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's vital functions.

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 animal's body 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.

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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, products 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.

The key to health, a confident “stand”, correct posture, shiny coat, activity and a full-fledged lifestyle of a dog is the way it is fed. There are general norms and recommendations on how to properly feed a dog with natural food, of course, there is an alternative - industrial food, but each animal needs an individual approach, so let's deal with the nuances.

Before purchasing a pet, you should study the many breed nuances of feeding and keeping. It is important to understand that even if you adopt a mongrel from a shelter, this is a dog that needs the same complete nutrition as a titled pet. Accept it as a fact - the maintenance of any animal requires material costs, do not expect to feed the dog with homemade food "from the table" or the cheapest dry food. As a result, the treatment of a pet will take much more time, money, and most importantly, the animal will suffer all his life. A number of fundamental rules that will help maintain the health of the animal:

• In most cases, it is fraught with metabolic disorders.

• Adversely affects the intestinal microflora.

• Industrial feeds are enriched with vitamins and microelements, mixing diets can lead to hypervitaminosis.

The daily food intake is calculated based on the weight and energy needs of the pet. An imbalance leads either to obesity or to a decline in strength and exhaustion. The daily weight of food should be 2-3% of the weight of the dog, if we are talking about an adult pet.

An important nuance, the larger the dog, the less its need for a daily calorie intake of a kilogram of weight.

When calculating, take into account the energy needs of the animal; you cannot feed a yard dog of chain or aviary content in the same “mode” with a pet that is employed in the service or regularly engages in “dog sports”. Elderly dogs also have reduced calorie requirements, but protein, fatty amino acids, and proteins should remain the same.

• The need for large breeds with a weight of 45–70 kg: 30–24 kcal / kg of body weight.

• The need for medium breeds with a weight of 15–30 kg: 39–33 kcal / kg of weight.

• The need for small breeds with a weight of 5–10 kg: 52–44 kcal / kg of body weight.

• The need for miniature breeds with a weight of 2-5 kg: 65 kcal / kg of body weight.

Important! A complete ban on fatty foods in the dog's diet, to put it mildly, is not logical. Of course, proteins, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids and trace elements are extremely important, but a moderate amount of fat is also necessary. The main thing is to carefully monitor the weight of the pet, especially after surgery, illness, pregnancy, stress and adjust the diet if the dog begins to recover.

Provide constant access to water, the dog should have it at any time, especially after an active walk, in hot weather, with low humidity. , a subtle but serious threat to the life and health of a pet. It is recommended to change the water once a day, in the hot season - at least 2 times. If in your city or locality, tap water has a high percentage of impurities (scale remains in the kettle), it is recommended to drink purified water for the dog - salts, phosphorus, chlorine, unpurified calcium obtained with water, the most common cause of urolithiasis.

Note! Excessive water intake is a dangerous symptom for the female. Dogs experience intense, uncontrollable thirst when they develop pyometra, a purulent inflammation of the uterus.

Read also: The dog growls at the owner: reasons, facts, statistics

Feeding an adult dog - 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 takes food 1-3 times a day, based on the regimen, divide the daily allowance into portions.

Water

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.

Squirrels

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.

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, rib 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 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.

Read also: Weighted training collar for dogs

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

• Homemade milk must undergo a veterinary examination, otherwise the product may endanger the life of the animal.

• The optimal fat content of milk is 7–12%.

• Milk must be fresh.

• Mixing meat and milk in the same feeding is not recommended.

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

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, products containing harmful vegetable oils (palm, recycled). The pet needs to receive non-synthesized Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids as well as products 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

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 treats, 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 the same complex, as they are absorbed in proportion, and the excess is excreted from the body.

A lot depends on the proper nutrition of a pet - the shine of the coat, the correct stance, the health and activity of the pet. Therefore, every person who decides to get a puppy needs to know how to properly feed a dog, and what rules should be followed? At present, general recommendations and norms have been drawn up on how to feed an adult dog and puppy so as not to harm their health and maintain the general condition of the pet. Many owners believe that they need to feed the dog only dry food, as they contain a large amount of vitamins and useful components. However, this is not the case - it is necessary to feed an adult dog in a balanced way, since dry food can lead to serious digestive problems over time. What can you feed a dog, regardless of its age and breed?

