Which Food Is Right For My Dog?

Choosing the right type of food for your dog will help to keep your furry friend healthy. Different ages and breeds can benefit from different types of food. It’s also important to factor in any healthy problems your dog may be suffering with, as well limiting human foods. This post explains more on just what you should be feeding your dog. 

Consider the age

First, you should consider the age of your dog. Puppies have different nutritional needs to adult dogs and should be fed special puppy food. A good breeder will usually be able to recommend food when adopting a puppy, although you may prefer to do your own research online.

As dogs reach their latter years, some may benefit from being put on a senior diet. You can buy senior dog food, which has less proteins and fats and more carbs to make up for the lack of physical activity. That said, many senior dogs are able to stay healthy on an average adult diet. 

Consider the breed

Different breeds may also benefit from different types of dog food. Smaller breeds tend to need more calories-per-pound than larger dogs. They also need smaller kibble.

You can buy breed-specific dog foods to cater to your dog’s needs. That said, such food isn’t always necessary – most medium to large breeds are fine on regular dog food. 

Get the portions right

Portioning is important. Different breeds and ages of dog require different portion sizes. Give your dog too large a portion and they may become overweight.

A vet or breed specialist will usually be able to tell you exactly how much you should be serving your dog. You can also find out this information online. 

With some dogs, you may also want to take measures to prevent dogs eating food too quickly. Some dogs have a tendency to scoff down food quickly which can lead to bloat – prevent this by buying a maze bowl or by serving food gradually in small amounts.

Look out for health problems

You should also factor in whether your dog has any health problems. 

Just like humans, dogs can develop allergies and intolerances. You may want to buy some sensitive dog food if you’ve noticed that your dog has been having digestive problems or showing allergy symptoms.

Dogs with conditions such as diabetes should also be put on a strict diet. There are foods for dogs that have diabetes.

Limit human foods

Many human foods can be very unhealthy for dogs when eaten in large quantities. While there’s nothing wrong giving your dog the odd treat or leftover, you should try to limit such foods. Foods containing a lot of sugary or dairy should be particularly restricted as they could cause your dog to have an upset tummy.

It’s worth noting that some human foods are incredibly toxic to dogs and should never be offered as food. This includes chocolate, grapes, onions, macadamia nuts and walnuts.