Having a pet is a big responsibility. You need to walk them, bathe them, take care of them, and of course, you need to feed them too. In fact, feeding them might just be one of the most important job roles you will need to take on. However, it’s not as easy as just throwing down some kibble and the dog woofing it up. Well, sometimes it is but not always. But that’s ok, this guide is here to help you find the best way to feed your furry friend. There are a few things you may want to consider when buying food for a pet, like their age, their tastes, and their size. These factors all influence your dog’s daily diet.
Age
A dog’s age can certainly influence what they should be eating. As a puppy, they should be eating very soft and plain food, so that their digestion system can cope. After all, they’re still very young so their body has to adapt and develop to certain new foods. As a pup grows, their stomach will be able to handle new foods and textures and that’s when you can introduce more variety into their diet. From soft biscuits to wet food, they will be able to eat more solid foods. To trial them on solid foods, you can start with something basic like chicken and rice, just so they can experience different textures. If that goes down a treat, you know it’s time to experiment. As they grow, you’ll be able to feed them all kinds of foods. You can opt for varying diets, such as a raw food diet, but it’s best to see what kind of textures they enjoy first. Some adult dogs can be quite fussy with textures, just like us humans so don’t be concerned if they don’t like a particular brand or flavour. As an adult dog becomes an elderly dog, you may want to start reverting to softer foods that are easily digestible. Softer food is also better for elderly teeth too, which may start decaying or falling out with age. If you need more information on the food options available, you can find more here.
Tastes
As with any human, our furry friends also have different preferences when it comes to tastes and flavours. Some prefer poultry, others prefer red meat. Some like carrots, others like celery, it really depends on the dog. As long as they’re getting enough nutrients in their diet, it doesn’t matter too much if they’re a little picky. If they’re extremely picky, you may have to take a trip to the vets and ask their recommendations. After all, your dog needs to eat. It might even be that your dog doesn’t like the texture of a meal rather than the taste. Dog food can often come dry, in jelly or in gravy. These all have very different textures and it’s likely your pooch prefers one to the others. It might be wise to read dog food labels before purchasing the food so that you get a clear understanding of what’s in the food and if your dog will like it.
Size
A dog’s size is very important when it comes to their diet because they need to be eating enough to make sure they’re healthy. Bigger dog breeds need more food, of course. You may want to opt for a meatier diet with a bigger dog to make sure they’re getting all of the vitamins and nutrients their bodies crave. Bigger dog breeds are often more active as well, which means they need a lot of protein in their diet too. Smaller breeds like a Jack Russell or Chihuahuas still need a lot of nutrients in their diet but nowhere near as much as a bigger dog like a Golden Retriever or Rottweiler.
Every time you take your pet to the vets, the vet will weigh your pet and ask questions about their diet to make sure they’re having a healthy diet. If you have any concerns about your pets’ diet, this is when it’s best to ask and seek professional advice.