home Audience 6 Feeding the dog natural food diet from Ilya Melnikov. Optimal nutrition for a dog at any age and physical condition How to properly feed a dog with natural food

Feeding the dog natural food diet from Ilya Melnikov. Optimal nutrition for a dog at any age and physical condition How to properly feed a dog with natural food

To make the fluffy one little puppy brought into your home, over time, a beautiful healthy dog has grown up, you need to choose the right, well-balanced diet for him. After reading today's article, you will learn what to feed your shepherd and what to give to your miniature lapdog.

Experts recommend at about the same time. This will help you develop a specific walking schedule. pet. Before deciding how many times a day your dog should eat, consult your veterinarian. He will tell you in detail about what and how many times to feed your dog. different periods her life.

Those who plan to give their dog “drying” need to remember how important it is that it be the same type of product from a trusted manufacturer. After all, unlike that of a human, a dog’s digestive system is not able to quickly adapt to food replacement. A sudden switch from one type of food to another can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, the diet of adult dogs and puppies should not be too varied. You need to gradually accustom your pet to new food. Typically, the entire process takes about a week. This must be done by mixing two types of feed.

What should you consider when planning your diet?

First of all, you need to pay attention to the size of the pet. Even to an inexperienced owner it is absolutely clear that to a large dog will require much more feed than a small breed.

The animal’s temperament plays an important role when compiling a dog’s menu. Thus, active individuals expend a large amount of energy, which must be replenished. Therefore, frisky dogs need food with a fairly high content of proteins and carbohydrates.

It is extremely important to consider the breed pet. Some dogs are predisposed to diseases of the digestive system, so certain foods should not be given to them. Some breeds are prone to brittle bones and therefore require food high in calcium.

To properly groom a dog, it is imperative to take into account its age. On different stages In life, a dog’s needs for certain substances differ significantly. For example, puppies do not digest complex and rough foods well. Therefore, they need to be given gentle food. Animals at the stage active growth, you need protein, iron and calcium.

A little about dry food

Modern pet stores offer a wide range of similar products. High-quality dry food will become a real find for those who, due to certain circumstances, do not have the opportunity to cook on their own. It is believed that they contain all vital substances. And some breeders are sure that correctly selected “drying” is better food. Many of them recommend feeding dogs this food. In this case, the pet receives all vitamins and microelements along with the food.

When choosing such feeds, it is important to pay attention to their class. Economy is considered the cheapest and lowest quality. Low-grade products and some artificial substances are used for its production. Therefore, for those who value the health of their four-legged friend, it is advisable to buy food of at least premium quality. Also, when selecting, you should carefully study the composition of the products offered. It is important that it does not contain soy and other poorly digestible additives.

Some manufacturers produce lines designed specifically for representatives of a certain breed. This makes life very easy for those who do not know how and what to feed a shepherd or Labrador. In addition, there is also a division according to age groups. So, in pet stores you can buy food for adult animals, teenagers and puppies.

Natural nutrition

This is the best way to keep your pet in excellent health. physical fitness. And the vast majority of dogs will prefer natural meat to the highest quality “dried” meat. Those who are determined to give their pet such food need to remember a few fairly simple rules.

A natural menu should be varied and well balanced. It is important not to overfeed the animal, as this can be dangerous to its health. In addition, modern products do not always contain all the necessary substances. Therefore, in order to provide dogs with adequate nutrition with natural food, they should be periodically given multivitamin complexes.

A few words about meat, poultry and bones

Lean beef, lamb or turkey are best for dogs. Chicken often causes allergies, so it must be given with great caution. Since meat is considered the main source of natural protein, it should prevail in your pet’s diet. To protect your dog from possible infection with toxoplasma or helminths, it should first be kept in the freezer.

Some meat can be replaced with offal. Natural dog food involves periodic use of tripe, kidneys, lungs, heart and liver. Animals happily eat all of the above products. To increase the nutritional value of a dog's diet, bone, fish or meat meal is added to it.

As for bones, it is advisable to completely exclude them from your pet’s menu. They not only bring no benefit, but also harm the animal. Veterinarians often have to remove gastrointestinal tract four-legged patients sharp fragments. The only thing you can give your dog to chew on is raw beef bones or cartilage.

Cereals and vegetables in a dog's diet

Porridges serve as an excellent source of carbohydrates, so it is advisable to include them in the animal’s menu. Veterinarians recommend cooking rolled oats, buckwheat and rice cereals for dogs. They are the ones that are digested better than others by the dog’s body and saturate it with the necessary energy. Occasionally, the food of your furry friend can be varied with barley, corn, wheat or pearl barley porridge. However, their constant use often causes digestive disorders.

To slightly diversify a dog's diet, it is recommended to add vegetables to porridge. They will allow you to supplement the animal’s food with the necessary antioxidants and vitamins. When planning a menu, it is important to ensure that the amount of vegetables does not exceed fifteen percent of the total food. Before you put carrots, pumpkins or zucchini in your pet's bowl, they need to be exposed to heat treatment. In addition to the vegetables already mentioned, parsnips are the best food for dogs, bell pepper and beets.

Is it possible to feed fish to pets?

This is one of those questions that almost all inexperienced owners ask. This product should be present in the dog's diet, since it contains many useful material. It is advisable to introduce it into the dog menu after the puppy turns five months. To feed your dog, it is best to use pre-cooked and deboned ocean or sea fish. This could be pike perch, pollock, navaga, trout, pelengas or halibut.

It is highly undesirable to give your pet raw river fish. It can cause helminth infection. Besides, overuse fish can lead to a deficiency of B vitamins. Therefore, it is recommended to feed your dog this product no more than twice a week. It is extremely important not to mix it in one serving with meat.

