You get worn out just trying to decide what you and your family are going to eat every day, so worrying about what your dog is eating is just more headache. On the other hand, you adore your dog, so you want him to enjoy his food and be healthy.
Does he enjoy his food or is he just eating it because it’s all he has? Is he as healthy as he can be? Are you starting to question your dog food choices and habits? Here is the low down on what to do and not to do with dog foods.
Is it ok to change flavors of dog food?
If your dog has started shunning his food, but you have had him checked out and there is nothing wrong with him, it may be time to change dog food flavors. However, there may be side temporary side effects. While your dog may be quite enthusiastic about the change, his digestive tract may not take the change quite as well.
Gas, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects of changing dog food flavors. If your dog does suddenly stop eating his food, make sure you see your veterinarian before switching out his food. You should never change your dog’s food out when he is ill because it will add extra stress to his body.
If your dog suffers from health conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease, a change in diet may be required. If your dog has started to gain or lose weight, that may also necessitate a change. There could be many reasons for making a change, but if you are going to make a change, you should be careful what type of changes you make.
Whatever changes you make in your dog’s diet, the key is to make the changes gradually: On days 1-3, you should serve 75% old food and 25% new food; on days 4-6, you should serve 50% old food and 50% new food; on days 7-9, you should serve 25% old food and 75% new food; and on day 10, you can finally begin to serve 100% new food.
Is it ok to mix dog food flavors?
The most important thing is to never mix dog foods of any kind without consulting your vet. Doing so can cause side effects like weight gain or overexposure to certain vitamins and minerals found in the foods. Here are a few basic rules.
It’s ok to mix canned food and dry food.
Adding canned food to your dog’s dry food can not only enhance the flavor of the dry food but add moisture, as well, which is good for your dog. With this type of feeding, you are able to flex the ratio of canned food to dry food with your budget.
It’s a good idea to mix various textures, shapes, and aromas.
Textures, shapes, and aromas bring food alive for your dog. They spark his appetite. Enhance that spark by mixing various textures, shapes, and aromas to create a dog food he will really love.
It’s a bad idea to mix therapeutic foods with other foods.
Dog foods based on a therapeutic diet are developed to delay or even prevent the onset of various health conditions. Therefore, you shouldn’t add another food to any therapeutic diet. If you really think you should, you should definitely consult a veterinarian beforehand. Adding to therapeutic dog food can dilute the exact formulation possibly counteracting its intended benefits for your dog.
Is it ok to mix different dog food from the same brand?
You should never mix dog foods from two different brands, but using two foods of the same brand is not all that’s important. Another thing you need to be aware of is that you shouldn’t mix puppy and adult foods or adult and senior foods. You should also not mix two levels of dog food, even if they are from the same brand.
For instance, you should mix two foods from the Platinum tier instead of one food from the Platinum tier and one food from the Gold tier. The reason is that each tier has different combinations and ratios of vitamins and minerals so that if you mix them, you throw the careful balance off. You could cause overexposure to some vitamins and minerals and deficiency to others.
Is it ok to mix dog food flavors of the same brand?
It should be fine to mix dog food flavors of the same brand. The thing you must be careful of is that they are on the same tier of dog food. An example would be to mix the chicken flavor of the Platinum tier with the fish flavor of the Platinum tier instead of mixing the chicken flavor of the Platinum tier with the fish flavor from the Gold tier.
The reason, just as above, is that each tier has different combinations and ratios of vitamins and minerals so that if you mix them, you throw the careful balance off. You could cause overexposure to some vitamins and minerals and deficiency to others.
Should dogs eat the same food every day?
It doesn’t really hurt a dog to eat the same food every day, as long as he is getting the nutrition he needs. Besides, we already decided that you had to be careful about changing your dog’s food. What about your dog’s food? Here are a few things to consider.
Which type of food should I feed my dog?
Dry foods or canned foods and definitely fresh foods can provide your dog with a well-balanced diet. They each have about equal nutritional value. Dry food is usually more affordable, but dogs tend to like canned food better. Fresh food, of course, is the winner when it comes to what dogs really enjoy.
How many times per day should I feed my dog?
Many people still think that all dogs should be fed only once per day, but professionals know better than this now. To keep your adult dog healthy, you should feed him twice per day, and to keep a puppy of 6 months or younger healthy, you should feed him 3-4 meals per day.
Puppies don’t need as much to eat at each meal, but they use up their food more quickly, and that’s why they need to be fed more often. They require more nutrients and calories than their adult counterparts, but their stomachs cannot take in a lot at once. Puppies over 6 months old need to be fed 2-3 times per day.
How long should I leave my dog’s food out?
You should feed your dog at the same time each day. Don’t free feed. Leaving food out for them all the time is just not a good idea, as it can cause weight problems. Plus, it can lead to your dog simply becoming finicky.
Put out your dog’s food, and leave it out for around 15-20 minutes. Then, take the food up until the next mealtime. Feeding on a regular schedule will also help you plan your dog’s bathroom trips, as they usually need “to go” around a half-hour after a meal.
Is it healthy to feed my dog a vegetarian diet?
It’s fine to feed your dog only vegetables, but it’s hard to figure out how to make sure they still get fulfilled nutritionally at first. In the beginning, you should hire a veterinary nutritionist and formulate a diet plan that will ensure your pet’s nutritional needs are met. Talk to your vet before feeding your dog a vegan diet.
How do I know if I am feeding my dog the right food?
It seems like it would be difficult to know which food is right for your dog, but the way to know is to look for signs that he is getting the nutrients he needs. If he is getting the proteins, carbs, and fats he needs, he will be getting the vitamins and minerals he needs.
The signs to look for are healthy skin, a full, shiny coat, and firm, brown stools. Also, he should have plenty of energy for his breed and age. Always make sure to provide your dog with enough water.
Do dogs get bored with the same dog food?
Most pros say that dogs don’t get bored with eating the same dog food all the time, but not everyone thinks that’s true. Plus, there’s a question of whether it’s really a good idea to feed your dog the same food all the time. Here are some reasons why it may not be a good idea to feed your dog the same food every day.
Nutritional Imbalances
Almost any dog food label you look at will say that it’s balanced and complete, but commercial dog foods are processed and cannot provide a dog’s nutritional needs throughout his life. A dog’s needs are different in “puppyhood” than in adulthood and in adulthood than in “seniorhood”.
You can rotate your dog’s foods, thus rotating ingredients, thus rotating nutrients and making sure your dog gets the nutrients he requires to be healthy. Lack of almost any nutrient in your dog’s diet can be fulfilled by rotating his foods.
Recalls
Vitamin D toxicity endangered or killed thousands of pets before two pet food recalls in 2019. Any pet food is subject to recalls, but by rotating your dog food, you can lessen the chances of your dog getting ill from a “bad” batch of dog food that’s toxic with what could be any ingredient.
This is important because by the time recalls are issued, problems have usually existed for months.
Food Intolerances and Allergies
It is actually not variety but subjecting your dog to the same food all the time that causes food allergies. Your dog gets sensitized to the ingredients in the formula, and his body develops a reaction. Senior dogs that have eaten the same food all their lives are seriously prone to allergic reactions.