Tips to Consider When Determining Your Puppy Dog's Diet

You have recently welcomed a new cute and cuddly puppy into your home.  A healthy diet is essential for a long, happy life together.  What things do you need to consider when selecting your puppy dog's diet?  Always talk to your vet about a proper puppy dog diet.  Remember that a puppy dog's diet is not the same as an adult dog's diet.  Avoid a trip to the grocery store to grab a bag of adult dog food to feed your pet.  This will not meet the nutritional needs of a healthy puppy dog diet.

You can choose to feed your new puppy one of several options.  Natural and organic puppy dog diets have become more popular in recent years.  Some pet owners prefer to feed a raw diet to their puppy.  Most people choose to use kibble as the main component of the puppy dog's diet.  For this reason, I will focus primarily on this choice. 

As you wean the puppy, a high-quality puppy food with tiny kibble is best.  A puppy dog's diet should include all the essential vitamins to create a healthy diet for excellent growth.  Feed your new puppy three or four times a day.  Your puppy dog's diet should consist of puppy food moisten with water.  Do not moisten the puppy food with milk.  The milk acts as a laxative in your puppy dog's diet.  The water will create a softer, more palatable cuisine for your pet.  

As the new puppy grows and becomes accustomed to eating the kibble as a regular part of his or her diet, you will want to gradually decrease the amount of water.  If you plan to feed dry dog food in the future, expect to transition the dog's diet earlier than later.  Continuing to moisten the dog food may make transition more difficult later in life.  By six weeks of age, your puppy dog's diet can be solid kibble. 

Your puppy should be permitted all the kibble he or she wants during the initial phase of the weaning process.  Make sure you present the puppy the new diet of puppy food at regular times.  Around five months of age, your puppy dog's diet should decrease to only two feeding time's per day.  By this time, you should establish a specific quantity of food per day to ensure a healthy diet and weight for your dog. 

Talk to your vet about how much to feed your new puppy.  All puppies look cute, round and cuddly at some point during their first few months.  It can be difficult to know when your puppy is overweight.  Your veterinarian will help to advise you on this issue.  It is a good idea to open up the door of communication between you and your vet now.  Both vet and owner only want what is best for the new puppy.

Feeding your new puppy a healthy diet does not have to be difficult.  Talk to your vet for advice and information.  Always choose a quality food as the main source of nutrition in your puppy dog's diet.  A healthy diet for your puppy will set the stage for a healthy dog in the years to come.      

Avoid Table Scraps in Your Dog's Diet

We have all done it.  Our cute, little furry friend is practically smiling at us from beneath the kitchen table.  The ears are perked and the tail is wagging.  We know what our dog is after.  Just a tiny bit from dinner would be delightful, right?  What could it hurt?  It is just a bite or two after all. 

Hold Fido's ears he won't want to hear this.  A dog's diet really should not contain table scraps.  People food is just that...for people.  A dog's nutritional needs are not the same as a human's.  Sure, we eat some of the same things, but feeding your pet from the table is one of the biggest mistakes you can make for your pet.  A dog's diet doesn't require all the added goodies we put into our meals.

People have problems with obesity.  A dog can have this problem, as well.  If your dog's diet consists mostly of scraps from the dinner table, chances are high that your dog will have trouble maintaining a healthy weight.  Even a few pounds overweight can really make a difference in the quality and length of your pet's life.  Curb the begging and stick to your guns. 

When you have a dog who is not a picky eater, it can be tempting to let your pet be the garbage disposal in the home, but really, this is not a good idea.  Certain people foods can harm your dog and should never be a part of your dog's diet.  Grapes, for example, have been known to cause serious problems for dogs, even death.  Chicken bones and popcorn are a dangerous problem for your dog, and permitting large quantities of chocolate in a dog's diet can all be fatal.

A poor diet even shows up out in the yard.  When your dog's diet is not at its best, your pet's outputs will be greater in size, smell, and mess.  Benefits of choosing a healthy diet for your dog will be noticeable in your pet's health, as well as, during those walks around the block.

There are a few occasions when a supplement or treat from the kitchen may be alright, but never in excess.  Talk to your veterinarian about healthy snacks for your dog's diet.  If you simply must continue feeding Fido at the table, many vets recommend you give your pet ice cubes or pieces of carrot to munch on between scheduled feeding times.  Providing your pet these healthy alternatives to pizza and cupcakes gives you the freedom to choose a healthy and nutritious snack for your dog's diet. 

So, the next time your beloved pet starts eyeing your grub, redirect his or her attention. Don't reach for your fatty steak or chicken leg.  Instead, toss your buddy a cool, refreshing ice cube to bat around and munch on.  A couple of baby carrots will keep Fido happy and leave you feeling good about your choices for the nutritional value of your dog's diet.  You will know that you are doing your best to maintain a high-quality diet for your pet.