Very beneficial for the dog's body seaweed. They are considered an excellent source of phosphorus, potassium, sodium and iron. Therefore, it is also recommended to periodically introduce them into the menu of your four-legged friend.

Puppy diet

Babies aged two to six months are actively growing. Therefore, they urgently need high-calorie food. However, you should not stuff your puppy with all the treats available in the house at once. Try, at least during the first week of the animal’s stay in the new environment, to feed it what the breeder provided. Otherwise, you risk ruining your baby's stomach with a sudden change in food.

If there are no clear recommendations, you can offer him raw meat. This is one of the few foods that does not cause stomach upset. It must be fed finely chopped, since minced meat is practically not absorbed by the dog’s body. Very young puppies are usually given a so-called scraper. It consists of heavily frozen meat, cut into very thin slices.

In the diet of puppies under three one month old, milk must be present. It is given just like that, added to cottage cheese or porridge. Later, this product is completely excluded from the dog menu. This is due to the fact that the body of an older animal stops producing the enzyme that breaks down lactose. From the age of three months, yogurt, kefir and others are gradually introduced into the puppies’ diet. dairy products.

It is important that the dog's diet consists of high-quality products, since many stomach diseases in puppies develop not because they picked up something while walking, but because they were fed something that should not be in their diet.

Teen Menu

As your puppy grows, he needs everything less energy for normal development. Therefore, his diet should no longer consist of high-calorie foods. During this period, active development of the skeleton begins, so it is important not to overfeed the animal. Otherwise, the dog will quickly gain excess weight, which may result in bone deformation. A teenage puppy should not be fat, because this often provokes the occurrence of rickets and dysplasia.

From the age of six months, raw vegetables are introduced into the dog’s diet, no longer crushed into puree. From this moment on, they are simply grated, and the meat is cut into larger pieces. As for fermented milk products, they should still be present on the menu. With age, the diet of dogs no longer changes; only the ratio of the main components undergoes further adjustment.

Diet of an adult and aging animal

Standard menu for dogs coming out of adolescence, must consist of chopped beef, low-fat cottage cheese, vegetables and vegetable oil. It is also important to periodically introduce vitamin and mineral supplements into the animal’s diet.

As for cereals, it is advisable to completely exclude them from the dog’s diet. However, in case of emergency, it can be given along with meat. It's better if dietary food for dogs it will be monotonous. Experts do not recommend changing your usual set of products too often. The animal's food should not be too hot or too cold.

For an aging pet, it is recommended to limit fat intake and increase fiber intake. Therefore, grated vegetables and raw meat should predominate in his diet. For older dogs, it is cut into smaller pieces, since most of them have problems with their teeth. It is also advisable to periodically give the dog low-fat cottage cheese and kefir.

Features of feeding miniature dogs

Representatives of small breeds, which include Yorkies, dachshunds, Pomeranian Spitz and Chihuahuas need a well-balanced diet to replenish lost energy. By analogy with their larger brothers, these dogs belong to the wolf family. Consequently, they require protein found in eggs, fish, meat, offal and fermented milk.

In addition, Toy Terriers, Yorkies and Dachshunds are prone to heart disease. That's why proper nutrition should include vitamin and mineral complexes with a high content of calcium and fluoride. The diet of such animals must include eggs, meat, fish, cereals, carrots, vegetable oil and cottage cheese. From grains, they can be given oats, buckwheat, rolled oats and rice. It is recommended not to dilute the cottage cheese big amount milk.

As for meat, it can be given both raw and boiled. Turkey, chicken, lamb and beef are best suited for feeding small breeds. It is important that there is no fat or bones in it.

Features of the diet of representatives of medium breeds

First of all, you need to figure out which dogs can be classified in this group. Medium breeds include animals whose weight ranges from twelve and a half to twenty-five kilograms. These are Labradors, Huskies, Collies and Huskies.

Most of these dogs have an active temperament and require a lot of exercise. Therefore, proper dog nutrition should include lamb, beef, rice, oatmeal, carrots, cabbage and dairy products.

Porridge for such animals is cooked in water or low-fat broth. Millet, buckwheat, rice and rolled oats are considered excellent sources of carbohydrates. Therefore, such food will help replenish the energy costs of your four-legged pet. As for cottage cheese and fermented milk products, they are needed in order to establish normal digestion for the animal.

Nutrition for large dogs

This group includes Rottweilers, Great Danes, St. Bernards, Setters, Mastiffs, Alabais, German and Caucasian Shepherd dogs. The weight of representatives of these breeds exceeds forty kilograms. Therefore, they need high-quality and properly balanced nutrition.

To provide an animal with all the necessary vitamins and microelements, it is not enough to give it meat alone. It is important for dogs to get cottage cheese, which contains large amounts of calcium. Also to representatives large breeds Be sure to give vegetables, lean fish, cereals, eggs and dairy products.

What should you not feed your dog?

Having figured out what should be included in a dog’s diet, you need to say a few words about what absolutely should not be on its menu. If you do not want to harm your four-legged friend, then try to remember a fairly short list of prohibited foods. Unlike people, pets practically do not absorb some components, so they are not recommended for furry pets.

Dogs should not be fed potatoes, legumes, sweets, long bones, pickles, mushrooms, cabbage and onions. Also, a ban has been imposed on citrus fruits, marinades, sausages and flour products. Even if the above products do not harm the animal, they will not bring him much benefit. It is also strictly forbidden to give four-legged pets human food, including soups, borscht and cutlets.

