During lactation, the body spends a lot of energy on milk production, in addition, now it needs to share all the nutrients with the offspring, which means that the diet needs a special one. Proper feeding of the dog after childbirth is the key to the health of the mother and offspring.

The quality of milk directly depends on how complete the feeding of a whelped dog will be. Normally, it contains about 7% protein, 4% lactose and 8% fat, vitamins and minerals that come from food. The lack of any elements in the diet is reflected in the qualitative composition, which in turn adversely affects the development of puppies and the condition of the mother.

The lactation period on average lasts 4-6 weeks. Until 20-25 days after birth, the secretory activity of the mammary gland increases, and then gradually decreases. Over the past decades, many studies have been conducted that have helped determine what nutrition a dog needs after giving birth at different stages of lactation.

Most minerals and vitamins do not accumulate in the body, if they are not supplied with food, they will not be at all, neither in the body, nor even in milk.

The diet should include the following products:

• Lean meat, offal (hearts, liver, stomachs), fish (sea lean);
• Kashi (buckwheat, rice, oatmeal). You can cook cereals in water or milk.
• Dairy products (cottage cheese, milk, kefir);
• Vegetables and greens.

Dog's first meal after giving birth

Many are interested in when it is possible to feed a dog after childbirth. If the dog has eaten afterbirth, it should be fed no earlier than 5-6 hours after the end of childbirth. Only offer water to drink.

Some owners find eating the placenta disgusting or unhygienic. They do not allow the newly-made mother to feast on a shapeless clot and act fundamentally wrong. Forget about prejudices, everything is thought out by nature. First of all, the placenta is an easily digestible protein, saturated with trace elements and vitamins that a dog needs to produce full-fledged colostrum. In addition, the placenta contains hormones that stimulate milk production. The only negative point is that in case of a multiple pregnancy of a dog, eating all the afterbirths can provoke a disorder; for prevention, you can give activated charcoal by weight (1-2 tablets / 10 kg).

Drinking plenty of water is a must

Drinking plenty of water does not mean that the dog will need to be forcibly poured with water after childbirth. The task of the owner is to provide the pet with liquid, wholesome food and ensure that clean drinking water is always freely available. You can offer your dog tea with milk sweetened with honey.

Feeding a dog after childbirth by weeks of lactation

First week after childbirth

During the first three days after giving birth, the dog may not have an appetite. Despite this, you need to offer food every 6-8 hours and make sure that at least a little is eaten. What is better to feed the dog after childbirth depends on the preferences of the pet, usually it is milk porridge or meat puree with vegetables.

As appetite is restored, the usual daily food intake is increased by half and divided into 5-6 doses. You need to feed the dog mainly liquid food: cereals with water or milk, give sour milk, kefir or yogurt, provided that lactose is well tolerated. Vitamin and mineral supplements are introduced, which are given until the end of lactation. In some cases, natural tonics are shown, for example, royal jelly.

In the first 5-7 days after giving birth in a dog, it is better to replace meat with more easily digestible types of protein - low-fat sea fish, cottage cheese. Also in the first week do not give fresh vegetables and fruits. Boiled meat products are recommended to be introduced only from 4-5 days, it should be lean meat (chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef) or offal (heart, liver, stomach). Everything that the mother eats is also received by the babies, so it is important to ensure that the puppies do not have a disorder, it is easy to notice by the dirty "priests" and tails.

2 and 3 weeks of lactation

The first week flew by unnoticed, what to feed a dog that has given birth next? Starting from the second week, the diet is made more diverse. Introduce vegetables (cauliflower, pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, beets), try to give fruits. If the dog feeds 3-4 puppies, the amount of food is increased by 2 times. When feeding 8 or more babies, they give at least three times more food than usual. There should be 4-5 feedings per day.

4-6 weeks of feeding

Starting from the 4th week, puppies begin to be fed and the amount of milk decreases. The amount of food for the mother should also be reduced, as well as transferring her to three meals a day. Gradually reduce the amount of liquid.

When the last puppy is taken away, the mother is given a fasting day, the day is kept almost on a starvation diet, water is limited and only 1/4 of the portion is offered. The next day, a third of the usual diet, then half, and so for 5 days they are transferred to normal feeding.

If the dog eats ready-made food

By ready-made food, they usually mean feeding the dog after giving birth by “drying”. If owners plan to feed their pet dry food throughout lactation, there are a few things to consider:

• Premium and super-premium foods are distinguished by a wide range, which should include diets for pregnant and lactating bitches. To a greater or lesser extent, they are acceptable and meet almost all the needs of the body during this period;
• It is necessary to pay attention that the percentage of protein is in the range of 24-28%;
• If the manufacturer does not produce special diets for nursing, use puppy food;
• Dry food requires a lot of moisture for digestion and even if the dog drinks plenty of water, there may not be enough water to produce the required amount of milk. Therefore, “drying”, especially in the first 2-3 weeks of lactation, is recommended to be soaked before feeding or replaced with liquid feed of the same company.
• Fermented milk products, cottage cheese, vitamin and mineral supplements are additionally introduced into the diet.

What threatens malnutrition?

One of the most dangerous postpartum complications is eclampsia, a condition that occurs against the background of calcium deficiency in the body. The disease can appear both from the first days of lactation, and at 3-4 weeks.

It is not uncommon for dog owners to experience indigestion caused by feeding their dog postpartum dairy products. In this case, rice porridge is given, the doctor may recommend sorbents or probiotics. With constipation, milk or vaseline oil most often helps to cope.

Against the background of malnutrition in mothers and puppies, immunity may decrease, which is fraught with a wide variety of diseases. Skin diseases will become a very unpleasant problem, and various infectious diseases can lead to the death of the entire litter and are dangerous to the health of the wet nurse.

At the slightest health problem, you should consult your doctor.

A nursing dog behaves calmly, does not worry, appetite and stool are normal, the owners do not notice severe exhaustion. Puppies after a delicious dinner do not squeak and do not fuss, but calmly fall asleep until the next feeding, gain weight and develop. These are all indicators that the diet meets all the needs of nursing mothers and babies.