Dog Feeding: Fundamental Rules

Before buying a puppy for yourself, you need to find out in advance what is the best way to feed the dog - for this, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the nuances of keeping and feeding a pet so that you do not encounter an unpleasant situation later. Nutrition is important for any dog, no matter where you take him - buy from breeders or take in a shelter.

Attention! Every dog ​​owner should know that keeping even the smallest breed of dog costs money, so you should not try to feed your pet from your table or give him cheap and often unhealthy food. Indeed, because of such a negligent attitude, a lot of effort and money will have to be spent on treatment. And if the disease is started, the dog will suffer throughout his life.

What is the best food for a dog? The following fundamental rules will help answer the question:

1. It is not recommended to give dogs mixed food, namely natural food along with dry food. As a rule, this causes a deterioration in metabolism, and also has a negative effect on the condition of the intestines. There are many microelements, minerals and vitamins in dry food, therefore, as a result of mixing food, a pet may develop hypervitaminosis.
2. The amount of food that should be given to dogs per day depends on the breed, energy components and weight of the animal. If this balance is disturbed, it can cause obesity or, conversely, general depletion of the body, which will result in weakness and a complete lack of strength for the pet. The amount of food taken per day should be equal to 3% of the total weight of the pet.
3. When calculating the optimal energy requirement of an animal, it should be remembered that you cannot give the same food to a guard and service dog and a yard free dog. Of course, the pets that serve need to be fed much more balanced, because their body spends much more energy per day.
4. Elderly pets should also be fed on an energy schedule. The only difference is that older animals need to reduce the amount of calories they consume, while proteins and fats should remain at the same level.

What is the best food for a large dog? Nutrition must be varied and carefully selected so that it contains all the useful substances.

The scheme for feeding dogs by age is as follows (it takes into account kilocalories, which form the basis of any diet):

1. dogs whose weight is from 45 to 70 kilograms should receive 30-24 kcal / kg of body weight per day;
2. pets with a weight of 15 to 30 kilograms should receive 39-33 kcal / kg of weight per day;
3. small breeds, whose weight is 5-10 kilograms, should take 52-44 kcal / kg of weight per day;
4. miniature animals weighing up to 5 kilograms should receive 65 kcal / kg of body weight.

Attention! When thinking about what to feed a large dog, you need to remember that you should not completely create a ban on fatty foods. After all, fats, as well as amino acids, vitamins, proteins and proteins are needed by the body for its normal functioning. At the same time, the optimal amount of fat will not cause health problems, and will not lead to fullness.

The key to successful nutrition is careful monitoring of the pet's weight, especially if he has recently undergone surgery, pregnancy, or a serious illness. If the dog begins to recover, the amount of food needs to be slightly reduced, since obesity is fraught with the development of diseases that are dangerous to health.

Pets should always have water “within walking distance” so that they can replenish fluids at any time. It is especially important that it be available to the dog after a walk, in hot weather, and also at low humidity.

Dehydration is a subtle, but very life-threatening threat, especially if the owners constantly feed their pets only dry food. If the water in your city or village is dirty or contains a large amount of impurities, it is better to first pass it through the filter and only then give the dogs water.

What a natural and safe dog menu looks like

Thinking about how to feed a large or small dog, you need to remember that the composition of the food must contain the components necessary for the full functioning of the body. These include:

• vitamins;
• carbohydrates;
• proteins;
• fats;
• trace elements.

A special criterion is that the food must be fresh, natural and free of fragrances and dyes. Usually, cheap animal feeds have such a low-quality composition, which it is advisable to bypass.

If you feed your pet with natural products, they should be thermally processed, but this is not done too intensively - in this way it will be possible to preserve all the beneficial substances found in the products, and also not reduce their health benefits.

What to feed a dog at home? The ratio of products with which it will be possible to provide the pet with everything necessary should be as follows:

1. meat products (offal, poultry, beef) - should be 1/3 of the diet;
2. cereals (buckwheat, rice, hercules) - should be 1/3;
3. vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, cabbage) - should be 1/3;
4. fruits are added to food in small quantities;
5. to improve the digestion of the animal, it is recommended to add a spoonful of vegetable oil to the food (this also enhances the taste).