Proper nutrition is a guarantee of health and harmonious development dogs. Therefore, the question of what and how to feed a dog at home is important for every animal owner. The diet depends on the breed and age of the dog, so it is necessary to create a special menu for each dog.

A dog is a predator by nature, so its nutrition should be organized as comfortably as possible for the digestive system of this type of animal. Regardless of the breed, dogs love the meat that suits them best due to genetics. Therefore, the animal’s diet should mainly consist of animal feed that is not thermally processed.

It is worth remembering that dogs have poor control over their own satiety. This is especially true for artificially bred breeds prone to obesity. Mongrels rarely suffer from obesity, since by nature they are closer to their wild ancestors.

The chosen diet should not be changed suddenly. The animal gets used to a certain type of food, since its body begins to produce the enzymes and microorganisms necessary for digestion. If the menu changes suddenly, digestion fails and the dog begins to have health problems.

Preference should be given to natural food. A complete switch to dry and canned food will negatively affect your pet's health. Despite calls from manufacturers claiming the benefits and safety of dry food, you should not completely switch your dog to eating them. Dry and canned food is an excellent solution when traveling or in case of long absences of the owner. But veterinarians do not recommend feeding them to your dog all the time.

When using natural products, there is no need to get carried away with cereals, flour products, and sweet plant products. Fast carbohydrates contained in such products disrupt the dog's intestinal microflora. But this does not mean that carbohydrates should be completely excluded from a dog’s diet. Cereals should not be excluded from the dog’s menu, because in nature predators get this type products along with the contents of the victim's stomach. Therefore, excluding cereals from an animal’s diet would be a big mistake.

Natural dog menu

A dog’s natural menu should include everything necessary for normal operation body elements: proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and microelements. At the same time, food should be of high quality and fresh, without preservatives and unnecessary dyes, with minimal heat treatment.

If you feed your dog natural food, then it must be thermally processed.

The ratio of products to provide all the necessary components should consist of:

Meat products (beef, poultry, offal) - one third.
Cereals (rice, buckwheat, millet) – one third.
Vegetables (carrots, cabbage, zucchini, pumpkin) - one third.
Fruits are added to food in small portions.
To improve digestion, add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to cooked food daily.

Important. Meat can be alternated with fish, but always sea fish, without bones, entrails and heads.

Cereals are boiled in water according to the same rules as when preparing them for humans. At the end of cooking, about 10 minutes, add meat or fish to the porridge. Vegetables are given to dogs chopped raw, washed with boiling water and cut into large pieces.

Giving dairy products to dogs should be done with caution.

Dairy and fermented milk products are introduced into the dog's diet with caution., since many animals react to them with intestinal upset. You can give your dog boiled eggs twice a week.

Vitamin and mineral complexes must be added to food. Their choice depends on the age and breed of the dog. The animal must always have access to clean drinking water.

It is prohibited to give dogs the following foods:

Attention. It is forbidden to give the dog bones, especially tubular and chicken feet, as they can get stuck in the throat or injure the esophagus.

Features of using dry food

If you decide to feed your pet dry food, it is best to opt for super premium food.

High-quality dry food is quite suitable for feeding dogs, but their choice must be approached with all responsibility.

High-quality premium food contains a sufficient amount of all the elements a dog needs. When choosing food, you need to take into account the age, size, and physiological characteristics of the animal.

There are three types of feed:

Everyday – constitutes the main diet of a dog in normal condition.
Medicinal is a special food intended for feeding a dog during illness. Before using it, you should consult your veterinarian.
Special - food for solving certain problems. For example, light, for the prevention of obesity. Special group constitute feed for sterilized animals.

High-quality food contains a balanced amount of protein, fats and carbohydrates. The composition includes meat - 30-50%, plant components, vitamins and minerals, natural preservatives.

You should refuse food that contains by-products, skins and feathers, dyes and preservatives, sugar, and starch. Cheap feeds usually have this composition. Such components can cause allergies, metabolic disorders, and diseases of the excretory systems.

The advantages of dry food are its balanced composition, low time spent on food preparation, and easy determination of the amount the dog needs per meal.

Cheap dry dog food can be bad for your pet's health.

But dry food also has its downsides:

Cheap options are extremely dangerous for the dog, and not everyone can afford expensive food.
The taste and composition of the food must be selected for each dog, otherwise the dog may simply refuse to eat the option offered to it.
Once you start eating a certain brand of food, you can’t suddenly change it. The dog’s body gets used to a certain composition of food, and a change can lead to digestive disorders. If the owner fed the dog cheap food to which he was accustomed, and then suddenly decided to pamper him with expensive food, the result will be disastrous.

Important. When organizing feeding with dry formulas, you should not violate the amount recommended by the manufacturers. Dry ingredients in a dog's stomach swell, and if you exceed the norm, gluttony occurs. When organizing nutrition for young and old dogs, it is necessary to choose food intended specifically for these categories of animals.

Features of organizing dog nutrition at home

An adult dog is fed twice a day, and puppies 3-4 times.

During feeding important point is not only what to feed the dog, but also how to do it. There are general rules for organizing feeding for dogs of all breeds and ages:

Feeding errors

They give the dog an unlimited amount of food, believing that the animal will determine how much it needs to eat. Many animals, like people, are prone to overeating. Therefore, increasing the amount of food will lead to obesity in the dog and indigestion.
Combine natural food with dry food. This cannot be done, since digestion is adjusted to certain type food. Constant shift the menu negatively affects the dog’s intestines and leads to a deterioration in its health.
They strive to constantly include something new in the dog’s diet. A dog does not need variety; it must consume a strictly balanced composition of foods so that the body works correctly, without failures.
The dog is fed exclusively meat products. Lack of fiber in food leads to a decrease in the animal’s immunity and permanent disorder digestion.
They forget to provide for the dog clean water, believing that it is enough for her to drink once or twice a day. Lack of fluid leads to dehydration of the animal's body.