Health, appearance and ability to bear offspring and life expectancy depend on how well the food is chosen. The question of how to feed a dog at home should be taken seriously.

Natural or dry food

The choice of the type of feeding directly depends on the owner. Feeding with natural products is an expensive and time-consuming process, directly related to the availability of free time and the desire to provide a pet with good nutrition. "Naturalka" must be supplemented with a complex of synthetic vitamins and minerals that contribute to the normal functioning of the body.

In terms of dry food, experienced breeders advise giving preference to premium and super-premium brands, such food contains animal proteins, fats, carbohydrates, micro and macro elements in sufficient quantities. Many manufacturers sell foods that are individually formulated to meet the needs of a particular breed of dog or susceptibility to certain conditions, such as allergies.

Cheap "drying" usually contains meat ingredients of poor quality and unknown origin, its advertising on TV is just a standard marketing ploy from which manufacturers profit. High-quality food is quite expensive, but you don’t need to save on pet food - this can lead to health problems.

The mixed type of feeding by breeders is not recommended at all; for the use of dry food and natural food, pets require different amounts of digestive enzymes. Such feeding can lead to serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract in a shaggy friend.

Adults and puppies

The difference between feeding a puppy and an adult dog is mainly in the frequency of feeding. The baby needs to be fed about 6 times a day, for an adult animal, morning and evening feeding is enough. Very tiny puppies, weaned from their mother's breast and up to three months old, experience a physiological need for milk - dry milk replacer for dogs sold in pet stores or goat's milk can help here.

By the age of three months, the puppies lose the enzyme that promotes the breakdown of lactose, the need for milk fades away, which means that you can feed it with products from the diet of an adult dog, with a predominance of meat products.

Proper nutrition for dogs

So, let's figure out how to feed a dog at home, whether it's a mongrel or shepherd dogs - it doesn't matter.

If the choice is made in favor of a natural type of feeding, then the dog’s menu should include the following products:

• meat and meat offal - raw or boiled beef;
• fish - preferably sea, cod or salmon families;
• fermented milk products - cottage cheese or kefir with a small percentage of fat, can sometimes be offered for breakfast;
• chicken or quail eggs - raw;
• vegetables and fruits - carrots, broccoli, it is better to serve pureed or mix with meat pate;
• cereals and bran - rich in cellular, they can be offered in the form of porridge in meat or fish broth;
• vegetable oils - sunflower and olive.

List of prohibited products

There is something that is better to exclude from the pet's diet, in order to avoid health problems:

• tubular bones - can damage the esophagus and the gastric mucosa;
• sweet food - the body of the animal cannot break down sugar and, when it enters the stomach, sweets cause fermentation, which disrupts digestion;
• sausages, sausages and smoked products contain a large amount of spices and salt, the use of such food leads to impaired liver function;
• legumes and nuts - cause flatulence;
• flour products and potatoes - lead to bloating and constipation.

Feeding your dog during pregnancy

A pregnant female needs a proper balanced diet for the full development of offspring.

In order for the dog to be able to bear and give birth to healthy puppies, it is necessary to take into account the features of feeding the expectant mother:

• products should be of "first freshness", intoxication of the body threatens to terminate the pregnancy;
• The main part of the diet should be foods containing a large amount of: animal protein - meat and fish, calcium - dairy products, essential amino acids - eggs;
• The "pregnant" will benefit from vegetables and fruits, as a natural source of vitamins;
• increase the frequency of feeding up to 5-6 times a day;
• reducing the consumption of foods containing starch;
• add to the diet a complex of synthetic vitamins for pregnant and lactating bitches.

Dog diet during lactation

The more puppies a happy mother has, the higher her need for food. The parent must eat enough to offer her babies enough milk. During the feeding period, you can offer the bitch diluted cow or goat milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, meat and fish broths.

In the postpartum period, the body of the woman in labor is weakened, the ability to absorb protein is reduced, so its amount should be under strict control.

Video

Feeding small breed dogs

Dogs of small and large breeds differ in physiological development. Small individuals grow and develop faster, and their energy consumption is higher. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of feeding small friends, otherwise malnutrition threatens with obesity, heart and liver problems.

To prevent the pet from turning into a fluffy sausage, you should follow some recommendations:

• do not exceed the amount of feed indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging of dry food;
• introduce feeding according to the regime, at regular intervals;
• choose only fresh and lean meat products;
• be sure to include vegetables and fruits in the menu.

Feeding large breed dogs

Large breed dogs have a standard menu, but they should not be overfed. Excess weight is an additional load on the joints, which is contraindicated for large breeds of dogs. The body of a large animal needs additional calcium and phosphorus preparations to strengthen bones.

What to feed a pet in the heat

In hot weather, dogs drink more and eat less. Most often, the appetite appears in the evening, so it is worth reviewing the pet's diet and offering him less high-calorie food - fermented milk products or vegetable stew.

Nutrition for dogs with enterovirus

With intoxication and diarrhea, veterinarians advise not to feed the pet during the day and provide the dog with plenty of fluids. Water will help cleanse the body of toxins and poisons that have accumulated in the body. On the second day, gradually introduce meat broths with rice, then beef and dairy products. After a week, when the work of the pet's gastrointestinal tract improves, you can return to the previous diet.

Dog nutrition in the postoperative period

After the operation, the animal can not be fed and watered. During the rehabilitation period, the dog should be fed fractionally, in small portions. Food should be easily digestible in a liquid or mushy form - meat broth, porridge with grated meat, fermented baked milk.

Features of nutrition of elderly and sick dogs

The pet's body changes and, with age, food is more difficult to digest. Therefore, the diet of older and sick dogs should be less high-calorie - this will reduce the risk of obesity.

More and more older dogs suffer from constipation, in order to avoid problems, you need to offer your pet more fermented milk products, cereals and bran rich in fiber. Portion sizes should be small and food soft.

