What Do Dogs Eat?

• Puppy (up to 16 weeks old)

When you welcome a new pet in your family, it is the happiest time of your house as all want to spend time with the new little pooch and see it taking its curious little steps towards knowing the world.

It is also the most essential time period of a dog as its body is still under the process of development and this process is very fast at this stage of life.

So a puppy’s body requires all that is essential for its right growth.

And being the owner, it’s your job to give it the required nutritional food.

Food for puppies differs from that of adult dogs in size, frequency, the proportion of food elements like protein, carbs, and fats.

When the pup is new to the house, you can’t just start by feeding it your home food.

You should ask the breeder for instructions on what was being fed to it before you took it home.

That food has to be continued for some days and then you can start gradually giving it the food that you want to give.

Initially, go for a high-quality breed-specific commercial dog food.

It contains all the necessary elements like protein, essential fats, vitamin and minerals in the right proportions as required by your pup.

And can help in the right growth of the little canine.

Give it as little natural diet as possible as it is at its growing stage and the immune system is not completely developed, so it is prone to a lot of infections and diseases.

Natural food contains more amounts of bacteria than commercial dog food.

Give it cooked meat or boiled carrot or peas, if you want to give your little pooch a taste of natural food.

Raw food should be kept out of the list.

Puppies need to be fed small meals regularly as at this time the rate of their growth is at its peak, making the puppy hungry frequently.

• Teen Doggo (above 16 weeks)

This age is the bridge between puppyhood and adulthood of a dog and a lot of changes start emerging in your pup’s behavior and physique.

This is the time when you as an owner introduce a new diet to your dog gradually.

This is also the time when it starts growing permanent teeth which makes your pooch try them out on anything it gets, like fingers, furniture, curtains and more.

Better to give them a big fleshy bone to take out their chewing on as it is also nutritious for the dog.

The bone should be at least as big as its head.

So that it cannot chew it whole at once.

One bone per week should serve the need.

It is an owner’s responsibility to look for any allergies or reactions when you have started giving your pooch new food.

Take it to the vet in case of any allergic reactions towards any food.

It is also the time to give your growing pup raw meat and natural carbs and fats like boiled potato, lamb, rice, fish and more.

As now its immune system is much stronger.

As the pup is growing, you need to reduce its meals to 2 or 3 full meals a day or as per the requirements, instead of frequent small meals.

This would help you sustain a good weight of your dog and keep it healthy.

• Adult Dogs (12 – 24 months)

This is the time when your dog’s growth stabilizes.

Your dog needs to have only 2 meals a day that is generally speaking.

It can vary from breed to breed.

Try to feed your dog with both natural as well as commercial dog food as it will help in keeping your dog’s bowel healthy and also provide your dog with the needed nutrients.

Make sure you give it a balanced diet with variety.

Also, refrain from overfeeding and keep the dog active to maintain its weight.

• Senior Dogs (above 6 to 7 years)

As the dog grows up, its metabolism starts slowing down and the digestive system gets weaker than before.

A senior dog should either continue with the same amount of meals as an adult dog or it should be given small meals frequently though out the day to keep it satisfied.

Also, it needs a higher intake of minerals and vitamins due to the fact that its efficiency in absorbing these elements out of the food has gone down.

This can be fulfilled by giving it the necessary or required supplements.

Consult a vet for a diet regarding your dog as at this age dog’s are prone to develop chronic health diseases and its diet can either help it or be more damaging to it.

Doggo Breed

Every dog breed is different and is good at serving specific purposes.

Each has a different body structure, shape, and size making them unique from each other in many ways.

The diet of different breeds is generally the same but, it can vary in proportions, size, frequency, and need for specific nutrients.

Each breed is also prone to some specific diseases and disorders.

So, their meal should be such as to keep them away from these diseases or keep their conditions under control.

You should go for a breed-specific diet by consulting a vet nutritionist.

Also, you should go for a breed-specific commercial dog food that serves your pet uniquely.

But do not overdo on commercial dog food as it is also filled with preservatives harmful for your dog.

Give it a mix of natural and commercial diet. Raw or cooked depends on the breed.

Going breed-specific in planning your canine’s diet can help it be its best.

Special Needs Dogs

These are the dogs that are going through some hereditary condition, need weight loss, having growth issues, are prone to allergies or need to be trained for a specific job like racing (or other such sports).

These dogs need a special diet that can help them serve their purpose better or keep them fit.

An obese dog needs a diet that can help it reduce its weight and also keep it active to assist in its weight loss.

A high protein low carb diet is preferred for weight reduction.

On the contrary, a race dog or a dog that regularly participates in agility course or other such sports need meat-based high carb diet which includes brown rice, bread, and vegetables along with meat.

If your dog has growth issues then it might need additional supplements of nutrients and vitamins along with its diet.

Whatever the case may be, everything can be solved by consulting your vet for the best diet for your pet and staying thorough on it.

A diet can help overcome an issue or at least help in keeping a condition at bay.

That is the strength of diet.

Dog Treats