Don't forget that your dog should always have fresh water in his bowl.

It is better to place the bowl at chest level so that the dog does not bend over while eating. In this regard, special stands available for sale are convenient. They allow you to adjust the height of the bowl to suit the height of the animal.

You should not mix dairy and meat products in one meal. It is better to give meat in the evening, and dairy products in the morning.

Important. Often the owner feeds the dog natural products, but if there is not enough time, sometimes he tries to give it dry food. This should not be done under any circumstances. A dog's stomach, which is not adapted to dry food, will not accept food, and the dog will begin to have problems.

Nutritional characteristics of some dog breeds

All dog breeds are divided depending on the size of the animal:

The smallest ones are up to 5 kg.
Small – up to 10 kg.
Medium – up to 20 kg.
Large – up to 30 kg.
Powerful - more than 32 kg.

Miniature breeds are the most capricious in nutrition.

Deciding on the choice of dry food depending on the size is quite simple, since food manufacturers take this factor into account and develop a special line of food for certain breeds. The situation is more complicated with the organization of natural nutrition for dogs of different breeds.

Miniature breeds are the pickiest when it comes to food. For them it is necessary to choose lean meat, it is better chicken breast or veal. Mash or chop the vegetables in a blender before serving. Small dogs are fed 3-4 times a day in small portions.

Medium breed dogs can eat meat raw and lightly boiled; vegetables need to be cut into small pieces.

Large dogs need increased content protein, so the amount meat products should prevail in their diet. Sometimes it is allowed to replace meat with offal. Vegetables for large dogs are cut into large pieces. Feed in winter large dogs A small amount of fat may be added.

Let us consider in detail the nutritional features of some breeds

Husky. A sled dog, quite active, with well-developed muscles. Meat should be in the first place in her diet (70% of the total food) to provide the body with protein. Don't give husky bones. Feeding with cartilage, which contains collagen, is allowed. 10% of the diet should consist of rice and buckwheat porridge. To get calcium into the body, huskies are given cottage cheese, fermented milk products, and pieces of cheese.

In a Husky's diet, 70% should be meat.

Chihuahua. Digestive system This breed is quite delicate, so all products for its nutrition require preliminary preparation. Meat, cereals and vegetables must be boiled and chopped. The ratio of meat, cereals and vegetables in the Chihuahua's diet should be in the ratio 30X30X40. These dogs should not be given bones and cartilage, raw meat, fried or spicy foods. Forbidden for this breed are onions, which cause anemia, beans, which lead to intestinal spasms, and sweets, which contribute to obesity.

Chicken should not be given to dachshunds, as it is an allergen for them.

Dachshund. One third of a dachshund's diet should consist of meat. low-fat varieties. However, this breed should not be given chicken, as it is an allergen for dachshunds. Meat can sometimes be replaced sea fish without bones. 40% of a dachshund's diet should be cereals, everything except semolina, which can lead to obesity. Fruits and vegetables are also given raw, chopped on a grater.

Cur. Mongrel dogs, unlike gentle purebreds, they are distinguished by excellent digestion and strong immunity. Therefore, with the organization of their meals special problems does not arise, since mongrels can successfully survive even by eating bread soaked in meat broth. But to maintain the health of a mongrel at home, you still need to adhere to certain recommendations.

Meat and fish are given to the mongrel raw. You can add pieces of meat to porridge from any cereal boiled until half cooked. You can also add small pieces of lightly boiled vegetables there. Fermented milk products and cottage cheese should not be mixed with porridge and meat; it is better to give them separately.

Features of the diet of dogs of different ages

At different periods of development, dogs need different amounts of nutrients, so the diet for young and old animals has some features:

Nutrition for puppies and young dogs should be saturated with fats and glucose, which are abundant in breast milk. In addition, the baby's stomach is unable to absorb rough food, therefore all ingredients for its nutrition should be lightly boiled and well chopped. The diet should be varied so that the puppy’s body adapts to different foods.

From an early age you need to study your pet's taste preferences. If the puppy does not eat fish well, but enjoys eating cottage cheese, you can increase the amount in the diet. A puppy of 2-3 months of age is fed 5-6 times a day, from 4 to 6 months the number of feedings is reduced to 4 times, from 6 months to 10 - 3 times. Then they switch to two meals a day.

The diet of puppies and young dogs should include: more products with fats and glucose.

For puppies up to 3 months of age, the basis of nutrition is dairy products: cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir. Porridge should be cooked with low-fat milk. Some vegetables are added to the porridge. Just don’t mix different vegetables at once; you need to add one type of vegetable for each feeding.

Cereals for porridges can be mixed. They can be cooked in meat or bone broth. Before adding cereal, all bones from the broth must be removed so that the puppy does not choke. If your puppy likes to chew bones, it is better to buy him special artificial ones in the store.

Feeding a young dog should be accompanied by educational measures. They should not be allowed to beg or hang around the kitchen while cooking. From an early age, the dog must learn to eat in a certain place and at certain hours.

Food for an old dog should be as fortified as possible, and when cooking it should be grated with the addition of water.

Feeding an old dog. Different breeds dogs age in at different ages, but for everyone, the nature of nutrition must change. The diet should be as fortified as possible to support the animal’s aging body. At the same time, it is advisable to reduce the caloric content of food, since the dog becomes less active and its metabolism decreases. Excess calories will lead to obesity and even greater stress on the body, in particular on the joints.