Daily requirement for energy and vitamins

Novice owners often face a number of difficulties in compiling a diet, succumb to manipulation by pets and lose sight of important features of the breed. We will figure out how to properly feed a dog at home and how to calculate the required amount of food. An adult dog eats 1-3 times a day, based on the regimen, divide the daily allowance into portions.

Water for dogs

The basis of proper metabolism, digestion, and therefore good health is water. The daily rate is calculated on the basis of an indicator of 40-60 ml. per kilogram of the body of an adult pet (80–110 ml for puppies), if the ambient temperature does not exceed 25 ° C. Please note that the daily rate of water includes the liquid that is part of the porridge.

Protein food

Material for cell restoration and division. One of the necessary elements that the body cannot stock up for the future, so proteins must be present in the animal's diet daily. The dog's body synthesizes many vitamins and trace elements on its own, but a number of essential amino acids are found only in protein foods.

Complete sources of protein - lean meat, natural milk, eggs. Eggs are a rich source of vitamins E, B2, B12, D, proteins and essential amino acids. Along with the benefits, the product is a strong allergen, so it is not advisable to use it more than 2 times a week.

For puppies, nursing and weak pets, quail eggs are recommended for maintenance purposes.

For a change, organ meats are introduced into the dog's diet - trachea, lungs, liver, heart, udder, stomach, ears, scar, trimmings. The daily requirement of an adult dog for meat is 2.5 grams. per kilogram of weight or 15% of the total volume of food, for a puppy - 25%.

In combination with natural food, the pet should receive bones and cartilage, but taking into account several nuances: It is strictly forbidden to feed the dog tubular, costal and other bones that break into fragments under pressure - a direct path to the operating table and then, if you have time.

Bones are only fed raw. Boiled bone tissue is calcined like glass and, when chewed, breaks up into small sharp fragments.

A dog can have spongy bones (porous) - shoulder blade, brisket. As a means for teething and brushing the teeth, the dog is given sugar bones (moslak).

Moslak should be taken such that it does not fit in the dog's mouth. Don't leave an animal chewing on a bone unattended - a pet that is too enthusiastic can damage the jaw if the moslak gets stuck.

Milk is a partial alternative to meat, but with a number of conditions:

1. Homemade milk must undergo a veterinary examination, otherwise the product may endanger the life of the animal.
2. The optimal fat content of milk is 7–12%.
3. Milk must be fresh.
4. Mixing meat and milk in the same feeding is not recommended.

The need for carbohydrates

The energy base of the body, including the immune system. Fiber - bran, the shell of cereals and some of their components, act as a catalyst for digestion and bowel cleansing. The daily norm of fiber for an adult dog is 2-3% of the diet, carbohydrates - 10 gr. per kilogram. The best source of carbohydrates and fiber is cereals. They are fed only in a well-cooked form.

Porridge is made from "chopped", whole or pressed cereals - rice, oatmeal, barley, buckwheat or mixtures thereof. Feeding millet, semolina, corn and pearl barley is unacceptable! Vegetables and fruits are a source of fast carbohydrates and fiber.

Eating raw or processed vegetables in combination with cereals and meat has a beneficial effect on the tone of the gastrointestinal tract, supports the intestinal microflora, and helps the body get rid of toxins. It is optimal to finely chop or grate an apple, pumpkin, carrot, herbs, lettuce, tomato. It is worth being careful with potatoes, cabbage and beets - they can cause diarrhea.

Fats in the diet

Contrary to all the arguments about the dangers of fatty foods, no metabolism is complete without fats. Of course, the dog should not be fed excessively fatty, fried foods, foods containing harmful vegetable oils (palm, recycled).

The pet needs to receive non-synthesized fatty acids Omega 3 and 6, food that will allow you to build up a small fat layer for the winter.

The daily norm of fats is 1.3 g per kilogram for an adult dog, 2.6 g for puppies. The source of healthy fats is boiled ocean fish, vegetable oils: olive, pumpkin, sunflower, are optimally absorbed in combination with cereals.

Vitamins and minerals for dogs

The weak point of dogs is B vitamins and ascorbic acid (C), they are synthesized in the body in insufficient quantities and do not accumulate in reserve, therefore they must be present in food daily.

Note! High-quality industrial feed contains a full range of vitamins, when choosing tasty supplements, study the composition so as not to increase the required daily dose.

Vitamin supplements are given in regular courses and additionally during pregnancy, lactation, active growth or illness. Please note that phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D must be present in one complex, they are absorbed in proportion, and the excess is excreted from the body.

How to cook food

Traditionally, the dog is fed before a walk, but young German Shepherds, Dachshunds and other hunting breeds are not recommended for active walks "on a full stomach", there is a high probability of intestinal volvulus. Each owner must assess the risks and adjust the feeding schedule to the needs of the dog.

Properly prepared porridge from natural products and courses of vitamin supplements are the best way to feed a dog. If you are thinking about acquiring an “artificial” breed (shar pei, Chinese crested, chihuahua and others), evaluate your financial capabilities well.

All "unsettled" breeds are prone to allergies and need lifelong nutrition with high quality industrial feed.

If you transfer a dog from industrial to natural food, the first two weeks, the animal must be given a complex of bifidobacteria with probiotics.

There are no ideal recipes for making porridge for a dog; the amount of products is adjusted based on the condition and needs of the pet. Adapting to the diet, for 2-3 months, carry out a control weighing of the animal once every 3-4 days, you can prevent obesity or understand in time that the dog does not have enough calories.

Porridge is cooked "on meat", cereals and vegetables are added to the finished broth and make up 60% of the finished dish.

To prepare the broth, you will need meat or fish - 40% of the total volume:

1. Broiler chicken necks or soup set. An economical and quite satisfying option.
2. You can cook broth from homemade chicken, but before feeding, you must completely remove the bones from the meat. Beef.
3. Lean pork, ears, clean cartilage.
4. Offal, as an additive to the main type of meat.
5. Ocean fish - no more than 1-2 times a week.

After preparing the broth, it is necessary to remove the meat and bones from the pan, let them cool, sort and chop. Groats are poured into the broth, after cooking, vegetables are added. The only exception is carrots and beets, they do not lose their beneficial properties when cooked.

