Planning a diet that contains healthy dog foods should be the first thing in the mind of every dog owner. Like humans, dogs too need a balanced diet that provides them with adequate nutrition. It can help them be healthy, energetic, and fit.
When it comes to choosing dog food, there are many options to choose from—home food, canned food, dried food, and wet food. Dry food is easy to store and can be ideal for your pet. Wet food is canned food and has more water content. It is easy for all dog breeds to consume; however, these need to be refrigerated.
Dry foods provide energy, is cheaper, and can improve dental hygiene. However, dogs tend to like wet food more as they are similar to their natural diet. If your dog is sensitive to certain foods, then you can choose wet food, or else, you can opt for dry food.
You can even provide your pet with home-cooked food. Dogs are not 100% carnivorous and will love to eat vegetables and fruits like sweet potatoes, beans, apples, carrots, and bananas. But, it is best to avoid onions and grapes.
1. How much to feed?
Most owners tend to overfeed their dogs, making them obese and exposing them to the risk of various diseases. Feeding your dog twice a day should be sufficient. Small puppies, though, need to be fed around three or four times a day.
The dogs’ age, weight, and general health condition should be kept in mind before deciding the quantity of food. Consulting a vet is advisable before starting a diet. Use the same bowl to feed your dog daily and avoid plastic bowls.
2. Treats
Dogs love treats, and owners love to indulge their dog with kibbles. Give treats sparingly, and they should comprise around 10% of the overall food of your dog. Too many treats can be harmful to your pet’s health.
3. Cooked or raw?
You can give cooked food to your dog, except for meat. Giving raw meat is better. If you do cook it, don’t overcook and keep it rare.
Commercial pet foods that have cooked meat may not be good for your dog. Processed foods are also not good and, in the long-term, can lead to obesity and diseases. It is one of the reasons you should consider including more of home food.
Also, it is better to choose gluten-free foods as gluten can cause problems for the kidney. Instead of rice, you can try lentils as they are better suited for a dog’s digestive system.
4. Give raw coconut oil
Raw and organic coconut oil is good for your dog. It gives your dog energy, allowing it to be more active. A quarter teaspoon for small dogs and one teaspoon for big dogs can be mixed with their food.
The tips given in this article will help you identify the healthy dog food you can give to your pet. You can keep these tips in mind before you give the next meal to your dog.