It is impossible to change the diet suddenly, as an old animal is sensitive to changes and will be in a state of stress. Calorie content is reduced by reducing the fat content of meat and gradually reducing portion sizes.

Food for an old dog must be prepared pureed and with plenty of water. Grinding of food is necessary because the dog is losing teeth. With age, a dog begins to drink less water, so it should receive the main amount of liquid from food. This technique is necessary to prevent dehydration of the animal’s body and to normalize stool, since old dogs are prone to constipation.

An old dog’s diet needs to reduce the amount of meat and fish; animal fats need to be replaced with vegetable fats. The basis of the dog’s menu should be vegetables and low-fat fermented milk products. The frequency of feedings should be increased to 3-4 times a day, since an old dog’s appetite is reduced and it can eat much less food at one time.

An old dog needs to be put on a salt-free diet, as it begins to have problems with excretory system, and there is a risk of kidney stones.

You need to feed the dog correctly, and not the way the owners like it. A person who has tamed an animal must take care of its health. The dog cannot influence his diet and is forced to eat what is given to him, which means that he needs to be fed the right and healthy foods.

The key to health, a confident “stance”, correct posture, shiny wool, activity and full image A dog's life is the way it eats. Exist general norms and recommendations on how to properly feed a dog with natural food, of course, there is an alternative - industrial food, but every animal needs individual approach, so let’s look at the nuances.

Before purchasing a pet, you should study many breed nuances of feeding and maintenance. It is important to understand, even if you are adopting a mongrel from a shelter, that this is a dog that needs the same nutritious nutrition as a titled pet. Accept it as a fact - keeping any animal requires material costs, do not expect to feed the dog homemade food“from the table” or the cheapest dry food. As a result, treating your pet will take much more time, money, and most importantly, the animal will suffer for the rest of its life. A number of fundamental rules that will help maintain the health of the animal:

In most cases, it is fraught with metabolic disorders.

Has a detrimental effect on the intestinal microflora.

Industrial feeds are enriched with vitamins and microelements; mixing diets can lead to hypervitaminosis.

The daily food intake is calculated based on the weight and energy needs of the pet. An imbalance leads to either obesity or loss of strength and exhaustion. The daily weight of food should be 2–3% of the dog’s weight if we're talking about about an adult pet.

An important nuance than bigger dog, the less her need for daily calories per kilogram of weight.

When calculating, take into account the energy needs of the animal; you cannot feed a yard dog kept in a chain or enclosure in the same “regime” as a pet who is engaged in service or regularly engages in “dog sports”. Older dogs also have lower calorie needs, but the amount of protein, fatty amino acids, and proteins should remain the same.

Requirement of large breeds weighing 45–70 kg: 30–24 kcal/kg body weight.

Requirement of medium breeds weighing 15–30 kg: 39–33 kcal/kg body weight.

Requirement of small breeds weighing 5–10 kg: 52–44 kcal/kg body weight.

Requirement for miniature breeds weighing 2–5 kg: 65 kcal/kg body weight.

Important! Complete ban on fatty foods in a dog’s diet, to put it mildly, is not logical. Of course, proteins, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, amino acids and microelements are extremely important, but a moderate amount of fat is also necessary. The main thing is to carefully monitor your pet’s weight, especially after surgery, illness, pregnancy, stress, and adjust the diet if the dog begins to gain weight.

Provide constant access to water, the dog should have it at any time, especially after an active walk, in hot weather, with low air humidity. , a subtle but serious threat to the life and health of your pet. It is recommended to change the water once a day, in the hot season - at least 2 times. If in your city or locality, tap water has a high percentage of impurities (scale remains in the kettle), it is recommended to give the dog purified water - salts, phosphorus, chlorine, unrefined calcium obtained with water, the most common cause of urolithiasis.

Note! Excessive consumption water - dangerous symptom for the female. Dogs experience intense, uncontrollable thirst when pyometra develops – purulent inflammation uterus.

Feeding an adult dog - daily need for energy and vitamins

Newbie owners often face a number of difficulties in preparing a diet, succumb to the manipulation of their pets and lose sight of important features breeds Let's figure out what to properly feed your dog at home and how to calculate the required amount of food. An adult dog eats 1-3 times a day; based on the regimen, divide the daily intake into portions.

Water

The basis correct exchange substances, digestion, and therefore good health– water. The daily norm is calculated based on 40–60 ml. per kilogram of body of an adult pet (80–110 ml. for puppies), if the temperature environment does not exceed 25 C°. Please note that the daily water intake includes the liquid that is included in the porridge.

Squirrels

Material for cell restoration and division. One of necessary elements, which the body cannot stock up on for future use, so proteins must be present in the animal’s diet every day. The dog’s body synthesizes many vitamins and microelements on its own, but a number essential amino acids found only in protein foods. Complete sources of protein - lean meat, natural milk, eggs.

Eggs are a rich source of vitamins E, B2, B12, D, proteins and essential amino acids. Along with the benefits, the product is a strong allergen, so it is not advisable to use it more than 2 times a week. For puppies, nursing and weak pets, quail eggs are recommended for maintenance purposes.

In combination with natural food, the pet should receive bones and cartilage, but taking into account several nuances:

It is strictly forbidden to feed the dog tubular, rib and other bones that break into fragments under pressure - a direct path to the operating table, and only if you have time.

Bones are fed only raw. Boiled bone It is calcined like glass and, when chewed, breaks into small sharp fragments.

The dog can have spongy bones (porous) - shoulder blade, brisket.

Sugar bones (moslaks) are given to the dog as a teething and teeth cleaning aid. The moslak should not fit into the dog's mouth. You should not leave an animal gnawing a bone unattended - an overly enthusiastic pet can damage its jaw if the bone gets stuck.