As additives, add to the heated porridge:

1. Probiotics.
2. Bone meal.
3. Vitamins B, C, E - sold in pharmacies.
4. Pharmacy brewer's yeast.
5. Seaweed or extracts from them.
6. Olive oil.
7. Fish fat.
8. Natural apple cider vinegar in very moderate amounts.
9. Complexes of vitamins and microelements purchased at a pet store.

Do not limit yourself to boiled food, offer your pet raw vegetables and fruits, organ meats, if you are sure of their quality. Feeding human foods in the form of fried, pickled, smoked, spicy, flavored foods should be completely abandoned.

Number of feedings

While the puppy was still small, it was necessary to feed him literally by the hour. But already a year, the diet is distributed over one or two feedings. Some owners prefer to feed in the morning and evening, while others only feed at bedtime. Veterinarians consider both options acceptable, although the first is still better.

A sick or old dog should be fed a light, low-fat diet, breaking up the usual diet into 3-4 meals for better digestion.

If a different regimen is not prescribed for the animal, then the question “feed the dog before or after the walk” should not be relevant at all. And this is not a matter of habit of the dog or the owner - doctors are unanimous on this score - you can give your pet food only after a walk, and not vice versa.
The fact is that the gastrointestinal tract of a dog is designed in such a way that it can twist overflowing with food during active movement, forming a torsion of the stomach and part of the intestine. Therefore, first an active walk, and then food.

If there is a need to feed the animal before walking (it cannot recover normally without replenishing the stomach with food), then the walk should take place in an inactive form, only to cope with natural needs. Only after an hour, the dog can be allowed to frolic ad libitum.

In order for your pet to please with a confident, stable, shiny coat, even posture, activity and health, it is important to provide him with proper feeding. The menu should be filled with natural food, the recipe for its preparation is not simple, but your pet will thank you. What is especially nice with natural feeding, you can see the results of your efforts very quickly.

What is natural nutrition

Natural and natural can be called food in which there are no dry foods. In addition, this option of feeding the dog is balanced, nutritious and varied. With food, the dog will not swallow harmful additives, excess salt, flavorings and other nasty things that your pet does not need. They are included in the industrial feed recipe for long-term preservation.

Naturally, the natural feeding of dogs is more to the liking of the animal, however, the owner will need to spend time preparing food and finding a recipe that will suit the pet. The diet will have to be balanced on its own, so that it contains vitamins and trace elements.

Note! Feeding a dog using natural products will cost you more than using store-bought dry food.

A natural food is one that includes:

• Meat and offal.
• Medium fat dairy products.
• Vegetables and some unsweetened fruits.
• Bran of grain crops.

In order to balance the dog's nutrition, it is advisable to mark the foods used and portions. Such a table will help organize a balanced feeding and slightly reduce the time spent on finding the right menu.

Dry food and natural woman: to interfere or not?

Every dog, regardless of its breed, needs a balanced diet, with a straight dog it will be the easiest to implement. You will have to spend money on feeding, and if you have already decided to have an animal, you should not save. This can lead to health problems and the dog will suffer for the rest of his life.

Do not give dogs vinaigrette with dry food and natural water. The consequences may be:

• metabolic disease;
• negative impact on the microflora;
• vitamins and microelements in industrial feed can lead to hypovitaminosis.

Note! The daily norm of feeding a natural woman is calculated based on the weight of the animal. Otherwise, the animal may face obesity or malnutrition.

Features of the feeding regime and the volume of servings

The mode is mainly curled by the age of the dog. Feed according to age, but not regardless of food, as indicated in the table:

• Up to 1 month - 6-8 times.
• 2-3 months - 5-6 times.
• 6-12 months - 3 times.
• 1 year and older - 2 times, that is, adult mode.

Sometimes breeders feed already adult pets 3 times - this is only worth doing if the pet is prescribed a special diet, in other cases it is not necessary to feed it so much with natural water. Also, you should not feed the dog once, but in a large portion, the animal is unlikely to guess to divide the received products into several doses.

It is impossible to say specifically by the volume of a serving, since it depends on the energy value of the products. In order for the animal to receive the necessary set of natural food, a food nutrition table will help. It is very important that the daily rate be calculated with an understanding of the energy value of each product, because on the basis of this, the serving and the number of calories will be calculated.

Menu for natural dog feeding

The menu for feeding a dog with natural food is compiled in accordance with the needs of the animal, and too much variety is not respected here. To innovate, even when feeding with natural food, is worth no more than a couple of times a week.

Meat

A dog, although domestic, is still a predator, and meat should be the basis of the menu. For starters, this excellent source of protein will be a natural, and therefore highly digestible, food for the animal. The daily norm of the content of meat products should be 70-80%. Optimal nutrition of beef, poultry (turkey and chicken), horse meat, veal. It is recommended to give offal - offal, liver, spleen, scar. But they should not be included in the diet more than 2-3 times a week. They have an energy value lower than that of meat, so their amount per serving should be more.

The meat recipe is simple. It is better to give it raw, cut into pieces that are convenient for dogs to eat.

Note! Before feeding, the meat must be boiled with boiling water.

In some cases, you can feed boiled meat or minced meat, but their amount should be reduced. An excellent source of easily digestible protein is fresh blood. It contains many essential amino acids. It must be given fresh, as such it is considered within a few hours after the slaughter of the animal. After 6-10 hours, it already needs to be cooked. Blood can be given 2 times a month.

Bones

This natural food is a must-have for dogs. But there are some nuances in feeding with similar products, among them:

It is impossible to use tubular, rib and other bones in feeding dogs, which, under the pressure of teeth, can break into fragments. It is dangerous to the life of the animal.
. When fed naturally, bones should be fed raw.
. You can give porous bones - brisket, shoulder blade.

A fish

Fish is shown from 4-5 months, and only in boiled form. Fatty varieties are best, it must be pitted before cooking. Feeding with such feeds is an additional source of protein in the animal's food.

