre.

On top of getting the food right, it is important to feed your dog twice a day, at the same times, with similar portion sizes.

Feeding Puppies

Puppies have very similar diets to adults, except their food needs to be higher in energy and easier to digest. You will need to feed a puppy less, more often, because they have smaller stomachs.

There are some foods you cannot give to a puppy that you would be okay giving to a normal dog. Table scraps are an example of this, because they can be particularly hard to digest.

Senior Dogs Diets

Older dogs are less active and have a slower metabolism; therefore their nutritional needs are different from adults and puppies.

An older dogs diet needs to be easily digestible, as well as low on calories. Key minerals such as vitamin C and vitamin E will support their aging joints.

As dogs begin to age, their ability to chew effectively lessens. For this reason you should keep their portions smaller and avoid meals with large pieces of chewy meat.