Read also: Teaching a dog the “Place” command: step-by-step instructions for pets from 4 months to a year

Milk is a partial alternative to meat, but with a number of conditions:

Homemade milk must undergo veterinary examination, otherwise the product may threaten the life of the animal.

The optimal fat content of milk is 7–12%.

The milk must be fresh.

Mixing meat and milk in one feeding is not recommended.

Carbohydrates

The energy basis of the body, including immune system. Fiber - bran, the shell of cereals and some of their components, act as a catalyst for digestion and cleansing the intestines. The daily fiber intake for an adult dog is 2–3% of the diet, carbohydrates – 10 g. per kilogram.

The optimal source of carbohydrates and fiber is cereals. They are fed only in a well-cooked form. Porridge is prepared from chaff, whole or pressed cereals - rice, oatmeal, barley, buckwheat or mixtures thereof. Feeding millet, semolina, corn and pearl barley unacceptable!

Vegetables and fruits are a source of fast carbohydrates and fiber. Eating raw or processed vegetables in combination with grains and meat has a beneficial effect on the tone of the gastrointestinal tract, supports intestinal microflora, and helps the body get rid of toxins. It is optimal to finely chop or grate an apple, pumpkin, carrots, herbs, lettuce, and tomato. You should be careful with potatoes, cabbage and beets - they can cause diarrhea.

Fats

Contrary to all the arguments about the dangers of fatty foods, no metabolism can do without fats. Of course, the dog should not be fed excessively fatty, fried foods, or foods containing harmful vegetable oils(palm, recycled materials). The pet needs to receive non-synthesizable fatty acid Omega 3 and 6 are also products that will allow you to build up a small layer of fat during the winter. The daily fat intake is 1.3 g per kilogram for an adult dog, 2.6 g for puppies.

The source of healthy fats is boiled ocean fish, vegetable oils: olive, pumpkin, sunflower, which are optimally absorbed in combination with cereals.

Vitamins and minerals

The weak point of dogs is B vitamins and ascorbic acid(C), they are synthesized in the body in insufficient quantities and are not stored in reserve, therefore they must be present in food daily.

Note! High-quality industrial feed contains full complex vitamins, when choosing treats, study the composition so as not to increase the required daily dose.

Vitamin supplements are given in regular courses and additionally during pregnancy, lactation, active growth or illness. Please note that phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D must be present in one complex, since they are absorbed in proper proportions, and excess is excreted from the body.

There are three options for feeding your dog: natural food that you prepare yourself, industrial feed, and mixed nutrition, which includes both natural nutrition, and food. Which method to choose is up to you.

Ready-made feed

Feeding dry food is very convenient. It contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals and does not require cooking. However, such food must be of high quality. Always remember that good food it doesn't come cheap. Don't buy food industrial production by weight. It quickly deteriorates in stores, as it is constantly in open bags. When choosing food for your dog, consider its individuality: age, lifestyle, physical condition.

Mix dry food and natural food it is impossible, since neither one nor the other food will be digested normally. If you feed the animal in combination, then alternate days, do not feed food and natural products nutrition.

Natural feeding

If you decide to feed your dog natural food, then you need to know a few rules. The dog's diet should consist of 2/3 meat and animal products, and 1/3 from plant food. In addition to the meat itself, the dog’s diet must include offal (heart, stomach, liver, lungs, kidneys), and tendons. In addition, the diet includes unsalted fish, from which all major bones have been removed. As supplements, raw eggs, grated cheese and cottage cheese should be given in small quantities.

Milk is unwanted product for an adult dog. Also, the dog should not be given pork (it is very fatty for a dog), raw river fish (river fish can be affected by helminth larvae), alcohol, salty and spicy foods. Candies, cookies, chocolate and the like should not be given to the dog, even as an exception.

Bones belong to essential products in the dog's diet. They contain calcium, proteins, gluten and others valuable substances, necessary for the growth and development of the dog. In addition, the bones that a dog chews help strengthen its teeth and gums. Bones are simply necessary for feeding puppies at the age of 4-6 months, when they are cutting permanent teeth. This makes the process of changing teeth much easier. The most useful are the bones of young animals (calves, etc.), which have a lot of cartilage and remains of meat, for example on the ribs. Boiled bones are of no value. Tubular bones are simply dangerous for a dog. During the cooking process, bones lose all of their essential nutrients. Tubular bones are very fragile, especially poultry bones, and they crumble easily, creating fragments that a dog can swallow. In this case, urgent veterinary intervention is required. Starting when your dog is 4–5 years old, reduce the daily amount of bones.

Plant foods in a dog's diet: rye, rice, oats, wheat, semolina, millet, as well as vegetables and fruits. Potatoes, legumes and corn are not suitable for feeding a dog. Potatoes are almost indigestible. Legumes and corn most often do not benefit the dog and cause it to vomit.

Adding to a Dog's Diet fish oil, vitamin preparations and calcium in some cases may become necessary. It is recommended that you follow your veterinarian's advice rather than acting on your own diagnosis. A puppy or young dog should definitely add fish oil to its food.

It must be remembered that raw food is always healthier and is better absorbed by the dog than boiled food.

A dog does not have such a refined taste as a person who tries to diversify food and adds all kinds of spices to it. The dog can be content with the same food every day. However, if someone spoils their dog with sausages, various savory treats or fragrant sweets, do not be surprised if it becomes picky.