Attention! Meat, at the request of the owner, alternates with fish, which must be sea. Before adding to the porridge, it needs to be cut, namely, to remove the head, entrails and bones.

Feeding an adult dog porridge is the best option. Cereals for animals should be cooked in the same way as for people - on water, in the same ratio of cereals and water and the same amount of time. If you are going to give food soon after cooking, fish, vegetables and meat are added to the porridge 10 minutes before the end of cooking. You don't need to salt your food!

Dairy products are given to dogs with caution, as they can cause intestinal volvulus and other dangerous diseases. To maintain calcium levels, it is recommended to give eggs to dogs 2 times a week.

But some cereals should be discarded, because they are not digested by the body or cause serious harm to the digestive organs. These include:

• semolina;
• corn;
• barley.

What to feed a dog at home? In addition to porridge, meat and vegetable products, mineral and vitamin complexes must be present in the food of pets. Their type and number depend on the breed and weight of the pet. If desired, such complexes are purchased at a veterinary pharmacy or with the help of products that contain a large amount of minerals and vitamins.

Dogs are strictly forbidden to give the following foods, which can lead to serious problems with digestion and the functioning of certain organs. These include:

• peas;
• mutton;
• Salo;
• pork;
• barley;
• bread;
• oats;
• pasta;
• spices;
• candy;
• sugar;
• salt.

Attention! Giving tubular bones and chicken feet to dogs is not worth it, as they can damage the lining of the esophagus or get stuck in the throat.

What can you feed small dogs? Their diet is no different from feeding large breeds. The only difference is that small dogs need to be given high-calorie food, the parameters of which are presented above. Also, barley should not be given to small breeds, since it causes stagnation and the work of the digestive organs - only large breeds that have a well-formed work of the digestive organs need to cook such porridge.

What kind of food can you feed your dog?

When thinking about what kind of food to feed large and small dogs, it is worth noting that it is recommended to choose a super premium class. Such food contains only natural and healthy additives, which, if taken frequently, cannot harm the health of the animal.

Dry food that is well-made is quite affordable and suitable for dogs, but their choice should be approached responsibly.

Premium food, which is made with high quality, contains a large number of nutrients and useful elements for the dog, which are necessary for its normal and full development. When thinking about what kind of food to feed your pet, you should also not forget that he is begging based on the following criteria:

• the size;
• age;
• breed;
• physiological features.

Today, 3 types of feed are known, namely:

1. everyday - its balanced composition allows you to give the dog such food every day, while not having a negative effect on the digestive organs;
2. therapeutic - a special type of food that should be given to a dog during an illness (before using such food, it is advisable to visit a doctor);
3. special - food that helps to solve many health problems of the animal (for example, eliminate obesity or normalize blood composition).

What is the best food to feed a dog? It must be balanced and of high quality, because they contain the optimal amount of fat, protein and carbohydrates. They also contain 30-50% meat, vitamins, herbal ingredients, minerals and natural preservatives. Thanks to this, it will be possible to maintain the health of the dog, as well as endow the body with useful substances.

Attention! Thinking about what kind of food is best to feed the dog, do not forget that dry food adversely affects the condition of the pet if he drinks little water. Therefore, the dog should always have access to a liquid that normalizes digestion and helps to quickly absorb all the beneficial substances in the feed.

What to feed an adult dog? If you decide to feed your pet with food, you must definitely choose natural food - if such a product contains dyes, sugar, feathers, starch and skin, it should not be given to a pet. Usually such a composition is present in cheap feed, which means it is better to bypass them. Such components cause a deterioration in metabolism, diseases of the excretory system, and can also become the culprit in the development of allergies.

The advantages of feeding pet food include a balanced composition, a minimum amount of time for cooking, as well as an easy selection of the dosage that the dog needs to take throughout the day.