There are restrictions on filling the diet with natural food of this type:

• Fish with bones.
• Raw fish of any kind.
• Smoked products.
• River fish, it can contain dangerous helminths.

It is useful to include in the menu for dogs: perch, bream, halibut, trout, sea bass, pollock, pike perch.

This natural food should please the pet 1-2 times a week. Do not mix fish in one serving with meat, it is better to give them separately.

Note! When feeding a dog with fish, you need to observe a reasonable measure, because the fish has the ability to break down B vitamins, which will negatively affect health.

Proper feeding with fish can be reduced in price by offering your pet gobies, and well-boiled ones, you can not even pull out the bones.

Dairy products

The diet should include dairy products. It will become a natural and habitual food for the stomach. Whole milk should be given to puppies. As you grow older, transfer the dog to fermented milk products - cottage cheese, yogurt, fermented baked milk, yogurt. With age, the number of enzymes responsible for the processing of milk proteins decreases in a dog, so you should not give too much milk.

Helpful Recipe:

• To 1 liter of milk add 1 tbsp. l. calcium chloride. It can be bought at a pharmacy.
• Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring, and leave on the stove until it cools.
• During this time, the whey and dense curd mass will separate.
• Can be strained or given as is.

From time to time, this calcined cottage cheese should be fed to an animal - this will become a natural prevention of problems with bone tissues.
Vitamins for dogs with natural feeding

Feeding a dog with natural food gives the pet all the necessary vitamins, if the diet is balanced.

It is allowed to give cereals to dogs with natural feeding. They should be boiled in vegetable or meat broth. Moreover, the bones will be an excellent basis for meat broth, since meat loses most of its nutrients during the cooking process. After cooking, the bones do not need to be given to the dog. Meat can be put in porridge a few minutes before the end of cooking. It is better to add the bulk of the portion of meat to the porridge in its raw form, the nutrition of such natural feeds will be tasty and healthy.

Cereals should be varied, but most of all, many dogs like rice and buckwheat. Vegetables are also needed, and all boiled.

Output

Natural feeding of dogs should not include products from the table. The development of a diet must be approached with all responsibility, it is best if a nutrition table is made, at first this is for sure. Feeding a dog with natural products will cost more and will take more time to feed compared to feeding dry food, but natural nutrition will only benefit the pet.

Foreword

Proper natural nutrition for a dog is mostly a monotonous, species-specific diet that does not require heat treatment, mainly consisting of medium-fat fermented milk products, raw meat or raw offal (heart, tripe, kidneys, etc.) and plant foods (vegetables and some unsweetened fruits) in their raw form, as well as in the form of cereal bran as an additive to the main diet.

Actually cereals (cereals and other flour products) should not be present in the dog's diet. Cereals and products made from flour or with its addition contain easily digestible carbohydrates, which can cause in all dogs and cats, which are known to be carnivores, a violation of the intestinal microflora, as well as a decrease in resistance. The state of the intestine, which is a key organ not only in digestion, but also in providing a defense system (resistance and immunity of the body), directly affects the health of the animal. Thus, the presence of dysbacteriosis in the intestines, which is facilitated by dietary disturbances, can lead to the development of a host of pathological processes, including an increased tendency to allergies, disruption of the internal organs, the occurrence of a number of chronic inflammatory diseases and obesity, often associated with each other.

The health and resistance of animals is highly dependent on nutrition, in which the state of the gastrointestinal tract and a healthy intestinal microflora play a very important role. If your dog's diet includes cereals or commercial dry food that contains between 40% and 55% cereals, corn, or sweet potato (sweet potatoes), normal, healthy gut microflora is not to be expected. However, even with natural nutrition, digestive disorders are possible, indicating a painful condition of the dog.

Meat in a dog's diet

The main meat in the dog's diet is lean beef, not the first grade. It is not necessary or even desirable to give your dog tenderloin and other high quality meats. It is allowed to feed lamb, horse meat, rabbit meat to dogs of all ages, given the high calorie content of lamb and rabbit meat. Pork is not recommended.

Chicken, turkey and their offal can also be given, but individually, paying attention to the reaction from the digestive system and skin. It is undesirable to feed chicken skin to dogs.

Meat, both beef and chicken, is always given raw, pre-frozen, it is not necessary to pour boiling water over or otherwise heat treat the meat. Meat should not be minced.

Offal and beef tripe

The composition of meat feeding a dog can include not only meat, but also offal (kidneys, heart, udder, offal of chickens, turkeys, etc.), which can completely replace meat. Offal must be raw. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that offal is a less nutritious component of the meat diet, in comparison with meat, but at the same time, the udder is significantly more caloric than meat.

The exception is the liver and lung, these by-products are not recommended to be given to the dog often, since not everyone tolerates raw liver equally well, and it makes no sense to process it thermally. However, many successfully use these components in the diet of dogs and cats. Untreated, unpeeled beef tripe deserves special attention; it is often given to dogs. You can start introducing meat into the diet with a scar, then gradually adding beef. A peeled tripe is simply a lighter organ meat. However, not all dogs tolerate one or another meat component equally well, therefore, if an ingredient is intolerant, which is manifested by diarrhea or vomiting, it must be removed from the diet, as well as if other components of the dog’s natural diet are not perceived.

Of course, from this or that product you can become infected with one or another disease, but rare cases of infection from raw, untested and not frozen meat do not allow you to be afraid of feeding a dog with a raw product. It is unlikely that any veterinarian will be able to recall a case of infection with something from meat. In addition, the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the stomach of carnivores is greater than that of humans and is sufficient to perform its disinfecting functions in relation to raw meat and fish. Also, we do not recommend purchasing meat "from hands" at the Poultry Market, where you can buy products obtained from a known sick animal, and even freezing it will not help, and heat treatment of meat reduces the nutritional value of the product for the dog.

Fish in the diet of dogs

Raw fillets of sea and ocean frozen fish, non-bony, low-fat varieties can be given to dogs, replacing meat in meat feeding with seafood 2-3 times a week. At the same time, it is not recommended to constantly feed the fish.

