Food and Diet

With so many ranges of dog food on the market varying from fresh meat, dried meat, tinned food or all-in-one dry foods, this makes it a difficult choice what to feed your dog.  Sometimes this decision is taken out of your hands if your dog has a delicate stomach and can only eat certain foods.

With a dry all-in-one food it may be trial and error before finding the brand which suits your dog.  To make all-in-one food more interesting, save the water strained from cooking your vegetables and left over gravy.  Follow the instructions given for the amount to feed your dog.  It might not look very much in the bowl but, once moist, can double in size. When changing to a new brand make sure you introduce the new food gradually and mix with old food, increasing the amount of new to old over a period of time. A sudden change can give the dog an upset stomach.

Whatever food you use if your dog puts on weight, either cut down the amount or give it more exercise.  A slim dog is a healthier dog.  You are reducing the lifespan of your dog if you let it get obese.

How often to feed your dog depends on the individual owner.  With a fussy eater it would be better to feed two small meals rather than one large one. Generally two meals a day is recommended, but don't feed the second meal too late in the day, otherwise your dog will be barking to go out and relieve itself in the middle of the night.

Most dog owners are aware of the hazards of chocolate, especially the dark, high cocoa solid content types. Cocoa is highly toxic to dogs and can cause death and a small amount is all it takes. Dog owners should also be aware of other poisonous foods, such as grapes, raisins and onions. Liver should not be fed to Dalmatians apparently.