Dog food is prepared as follows. The meat is cut into small pieces or passed through a meat grinder. The bones are chopped with a special hatchet, so that it is convenient for the dog to grab them with his teeth from either side. Cereal products - wholemeal flour, bran, oat and barley flakes - are soaked in water for several hours and then doused with boiling water. Rice needs to be cooked. Vegetables and herbs are usually given raw, grated (carrots) or finely chopped (spinach, nettles, dandelion, lettuce, leeks). Fruits and berries (apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, prunes) are cut or pitted. The different foods are mixed thoroughly before feeding the dog. Fish bones and heads, in principle, do not pose any particular difficulties for the dog and are not dangerous for it. However, if the fish is large, it is recommended to first remove the dorsal fin, as well as the short and sharp pectoral fins.

The dog's food should be neither hot nor cold. Basic rule: food should be warm and mushy. If food is taken out of the refrigerator, it must be heated; if food is removed from the stove, it must be cooled.

The daily diet should correspond to the dog's physical activity, its breed and age. A completely eaten meal and a licked bowl are a sign that the volume of the diet has been determined quite correctly. There should be nothing left in the bowl. You will quickly notice whether the portion is sufficient. If your dog asks for more, looks at you and starts barking, the next time you feed, the portion should be increased slightly. If your dog starts to get too round, his diet needs to be reduced. This is done thoughtfully and without rushing. Under no circumstances should you drastically reduce your diet. However, be persistent and continue to keep your dog on the reduced diet until he is back to normal.

The dog's feeding times should be observed as precisely as possible. Never feed your dog before a walk physical activity or immediately after a long walk, training, active games with other dogs.

A puppy up to 3 months of age receives food 5-6 times a day, a young dog up to 7 months of age - 3 times a day. An already grown dog is fed twice a day.

The food bowl is placed on a stand at the dog's chest level. This requirement must be observed to avoid curvature of the spine from incorrect posture while eating. The bowl of food is placed for 15 minutes. If the dog refuses to eat within 15 minutes, the bowl is removed until the next feeding. No one should disturb the dog while eating. The dog does not need to be petted, there is no need to call it, because while eating it awakens its instinct to protect its prey from the attacks of others. After a hearty meal, the dog should have the opportunity to digest what it has eaten within one to two hours in a calm environment.

In addition to the food bowl, the dog is given a drinking bowl, which must always have pure water. You must give her the opportunity to quench her thirst when she wants it.

Having a pet means taking care of its health completely on your shoulders. It is not always possible to understand all the intricacies of choosing a diet for your four-legged friend. Let's find out what to feed your dog in order to have the most productive effect on it. appearance and health indicators.

How to feed a dog correctly?

Principle good nutrition sometimes confused with excess food in the diet. Many dogs, by their nature, are insatiable, they have no sense of proportion, and the hospitable owner rejoices as his dog absorbs more and more, and gets fat before his eyes. But it is known that a fat dog that is obese to one degree or another has a high chance of developing heart, gastrointestinal and joint diseases. Therefore, every owner needs to know how to feed a dog correctly, so as not to overfed it, but also not to keep it from hand to mouth.

Important! Under no circumstances should food from our table become a dog’s diet, no matter what breed it is. After all, spices, difficult-to-digest foods and large amounts of sugar and salt will sooner or later have a negative impact on your pet’s health.

A caring owner should know how many times a day to feed the dog in order to satisfy its hunger and satisfy the body's needs for food. nutrients. You can learn about this and more by reading the article to the end.

How to properly feed your dog natural food?

If you have already decided what to feed your dog and have given preference natural food, then congratulations - this is an excellent choice! All that remains is to find out what is healthy to feed your pet, and what foods are strictly prohibited. So, an adult dog of any breed (guard, hound, decorative) at home can be fed:

raw meat and offal (beef, veal, rabbit, chicken, turkey, young lamb, kidneys, lungs, liver, trachea, udder, stomach);
sea and ocean fish (hake, halibut, mackerel, chum salmon);
dairy products (kefir, whey, calcined cottage cheese);
vegetables (pumpkin, zucchini, carrots, beets);
cereals (buckwheat, rice);
fruits and berries.

Important! An adult dog can replace one meat feeding per week with fish, since fish is large quantities interferes with the absorption of B vitamins.

It also follows that an incorrectly composed menu for a dog can cause chronic deficiency. necessary substances. Therefore, the dog should be regularly given vitamins in courses 3-4 times a year, as well as flavoring its food minerals, such as bone meal.

How to properly feed your dog dry food?

More and more owners prefer to feed their pet dogs dry food. But it is not always clear what is better to feed – budget or premium food. After all, there are reviews that by saving a little, you can perfectly maintain an animal without overpaying. But veterinarians have a different opinion - cheap food, consisting of low-quality and sometimes harmful components, often causes problems in dogs. This could be allergies, indigestion, hair loss, dandruff and other troubles.

Important! In terms of volume, a portion of dry food for an animal differs significantly from a portion of natural food. You need to carefully read the information on the packaging, and also buy food that matches the specific breed.

Pay attention to what you can feed your dog so as not to harm its health, but to increase it. Premium, Superpremium class food, as well as holistic foods, can handle this perfectly:

Nutra Gold.

When the owner has decided what food to feed his friend, he should familiarize himself with his correct use, since the feeding process has its own nuances. Did you know that a dog fed dry food should receive twice as much water as a dog fed natural food? After all, dry pieces require a lot of liquid to swell. And further helpful information– saturation of the dog with dry food occurs a little later than with natural food, therefore it is very easy to overfeed it due to inexperience.

Attention! When switching a dog from natural to dry food, the latter can be soaked in water to swell. This way the dog will get used to the change in diet faster.

How many times a day should you feed your dog?