However, this diet also has its downsides. These include:

1. the taste of the feed must be selected based on the preferences of the animal, since he may not like it;
2. cheap food is seriously harmful to health, and not everyone can afford expensive species;
3. if the dog began to eat one type of food, it can no longer be changed to another, since the pet's body is already accustomed to a certain composition, and its abrupt replacement can adversely affect the dog's health.

Attention! Thinking about the best way to feed a large dog, it is worth noting that the amount of food required for a single dose should not be increased. After all, after taking the liquid by the dog, it will swell, which will lead the pet to a complete absence of hunger. If the owners give more food than the manufacturer requires, this can cause a glut of useful substances, which is unsafe for the animal.

It is especially important to observe the dose of food for old and small dogs.

What are the features of feeding dogs at home

Proper nutrition includes:

1. it is recommended to feed an adult dog 2 times a day, and puppies - 3-4;
2. feeding is best done after a walk to avoid intestinal volvulus;
3. after the pet has eaten, it must be left alone for 1-2 hours;
4. it is forbidden to give your pet food from the master's table, since even a small piece of bread can cause serious diseases, for example, enteritis, pancreatitis or gastroenteritis (if you really want to please the dog, you can buy him a special treat in the store - ponytails or ears, which are certainly not be harmful to health).

By following these rules, as well as feeding the dog in a balanced way, it will be possible to maintain its health, and it will also be possible to constantly maintain the balance of essential nutrients in the body.

If a dog appears in the house, you are responsible for its life and health. And this health is largely dependent on nutrition. Compiling the right diet for the animal is the key to its normal life, long life and the absence of problems with the body. After all, the dog should receive with food the whole complex of minerals and vitamins that it needs.

Dry food is a real find for owners. With it, a person no longer needs to take care of the proper nutrition of the dog. Many dry foods are labeled "complete". This means that such food can completely replace other types of food, without compromising the health of the dog. But how to feed the animal correctly so that it feels good?

The benefits of dry food

Why dry food has firmly entered our lives and the lives of our pets? Why has dry food become so popular that it is now available for almost every pet dog?

Dry food has many benefits. Firstly, it is a balanced diet that can satisfy the dog's need for all the necessary vitamins and minerals. The owner does not need to worry about what else the animal may need - everything is in one package. Secondly, dry food is convenient for the owner - poured into a bowl and no problems. No need to waste time cooking, heating, cooling. Dry food does not require special storage conditions. This convenience facilitates the process of keeping a dog in the family, which gives a definite plus.

If necessary, you can buy dry food for a dog that is at a certain point in life. If the bitch is pregnant or nursing puppies, she needs more nutrients, which is taken into account by the special series of dry food for pregnant and lactating. There is also a line of food for sickly, mobile and allergic or obese dogs. This allows you to adjust the nutrition of the animal at different periods of its life.

There is another advantage of dry food - the financial side of the issue. Yes, many do not bother and feed the dog from the common table - a lot of money is not spent on this. However, on such a diet, the dog will not last long. For normal life, he needs vitamins, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, meat, fish every day. Dry food is much more profitable than preparing a natural full-fledged dinner for your dog every day.

Dry food is small pieces of food that differ in calorie content, quality and taste. When choosing a brand of dry food, pay attention to its class. Premium dry food usually contains absolutely all the minerals and vitamins that the animal needs. However, in order for the dog to learn them all, it is necessary to feed the animal with dry food according to the rules.

1. First you need to choose food. If you feed your dog the same food all the time, don't change it. There is an erroneous opinion that says that you need to add variety to the diet and change the brand of feed. This is not true. If your pet's food suits him perfectly, his coat is silky, and he feels good, do not change the type of food.
2. You can buy food "by weight" only in large veterinary stores, in which there is a large turnover. If a large bag of food was opened more than a week ago, you should not take such a treat.
3. Don't buy too cheap pet food. Often they do not contain the declared vitamins and minerals. In addition, they need to be supplemented with complementary foods - other necessary minerals. Cheap food often does more harm than good.
4. If the dog eats only dry food, a bowl of fresh water should always be within sight of the dog. Since the food swells in the stomach of the animal, this can cause thirst, in which case the dog drinks water in excess.
5. Feed your dog dry food strictly according to the schedule. Give food to your pet at the same time, preferably twice a day. The portion size should also be the same.
6. Some dogs are happy to crunch dry food, and then wash it down with water. This is correct, since solid food relieves the animal of tartar. If your dog does not like to gnaw crackers, the food can be soaked - it swells up beautifully, becomes soft and appetizing. Some gourmets prefer to eat food only when wet. For soaking, you can use not only water, but also kefir, yogurt, etc.
7. Dry food should be stored in a kitchen drawer, in a well-closed bag. Be careful and close the package tightly so that cockroaches and other animals do not get inside. In addition, if the package is left open, the contents quickly deteriorate, become rancid and lose their useful properties. Often the owner does not even suspect that the pet continues to eat a spoiled product.

