9 General Guidelines to Feeding Your Dog

 Of course, you want the best for your furry friend. Thus, whilst there are many more affordable options in the market, you always go for the best dry dog food available.

Here are some tips about feeding your dog. Hopefully, they will help you improve your dog’s diet and help you make wise feeding decisions, so your dog can stay healthy and happy.

Dry Dog Food or Wet Dog Food?

This is a decision most dog-owners have to make when feeding their pets. To choose between dry dog food and wet food, consider the following factors. 

1.   Price

Generally speaking, dry dog food is more affordable than wet dog food. The best, nutrition-dense dry dog foods can certainly be pricey, too. However, they are still relatively more affordable than similar nutrient-dense wet dog foods. So, if price is a consideration, you should probably choose dry dog food. 

2.   Hydration

Dry dog food is called such for a reason. It has a moisture content of only around eight to ten per cent. Wet dog food, meanwhile, has a moisture content in the 70 to 80 per cent range. Therefore, if dehydration is a concern for your dog – i.e., your dog does not drink enough water – you should probably choose to feed your pet wet dog food. 

3.   Dental Health

Kibbles are dry and biscuit-like, and their texture helps loosen tartar that might build up on your dog's teeth and gums. Soft and chewy wet dog food will not do the same. 

Therefore, if you want a dog food that provides the added benefit of keeping your dog's teeth and gums healthy, you should probably choose dry dog food. 

4.   Portion Control

Wet dog food comes in single-serve packs, and they are great for portion control when one package corresponds to the serving size your dog requires at any given meal. However, it is less than ideal if your dog needs more or less than a pack of wet dog food. 

In this case, dry dog food is better for portion control since you can weigh out the precise amount of dry dog food your dog requires for every meal. There will be no wasted food because you can put the exact amount of kibbles – no more, no less – in your dog's bowl. 

5.   Frequent Snacks

Some dogs are hearty eaters, and they can demolish their meal portions in one sitting. Meanwhile, some fussy eaters will eat a little at a time but will require frequent feeding.

 If your dog fits the latter category, it may be better to feed him dry dog food instead of wet dog food. With dry dog food, you can measure out your dog's portion for the entire day then allocate the lot into small portions that your dog can snack on throughout the day. 

6.   High Protein Requirement

Does your dog require a significantly high amount of protein, perhaps because of a medical condition? If so, wet dog food may be better. Wet dog food typically has a higher amount of protein per gram, measured on a dry matter basis, than dry dog food. 

However, if your dog has a strong appetite and has no trouble eating the requisite amount of dry dog food to achieve his daily protein requirement, then feeding your dog dry dog food should be okay as well. 

How Much Food Is Enough Food?

What if your dog always seems hungry? You feed your dog a lot of food, but it doesn't seem to make a dent in his appetite. What should you do with a dog that doesn't seem to be satisfied no matter how much food you give him? 

Check out the following guidelines. 

7.   Age-Appropriate Food

Are you perhaps feeding a mature dog puppy food? Your dog might seem and still act like an exuberant puppy, but it could have already reached maturity. 

Dogs can reach adulthood between nine months and two years. Generally speaking, a dog's rate of development will depend on its breed size.

 For instance, toy dogs or small-size breeds that grow to under nine kilograms in weight can take between nine and ten months to reach adulthood. Medium-size breeds or dogs that weigh between nine and 27 kilograms can take from 12 to 14 months to develop into adults. Finally, large-breed dogs or those heavier than 27 kilograms may have to take from 16 to 24 months before they can become full-fledged adults. 

You can try checking if your dog has already reached maturity. If your dog has reached maturity and you're still feeding him a diet meant for a puppy, that could be the reason he doesn't seem to get full, no matter how much dog food you provide him. 

8.   Correct Portion

Are you feeding your dog enough food? 

First, check your dog's weight. The amount of food you need to give him will mainly depend on how big he is. Specifically, bigger dogs generally require more food. 

Second, evaluate your dog's activity level. The amount of food dogs need also depends on how much energy they expend. Therefore, more active dogs require more food than sedentary dogs. 

Third, is your dog's weight in the normal range or is your dog over or underweight? Naturally, underweight dogs will need to be fed more, whereas overweight dogs may need to be placed on a calorie-deficit diet. 

To find the correct amount of dog food you should be giving your dog per meal, and to learn how frequently you should feed your dog in a day, refer to the dog food feeding guidelines. They are the best source of information on appropriate portions because the dog food manufacturer knows their dog food's nutrition content best. 

Tip: High-quality dog foods will have a clear feeding guideline on the packet. 

9.   Nutrition-Dense Food 

And, of course, dog foods vary by ingredients and nutrition. If you want your dogs to be fuller for longer, you might want to try nutrition-dense dog foods. Ask your pet shop Dubai dog food specialist for recommendations. 

Nutrient-rich dog foods might be a little pricier than ordinary dog foods, but they will provide so much more nutritional value. And, since your dog will need to eat less to be satisfied and to get the requisite amount of nutrition, you might end up saving more in the long run.

 

Keeping Your Dog Healthy

How often, how much and what you feed your dog are vital to keeping him healthy. Feeding decisions, however, are best made on a case-to-case basis. 

Various breeds of dogs have different nutritional requirements, and individual dogs – even if they belong to the same breed – also have diverse needs.

Just use the above guidelines to make the best feeding decisions for your furry best friend.