While the puppy was still small, we had to feed him literally by the hour. But already at the age of one year, the diet is divided into one or two feedings. Some owners prefer to feed in the morning and evening, while others feed only before bed. Veterinarians consider both options acceptable, although the first is still better.

Important! A sick or old dog should be fed light, low-fat food, dividing the usual diet into 3-4 meals for better digestion.

If the animal is not prescribed a different regime, then the question “feed the dog before or after a walk” should not be relevant at all. And this is not a matter of habit of the dog or the owner - doctors are unanimous on this matter - you can give your pet food only after a walk, and not vice versa. The fact is that a dog’s gastrointestinal tract is designed in such a way that it is overflowing with food during active movement can twist, forming a volvulus of the stomach and part of the intestine. Therefore, first an active walk, and then food.

If there is a need to feed the animal before walking (it cannot recover normally without replenishing its stomach with food), then the walk in this case should take place in an inactive form, only to relieve its natural needs. Only after an hour will the dog be allowed to frolic to his heart's content.

Important! In winter, when it is cold, the amount and calorie content of food for the dog kept in the enclosure should be increased.

What to feed your dog to make it gain weight?

fatten up skinny dog– it’s not an easy matter. First, you should find out what causes your dog’s weight loss. Perhaps this is underfeeding from a very early age, when the puppy was still forming. In this case, fixing something may simply be unrealistic. But if the dog was sick, then it is often quite possible to cure it and begin to gain weight competently.

Please note what to do with an underweight dog:

Now let's discuss what to feed a pregnant, lactating or postpartum dog. Indeed, during all these periods, the bitch requires increased attention to herself, as well as to her diet:

In the first month of pregnancy, the dog should be given a little more food than usual or another feeding should be added. About 2 weeks before giving birth, you should cut down on your diet, removing as many carbohydrates and fats as possible. Instead, the bitch should receive protein, a multivitamin complex and fish oil.
After giving birth and during lactation, the bitch is fed intensively, with high content calories as long as the puppies nurse their mother. Beef tripe is very useful for the dog at this time - the stomach contains the enzymes necessary for a nursing mother for rapid recovery.

What should you not feed your dog?

Knowing what to feed your dog, you can give it several years of life. But improper and irregular nutrition, on the contrary, can undermine the health of a four-legged friend and shorten his already short life. The dog is not fed “human” food. That is, such products harm her:

Important! Feeding a large or small dog natural food does not mean feeding it bones! Whole, unchopped, raw sugar bones are given to the puppy during the teething period. permanent teeth, and also as a reward for an adult dog. But they are not a substitute for meat, because they often lead to intestinal blockage and even rupture.

Some owners manage to feed their dogs cat food. This absolutely cannot be done, because dogs and cats have completely different needs and such food, of course, will fill you up, but will not be beneficial.

What else do you need to know about feeding dogs?

Every adult dog should see a doctor every year for preventive vaccination. As a rule, the animal tolerates vaccination without consequences, since the body has already developed a strong immunity.

But there is also a nuance here - if you decide to switch your dog from one type of feeding to another (from dry to natural or vice versa), then in no case should this be done before vaccination. You should think about this a couple of weeks before going to the vet or wait the same amount after the injection.

All cases of feeding a dog with natural or dry food are suitable for a healthy animal. But what to do if your pet suddenly gets sick or his illness turns out to be incurable? Let's find out what to do.

What to feed your dog after poisoning?

Does your dog pick up everything on a walk? Then she has every chance of being poisoned by spoiled food. When poisoned, the dog loses a lot of fluid, and toxins attack the body from the inside. Immediately after poisoning, it is advisable for the animal to be washed and kept for a couple of days. starvation diet. Afterwards, in order to alleviate your pet’s condition, you should adhere to the following principles:

transfer the dog to small meals (4-5 times a day);
give food slightly warmed up;
exclude fatty foods;
give light broths;
porridge - only rice and buckwheat;
meat - chicken or horse meat.

What to feed a dog with diarrhea?

Indigestion is not only unpleasant, but sometimes dangerous problem. Eating should be suspended for at least a day. Instead of food, the bowl should always contain unlimited amounts of clean water. If the dog is upset, do not give it fatty or raw foods. As soon as things get better, you should include light foods in your diet, exclusively in boiled form.

Important! In case of poisoning, diarrhea or vomiting, the dog's food must be added with salt to restore mineral metabolism.

What to feed a dog with diabetes?

As in humans, dogs with diabetes mellitus, problems with eating begin (lack of appetite) and the dog loses weight very quickly. To minimize losses, you should walk your pet more often, working up an appetite, and try to give him more high-calorie food. If the dog was on dry food, the veterinarian will recommend special therapeutic nutrition. Natural products should include:

hard cheese;
cereal soups with meat broth;
meat different types, as well as fish, but in boiled form.

Be careful! Vegetables, fruits and refined rice are not allowed for dogs with diabetes.

What to feed a dog with allergies?

Just like people, animals also suffer from allergies. It may appear as:

skin rashes;
hair loss;
itching;
bad breath;
diarrhea;
lacrimation and swelling of the mucous membranes.

Most often, food products are the culprits of this condition. Identifying an allergen is quite difficult. So you will have to act by elimination.

Basically, with an allergy, the reaction occurs to:

poultry meat;
eggs or egg white;
nuts;
sea fish;
“treats” for dogs;
milk;
soy products;
semolina, wheat, oatmeal;
vitamins and minerals in the form of supplements;
cheap dry or wet food;

As you can see, part of the list consists of foods prohibited for dogs. But, nevertheless, some owners, ignoring recommendations for animal nutrition, give them, thereby provoking health problems in their pet. Knowing what to feed a dog, a responsible owner will never intentionally harm it.