In regards to feeding fish, there are several questions that are often asked:

1. Feeding fish leads to thiamine deficiency due to the thiaminase it contains;

The problem with thiaminase is relevant for animal farms, where there is mainly a mono-diet and, if fed with one raw fish, there will be hypovitaminosis B 1, in connection with this, this is almost not relevant for a home mixed diet.

Dairy products

Dogs can be given fermented milk products with a fat content of up to 9%, not everyone tolerates such fat content well. In many dogs, the fat content of cottage cheese more than 2% can already cause loosening of the stool. But fat-free dairy products should not be given either.

Also, loosening of the stool may be associated with the brand of kefir, which should be selected more individually for sensitive dogs. Ryazhenka should not be given to dogs, as well as yoghurts with fruit or sugar.

The most optimal fermented milk products are cottage cheese with a fat content of up to 5-9%, kefir with a fat content of 3.5%, yogurt, with a short shelf life, up to 7 days.

It is possible, using the starter culture of Evitalia and Narine, based on pasteurized milk, to make a healthy fermented milk product that is useful not only for dogs and cats, but also for humans, and feed it both separately and together with cottage cheese.

Separation of dog food into sour-milk and meat

The main components of the diet are fermented milk products in one feeding and raw vegetables and raw meat with a little oil in another. As mentioned above, vegetables, if possible, can be fed to the dog separately.

This means that the composition of fermented milk feeding can include either one kefir, only cottage cheese, or kefir with cottage cheese, curdled milk, yogurt, etc. It is desirable to give fermented milk products with a short shelf life, up to 7 days. Only bran and a raw egg can be added to dairy products no more than 2-3 times a week.

The composition of meat feeding may include raw meat, offal or fish. It is impossible to mix the components of meat and sour-milk feeding with each other.

Vegetables in the dog's diet

Most vegetables can be fed to dogs: carrots, white cabbage, bell peppers, pumpkin, zucchini, beets, cucumbers. It is useful to give greens: parsley, dill, lettuce.

Vegetables can be present in feeding as a mono variant, and maybe several types of vegetables, but one type of vegetables is quite enough, cabbage and cucumbers are exceptions.

Once a week, it is advisable to give the dog a raw clove of garlic, 2-3 times a week a few tablespoons of sauerkraut, which is very rich in ascorbic acid.

Greens and vegetables should always be given raw, finely chopped or rubbed on a regular coarse grater. In the summer, when keeping a dog at the cottage, you can feed any edible greens, including young shoots of steamed nettles growing in the garden. If the animal eats plants and fruits on its own, then you can not add extra.

Vegetables and greens should always be given only with meat feeding or separately. It is not necessary to mix raw plant foods with the components of a fermented milk diet, with the exception of bran, which goes well with meat and dairy foods.

As a treat and as a source of crude fiber, dogs can be given vegetables or unsweetened fruits to nibble on.

Bran (see below for bran) in a dog's diet can supplement or even replace raw vegetables, especially in cases where the addition of vegetables leads to indigestion in various forms (flatulence, vomiting, diarrhea).

Consistency of dog food

Dogs should not be given minced or mashed food. The meat should be cut into pieces, hard vegetables grated on a large regular grater, greens, lettuce finely chopped. Dogs like to gnaw apples on their own, bran can be added to wet food, both dairy and meat. Dogs and cats do not chew food, but swallow it, if the piece corresponds to the size of the animal or bite off a piece available for swallowing - this is physiological for them and does no harm. In addition, ready-made minced meat contains too much fat. Even if the dog has few or no teeth, food can be given in lump form.

Eggs in the dog's diet

Eggs can be given raw, both chicken and quail, adding to milk feeding 2-3 times a week. Both puppies and adult dogs can and should be given both the yolk and the protein, without dividing.

Bran

Bran in the dog's diet, as well as vegetables, is a source of fiber and therefore it is recommended to add them to the dog's diet along with vegetables or replace them.

The main advantage of bran is the high content of dietary fiber (fiber), which enhance peristalsis, regulate and improve the condition of the intestinal microflora.

Bran can be purchased at health stores, pharmacies or grocery stores in bulk and added as such to both fermented milk and meat feeding.

But in fermented milk it is preferable, since bran manifests itself to the maximum when it absorbs liquid and swells. Then, once in the stomach, the bran does not undergo any changes and, holding water, enters the intestines, accelerating intestinal motility.

And you can buy bran in the form of crispy sticks or bran plates and pre-soak. You should not buy bran products, including crispy sticks with salt added. But at the same time, you can give bran combined with fiber from carrots and other vegetables. The amount of bran (in dry form) for a dog weighing 20-25 kg is 1 tsp. no slides added to each feeding. The dose can be varied for greater efficacy or high sensitivity.

Oil in the diet of dogs

Dogs can add different types of oils to meat nutrition - olive, unrefined sunflower, pumpkin, linseed, etc., while exotic ones should be avoided. At the same time, the main oils are unrefined sunflower and olive. Vegetable oils are added to the bowl where there are vegetable food components (vegetables) in a dose from a few drops for a small dog to a tablespoon for a large dog.

Fruits and dried fruits

Sweet fruits in the diet of a dog should not be, dogs simply cannot be given sweets. Almost all fruits are sweet, the only fruit allowed is a green, not too sweet apple, although there is no need to forbid a dog to eat berries in a summer cottage.

Bones in the diet of dogs

Raw bone, an important source of calcium and phosphorus, is part of the canine diet and, of course, bones can be fed to dogs that have a full-fledged dental apparatus and do not have chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Large dogs are fed the ends (epiphyses) of bones, smaller dogs can be given spongy raw chicken bones: brisket, neck. It is not recommended to give boiled bones to dogs, they are poorly digested, as they can cause intestinal obstruction.

Prebiotic and probiotic environment in the gut. Carbohydrates in the diet

Probiotics are preparations based on live "good" microorganisms: lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which remain viable when passing through the gastrointestinal tract, multiply in it and inhibit the development of pathogenic bacteria.

Prebiotics are completely indigestible food ingredients that are a substrate, a nutrient medium for the growth and life of beneficial microorganisms in the intestine, and also stimulate its work.

