Proper Pet Nutrition

Nutrition & Diet for Pets

A well balanced diet is essential for your pet. Too much food can lead to obesity, and not enough food can lead to malnutrition. If you have a fussy eater, you may want to feed your pet more frequently and encourage eating by initiating by hand and then introducing the bowl. Dogs diet should include proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins & fiber. Fluids are very important not only to keep your pet hydrated but also aids in digestion.

Following are things to consider when determining the proper amount of food to give your pet.

Breed

Lifestyle

Weight

Pregnant dogs (increase food by one and a half)

Puppies (need food designed for puppies)

Dogs can require anywhere from 200-2000 calories per day depending on the breed and weight of your dog. Those from 55-85 lbs would need 1500-2000 calories per day. Pets weighing 22-45 lbs would need 700-1200 calories per day. And small dogs from 4-15 lbs would need 200-400 per day.

There are several different types of food and hundreds on the market to choose from.

Dry Foods

Semi Moist

Canned Foods

Treats/Biscuits

Chew Bones

Dry food is the most inexpensive and easier to work with, also provides the least digestive problems with most pets. Semi-moist is more expensive, but fussy eaters will usually prefer this type of food. They do have high sugar content, so diabetic and over weight pets would not fair well with this food. Canned foods are expensive and bulky to store. The main thing you need to watch out for with canned foods is to ensure you add roughage to the diet if you purchase the meat only variety. Lastly, the treats do actually provide more than just a fun snack for your pet, they are also helpful to provide roughage and carbohydrates to your pet's diet. Chew bones are actually for the pets mental well being as well as dental health.

Speculations have been made as to the validity of the preservatives in pet food irritating or causing health problems for pets. If your pet is experiencing any of the following symptoms on a regular basis, talk to your vet about changes that may be needed in the diet.

Inconsistent digestion

Flatulence

Over/under activity

Smelly frequent bowel movements

Eating soil, grass or their own feces

Rubbing on nibbling on feet, stomach or tail

Lack of weight despite eating well

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