These are the basic rules that must be observed when feeding an animal with dry food.

Can I feed my dog ​​only dry food?

Not only possible, but necessary! Developing the composition for the future dry food, manufacturers are counting on the fact that the dog will eat this product all the time. But many owners do this - they feed the dog with ordinary food, and the food is given only as a treat or encouragement. This is fundamentally wrong. If you are going to feed your pet dry food, everything else should be removed from his diet.

If you feed your dog with food and supplement with meat, an overabundance of protein can occur in the body, which leads to various problems in the functioning of the kidneys. If you give your dog dry food and supplement it with fish, this leads to an excess of phosphorus. If there is a lot of phosphorus in the body, the dog will suffer from urolithiasis, the bones will become loose and brittle, and anemia will appear. When feeding porridge, there will be an excess of carbohydrates, which leads to excess weight and related problems.

In addition, the dog's stomach with a mixed diet has to constantly readjust either to dry food or to ordinary human food. Frequent adjustments can lead to gastritis.

The exception to the rule is small pieces of treats that can be used as a reward during training. You can pamper your dog with pieces of cheese, dried fruits, crackers or boiled meat.

All these arguments suggest that it is possible to feed a dog only dry food, and it will not need additional nutrition. But how much food does a dog need so that it does not overeat and feel good?

Puppies tend to eat more often, but in small portions. If you are giving dry food to a small puppy for the first time, you need to introduce it gradually, starting with a teaspoon per day. If the dog does not have allergies (which can be manifested by skin redness, itching, anxiety), you can increase the dose of dry food gradually to the age norm. Feed your dog only food that is appropriate for its age. After all, babies need other vitamins and minerals than adult dogs.

In general, each package indicates the amount of dry food that a dog needs per day. Puppies up to two months of life eat 5-6 times a day. At three months, the number of feedings is reduced to 4 times. At six months, the dog eats 3 times a day, and after a year it is transferred to two meals a day. You need to feed the dog at the same time, preferably at regular intervals, that is, at 8 am and 8 pm. The amount of dry food per day is calculated by the weight of the pet. If the dog weighs less than 2 kilograms, the amount of its food should not exceed 60 grams of food per day. A 5 kg dog is entitled to 90 grams of food, a 10 kg dog - 160 grams. If a dog weighs 20 kg, she needs 300 grams of dry food per day, and if a giant weighs 40 kg, almost half a kilo of food.

This is the norm for active dogs that play, jump and run for more than an hour a day. For sofa couch potatoes, the amount of food must be reduced by 20-30%, otherwise they will begin to gain excess weight. Also, the dog's diet should be reduced by a third if it is elderly. But if the dog works, feeds milk or is pregnant, her diet, on the contrary, increases by a third.

Types of food

Just like human food can be of high quality or not, dog food is also divided into classes.

1. Economy class. Such feeds are not very high in calories, they require more volume so that the dog gets enough nutrition. Economy class feeds are made from low quality products, essentially waste. If you give your dog a similar food, take care of additional vitamin and mineral complexes, since the economy class food does not make up for the dog's daily nutritional requirement.
2. Premium class. The calorie content of such a product is 300-350 calories per 100 grams of product. Such feed is made of their by-products, contains a sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins, and does not need additional enrichment.
3. Super premium. This is a high quality product that contains in its composition all the vitamins necessary for the dog's body. This is a balanced diet that can become a complete diet for constant feeding.
4. Holistic class. This dog food is made from high quality products, the food has a great nutritional value. Designed for show dogs, pets that are in the rehabilitation period after illness, as well as for pregnant and lactating bitches.