In the absence of a prebiotic environment (indigestible fiber), the number of beneficial bacteria is sharply reduced, since they lack the prebiotic environment they need for nutrition and their share in the intestinal microenvironment will be occupied by pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, yeast fungi, etc., which, in fact, is dysbacteriosis.

Cereals, bread, pasta are easily digestible carbohydrates (starch), dogs need complex carbohydrates of a different type, which are found in raw vegetables or bran and which dogs and cats cannot digest. From complex carbohydrates, crude fiber, carnivores cannot extract energy; ruminants, herbivores "specialize" in this. It is raw vegetables and bran, or rather the indigestible fiber they contain, that create a prebiotic environment in the dog’s intestines, which is the basis and substrate for creating a probiotic environment and forming a healthy intestinal microflora.

At the same time, if the dog has proper natural nutrition, then even without the use of probiotics, the dog develops the correct probiotic environment and intestinal microflora over time, but only if the animal is healthy and free from congenital and acquired diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that require treatment and not dependent on proper diet. It is for this reason that the introduction of probiotics into the diet of a dog that receives cereals or dry food does not bring the desired long-term result.

The role of the prebiotic environment in the dog's diet is performed by raw vegetables, which are best (but not necessary) given to animals in the form of separate feeding, and also, adding to the dairy or meat diet, these components are combined.

It is better to give dogs veterinary probiotics, only if they are not available, then try human ones. It is possible to take probiotics prophylactically once every 3-4 months, but prebiotics must be constantly supplied to the digestive system, especially since this is not a medicine, but a regular component of the diet.

At the same time, you need to understand that if the dog has proper nutrition and the dog is healthy, then without the use of probiotics, healthy intestinal microflora forms independently in the intestine over time.

Can I mix dry food and wet natural or canned food?

Mixing different types of food has no advantage over the strict principles of feeding a dog, moreover, dry food is designed to be fed exclusively to him. If you add other components during the day, then the imbalance is guaranteed. In addition, combining diets does not make any sense: either convenience or a natural diet.

Vitamins and mineral supplements

An adult dog that receives proper natural nutrition does not need to be supplemented with any vitamin and mineral preparations all the time. In spring and early summer, dry yeast can be added to food, which is a natural complex of vitamins. Also, as a natural source of vitamins, you can give seaweed (kelp) once a year, but you must take into account the possibility of an individual allergic reaction.

At the same time, puppies and adult dogs need vitamins and minerals during pregnancy and lactation. You can read more details in this post.

The total amount of food of all feedings per day is calculated by the formula: up to 6 months. 6-7% and over 6 months. 3-3.5% of body weight (body weight is calculated without taking into account body fat, of course, approximately).

The resulting daily amount of food is divided in half between 50% sour-milk products, 50% raw meat and everything related to meat (beef offal, poultry, fish), raw plant food is given ad libitum, but approximately 15-20% from the volume of the meat portion. For example, for an average dog weighing 20 kg, you can eat a medium carrot, cabbage leaf, two teaspoons of bran, a medium apple, etc. per day. Please note that vegetables and bran are an additive to the protein diet and are not included in the calculated percentages (6-8% and 3-4%).

An example of calculating the amount of food for a dog weighing 15 kg, age 6 months and older:

15x0.04*=0.6 kg. or 600 gr. Of these, 300 gr. this is cottage cheese and kefir, which will make up sour-milk feeding and meat will consist of 300 gr. raw meat, to which add about 100 gr. raw grated vegetables and 1-2 tsp. unrefined vegetable oil.

An example of calculating the amount of food for a dog weighing 15 kg, less than 6 months old:

15x0.07*=1 kg. or 1000 gr. Of these, 500 gr. this is cottage cheese and kefir, which will make up sour-milk feeding and meat will consist of 500 gr. raw meat, to which add about 100-150 gr. raw grated vegetables and 1-2 tsp. unrefined vegetable oil.

* - Coefficient obtained by dividing 4 and 7% by 100

This formula is not absolute and mandatory, the dog's feeding regimen, and the amount of food may vary depending on the physiological state (pregnancy, breed tendency to be overweight, the presence of hormonal disorders, etc.); age: old and aging animals reduce the amount of food to 2.5-3% by weight; from physical activity (duration of a walk, office work, swimming); habitats of the animal (apartment, open enclosure); time of year (more in winter, less in summer); other individual characteristics, etc. Fasting days without meat at all are also welcome, but without increasing the dose of dairy food.

Are there breed characteristics of the dog's diet?

There are no fundamental features for a healthy dog ​​of any breed, regardless of the size and anatomical inconsistencies with the progenitor of canines - the wolf. An ill animal may and will need correction, but this requires individual work with the pet.

Afterword

As you can see, among these food components there are no dry and wet commercial foods, cereals in the form of cereals, bread, and other carbohydrate foods. They are not recommended for the dog, just as feeding sweet sugary fruits and everything else is not recommended.

The biggest mistake owners make when it comes to dog food is overfeeding. Even if the recommended components are maintained, but their volume is greater than the norm, then this is as harmful as feeding unacceptable foods to a dog.

You should follow a simple rule that works in most cases - if after eating food a dog or cat left any amount of it in the bowl, then this means that the animal is already overfed. The bowl does not have to be constantly filled, as is often the case. Only an animal with a moderate food instinct will not overeat in the face of unlimited access to food.

An animal that experiences health problems with natural nutrition (diarrhea, regular vomiting) is sick and requires treatment. Switching to dry food will only adapt the animal to the disease, and will not get rid of it. It is like a diet that makes life easier, which has the right to be used in the practice of a veterinarian, especially in cases where the animal's health condition is irreparable or the doctor is not able to cope with the pathology with a natural diet. Owners need to understand this.

