Feeding your Adult Dog

Feeding the right amount of food is one of the best ways to keep the dog healthy. However, a limited amount of food can make them undergo nutritional deficiencies while overeating protein can lead to different health issues and obesity. It is not easy to find out how much a dog should eat. But from its lifestyle and habit, dog food can be chosen that will keep the pet energetic and healthy. Before selecting any adult food one should consider the weight of the dog and its daily exercise regime.

When to consider a dog an adult?

The question is hard to answer, but when a dog weighs 90% of an adults weight, it is considered to be an adult dog. The diet consists of proteins and nutrients. Most dogs pass the progressing age by 6-7 months of age, but the giant or large breeds take almost a year to develop.

Things to keep in mind while feeding an adult dog

• Ensure that the dog eats a balanced and complete diet. The package labels of the dry foods should have a statement of nutritional adequacy. It should also have the nutrient profiles established by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) or passed the feeding trials which are designed to the standards of AAFCO.
• The package should say the food is suitable for all life stages and adult maintenance. The owners can stick to one particular brand if the dog is inactive or suffers from obesity. Moreover, the food which has a mark for all life stages contain extra vitamins and nutrients crucial for the development of animals.
• Homemade foods are nutritious, but it is hard to provide the right mix of proteins, minerals, and fats. Hence, it is advised before feeding the dog with homemade foods one should consult a nutritionist. They will help to design the healthful diet for the dog.

Types of Food

Single food whether it is a commercial or homemade is not right for the dog. Different types will not only provide adequate nutrition, but it will also allow the dog to eat in variety.

• Commercial dry dog foods are readily available and convenient to buy. It also has a very long shelf life, but won't keep the dog’s teeth clean and will be very monotonous to eat the same thing every day. Garnishing the dry food with little meat, cheese or a small amount of canned food will enhance the flavor. Dogs love the flavor of the canned food. Therefore using it as a flavor enhancer for dry food or homemade food is an ideal option.
• Home cooked food like meat and rice and can be tossed with some canned food or cheese or a handful of commercial foods to meet the nutrient requirements and enhance the food taste. Owners can also stick to the recipes suggested by the nutritionist.
• Raw foods are trending the market and easily available. These foods are healthy but costs high than the other dry dog foods. They also take more time to cook.
• A vegetarian diet with essential proteins, vitamins and nutrients keeps a dog healthy and allows living a long life. The meal should be a mixture of half vegetables and proteins, and the next half should be grains. The best source of protein is cottage cheese, lentils, baked beans and cooked eggs. Grains include bread, brown rice, potatoes and wholegrain cereal. Vegetarian meals are also available in canned versions which are accessible in any pet store.

Please Note: Don’t feed the dog with grapes, raisins, garlic, onions, they can be very toxic to the pet.

Quantity

The quantity of the food will entirely depend on its lifestyle as stated above. However, some of the guidelines are as follows.

• An active dog will require a protein-rich diet or more food than a couch dog
• Energy requirements are higher in small dogs than the giant breeds and require high nutrient food
• Same dog breeds or the dogs with the same size might eat various amounts of foods
• Feeding requirements of the dogs can vary by 30%, who are of the same breed, sex or age

 Dog size & Dry dog food amount (1 Day Approx)

Feeding

Feed the dog twice a day, it will keep their digestion on track. Feed the dog every day in the same time as they like routines.