If you want to feed your dog only dry food, choose a brand that is at least premium. Otherwise, the dog may develop health problems over time.

Separately, I want to say about fresh feed, which are also on sale. Most manufacturers have in their line of products wet food in the form of canned food with pieces of natural meat. It can be given to a dog as an additional source of protein, in the form of a treat. Contrary to popular belief, wet food is not a substitute for dry food, it does not contain the whole palette of useful ingredients. However, this food is great for older dogs with bad teeth or problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dry dog ​​food is a real breakthrough in veterinary medicine. The presence of dry food greatly facilitates the life of both the dog itself and its owner. If you feed the dog constantly with dry food, he is less sick, his teeth remain strong for many years, and his coat shines. If you decide to have a pet in the house, take care of his diet and do not count on your own strength. It is quite difficult to choose a balanced diet from natural products - this can only be done with the help of a doctor, taking into account the individual characteristics of the dog. Take care of your pet's health, feed him dry food!

Video: how to feed a dog dry food

It is impossible to avoid health problems: - Pork. Firstly, this meat is fatty, which will not have the best effect on the condition of the liver and pancreas of the dog. Secondly, the use of raw pork threatens with infection with helminths;
- Potatoes and beans. The dog, in its own way, does not digest them well;
- Fried foods. They are not very useful to people either, but dog can lead to chronic diseases of the pancreas;
-Sausage. For the same, or even for money, you can buy offal for your pet. The benefits from them are much greater than from fatty sausages.
- Sweets. They are absolutely unnecessary for the dog and are harmful to the teeth. Of course, you can give a cookie, but there should not be any sweets and chocolate in the animal's diet. We don't brush our dogs' teeth twice a day! The best treat for a dog is a piece of meat. Yes, and there are now enough special goodies for four-legged animals in pet stores.
- There is an opinion that a dog's favorite treat is a bone! Yes, if it's a sugar bone. But in no case do not give the animal tubular chicken bones, which easily injure the esophagus and stomach. Boiled bones also do not need to be given to the animal to gnaw - they easily exfoliate and clog the stomach.

While the puppy is still small, he, like a child, needs to eat a little, but often and varied. In the diet of the animal must be dairy products - cottage cheese, kefir. Milk, of course, too, but an adult dog absorbs calcium better from fermented milk products. Give the baby semolina porridge - it is nutritious and promotes good weight gain,. It is better to give meat to a puppy at night - so he will eat up and will not wake up from hunger in the middle of the night. A two-month-old baby needs to be fed 5 times a day. But the portion should be small. Over time, the amount of food in one increases, and the number of feedings decreases. By the age of one year, two times is enough - in the morning and in the evening, although many owners and breeders feed their pets once in the middle of the day.

You can cook various porridges, but it is better - easily boiled: rice, buckwheat, wheat groats. But dogs do not digest corn porridge very well. In principle, a dog can eat one type of porridge all his life. But you can diversify the diet and alternate cereals. The meat does not have to be a tenderloin, but cooking the broth on the bones alone is not too satisfying. A variety of offal is best for dogs. Beef kidneys, (aka tripe), head meat. Of course, cooking offal and kidneys is not very pleasant - they are terrible. Tripe, moreover, often has to be washed in advance and cut into pieces of the right size - it is not always possible to find it clean and cut in the market. But these products contain a huge amount of useful trace elements. There were cases when, with the introduction of kidneys into the diet, the dog stopped chewing on shoes and picking up everything on the street.

You can boil meat products and add the broth to the porridge, bringing it to the consistency of a thick soup. Or you can give them raw. It's even better. True, boiled foods are preferable in summer, because meat quickly deteriorates in hot weather. If your dog is medium-sized, then it is not necessary to cook her food separately. Many products from your table will do. Porridge, soups, borscht. Just take it out of soups. But if the dog is large, then you will have to cook separate and rather rather big portions. Be prepared for the fact that 5 liter pots of dog food will boil in your kitchen every day.