Therefore, the question - How to feed a dog, can be answered as follows: only natural food, which contains everything necessary for the body of a carnivore. And all the talk about the domestication of the dog is nothing more than talk about the dog, just like the wolf, was and will remain a dog and a wolf. It is also necessary to know that the recommendations of breeders or felinologists, as well as the popular literature written by them on keeping and feeding cats, has nothing to do with objectively correct ways of feeding, because the reason for such recommendations is partly from ignorance and misunderstanding of the biological nature of the dog and cat, and, partly, to reduce the cost or simplify the maintenance of the animal.

If you follow all the above feeding rules, your pet will live a long and healthy life.

Health to you and your smaller brothers.

In this article I will tell you how to properly feed a dog on naturalka. You will learn what the natural diet is based on and whether it is worth choosing this feeding option. I will consider the rules for calculating the diet, balance of nutrients and diet. I will make an overview of allowed and prohibited products.

Whether to feed the dog with natural food or not is up to the owner to decide.

Natural food has many benefits. This is a variety of diet, the ability to control nutrients, confidence in the quality of the ingredients.

However, natural feeding requires more time for selecting and purchasing products, calculating the balance and daily food preparation.

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the pet will need fresh meat, cereals, vegetables, dairy and other products every day. Periodically you need to buy vitamins.

What is natural nutrition

Over the millennia of human training, the psychology and behavior of dogs have changed, but the physiology has remained approximately the same as that of the ancient ancestors.

A dog is a predator that in the wild ate animals. From a completely gnawed victim, the animal's body received: protein and vitamins from meat and offal, carbohydrates from undigested plants, minerals from bones.

Approximately on these, only in more perfect principles, dogs are based. This type of diet is natural for pets, does not change the functioning of the digestive system, and fully satisfies the instincts and physiological needs.

The range of necessary and permitted products for a dog is small. But pets do not need variety.

Mode

First, the volume of the daily ration is calculated: 2-3% of the weight of an adult dog, 5-10% of a puppy, 3-5% of a teenager, 1-2% for obesity. For example, with an animal weighing 20 kg, the volume of food is 600 g. These are average data for an inactive dog.

The calorie content of the diet is increased during intense exercise, during the cold season, during pregnancy and lactation.

Approximate calorie intake

Calorie requirement (kcal):

Dog weight (kg)	Low activity	Average activity	Intensive loads
20	1300	1700	2150
25	1500	2000	2500
30	1700	2300	2800
40	2100	2700	3400

Every day a dog per 1 kg of weight should receive:

• proteins 3-4 g;
• carbohydrates 10-15 g;
• fats 1-2 g.

Based on this, the dog's daily diet should consist of: 2/3 of meat, fish and offal and 1/3 of vegetables and cereals with the addition of vegetable oils or other fat.

Puppies and adolescents up to five months are fed 5 times, at 6-7 months - 4 times, up to 10-12 months - 3 times. Adult dogs are fed twice a day - in the morning and in the evening at the designated time. To do this, the entire daily diet is divided into two equal parts.

Allowed and prohibited products

Sources of protein - meat, sea fish, egg, milk. The basis of the feed is meat, it is given raw.

Preferred: beef, veal, rabbit and poultry without skins. Also bone products: chicken wings, lamb ribs, beef and turkey necks. When buying in a dubious place, the product is scalded in boiling water, boiled or frozen in the freezer.

Offal: liver, tripe, heart, kidneys give 1-3 times a week - instead of meat. Bones are removed from the fish, boiled or fed raw. For a full-fledged diet, the pet is given milk, bio-yogurt (without filler), cottage cheese, curdled milk or kefir. Raw yolk is mixed with cereals or dairy products.

Carbohydrates and vitamins:

• rice, buckwheat, barley, oatmeal, corn grits;
• broccoli, carrots, zucchini, beets, potatoes, pumpkins, tomatoes, cucumbers;
• dill, dandelion, spinach, lettuce;
• crackers, biscuits, rye bread;
• any berries and fruits without stones.

The need for fat is covered by vegetable oils, melted beef fat and milk. Oils are mixed with porridges cooked in water.

No need to overload the diet with cereals. The dog's body is not adapted to digest cereals, so cereals are always given together with meat and fish.

The dog should not be given:

In spring and autumn, the dog should be given. To find out which vitamin is needed at a certain period, consult a veterinarian.

Most often these are cereals, dairy products, vegetables and fruits. Therefore, new foods are introduced into the diet gradually, in small portions.

Sample menu for a dog

This is the diet of a dog weighing 20 kg and average physical activity.

meat day

• chicken necks 300 g;
• bioyogurt 50 ml;
• fish oil or olive oil 0.5 tsp.

• beef 200 g;
• rice porridge on water 100 g;
• fresh pumpkin 50 g;
• linseed oil 2 tsp

Fish

• chicken backs (or other bone products) 300 g;
• curdled milk 50 ml;
• linseed oil 0.5 tsp

• sea ​​fish 250 g;
• fresh vegetables 120 g;
• egg yolk 1 pc.;
• olive oil 2 tsp

Fruit is best given between feedings throughout the day. For example, as a reward.

With the advent of ready-made feeds, many owners of their pets have switched to mixed feeding. Veterinarians believe that this is not true. The dog's body gets used to one type of food, so the combination can lead to gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, the balance of nutrient intake is greatly disturbed.

How to feed

To avoid problems with the health and behavior of the pet, you need to follow the recommendations of veterinarians.

• feed at the same time;
• clean up the bowl of uneaten food after 20 minutes;
• give food room temperature only(18-20 degrees);
• the food should be thick, liquid food is not compatible with the dog's digestion;
• should always be near bowl of fresh water, it must be changed at least 2 times a day;
• you can not give food before intense exercise, an interval of at least 1-2 hours;
• you can not distract the pet while eating: stroke, call, clean.

Do not feed your pet the leftovers of lunch and teach them to take food from strangers.

Veterinarians do not recommend fanatically copying template menus. This can lead to difficulties in selecting products, take a lot of time and affect the maintenance of the dog. Just find out the needs of your dog, study the recommendations for foods and daily food intake.

Pay attention to the condition of the pet: behavior, coat, skin and well-being. Improper nutrition, even if it is a straight woman - a lack or an overabundance, always manifests itself outwardly.