Dog Healthcare Guide.
Nutrition
Your puppy needs a well balanced diet that provides all the essential nutrients in the correct ratios to help it develop into a healthy adult dog. As it grows, its nutritional requirements will change and you must be sure that its diet is correct for its stage of life. Most dog foods are now specifically developed for certain aged animals and this should help guide you. There are two main forms of commercial dog food. These are tinned meats which are usually served along with a mixer biscuit and complete dry foods. Dry diets are hygienic and easy to feed and can be bought in bulk for convenience and economy. The meal sizes are measured using a scoop making it easy for the whole family to take part in the feeding. Tinned foods are also easily measured using the directions given by the manufacturers.
As all commercial dog foods are designed to give the correct nutritional amounts, it is important to limit titbits. The best treats to use are those designed with your dog's needs in mind and it is a good idea to use dry biscuits or crumbled up prices of food taken from the daily rationed amounts. If you give your dog too many titbits, they will lose their training value as they become less of a reward and more of a meal. Also, limiting titbits will help prevent your dog from becoming overweight. Being overweight may cause your pet to be less fit and active as well as become more distressed during hot weather. It is important to remember that a dog will still ask for food whether it is hungry or not due to its natural instinctive behaviour and we need to make sure they do not eat more than is good for them.
Early on, your puppy will need four small meals each day due to its small stomach size. As it grows, you will notice that your puppy may beg for one meal less or eat it less enthusiastically. When this happens, you may cut out a meal from the routine. It is best to cut out a midday meal rather than a later one as this will prevent your puppy from waking in the night hungry and being unable to resettle leading to accidents.
It is best to keep to a routine with feeding times so that you dog becomes accustomed to when it is due to be fed. This helps prevent begging between meal times. As the dog is a pack animal and needs to understand its position in the household, it is often suggested to always eat before the puppy when meal times coincide. Also, it is beneficial to add food to your puppy's plate while it is eating to encourage it to see hands approaching its plate as a good thing and not something to be guarded against.
Disclaimer
The information contained within this website is intended as a general guide only and is not necessarily comprehensive. AXA Insurance will not be liable for loss or damages arising, in contract, tort or otherwise, directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance upon any information contained in this website. Content sourced from the RSPCA and various other animal welfare and information websites. Guidance compiled by AXA and approved by the RSPCA.