How much food per day for a dog. Natural dog food

Before you feed your dog natural food, you should consider whether the option is right for you and your dog. Feeding a dog natural food requires material and physical costs. You need to regularly prepare balanced food for the animal. This may seem like a bit of a burdensome procedure. However, the end justifies the means. If you approach the issue correctly, you will get a healthy dog.

Basic feeding rules

It must be understood that natural dog food and natural human food are two different things. It is contraindicated to feed the dog leftovers from the human table. Regardless of the feeding option, the animal should always have fresh water freely available. Change the water daily, during the hot period, you should refresh the bowl twice a day and pour clean water.

Feeding should be carried out according to the schedule, in accordance with the age of the dog. So puppies should be fed 6-8 times a day, and feeding an adult provides 2-3 single meal. Feeding schemes are adjusted depending on the health of the pet, the presence of pregnancy and lactation.

Do not go on about the pet, and feed the animal on demand. Often dogs do not understand the sense of proportion, and are able to eat much more than physiology requires. A sharp increase in weight, obesity of the animal, can lead to health problems. In particular, these are problems with the cardiovascular system, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and joints. The amount of food for an animal is calculated individually for each individual, depending on the animal's body weight and health status. This is 7% of the animal's weight for puppies, and 3.5% of the weight for dogs over 6 months old.

Many pet owners are interested in the question of how to properly feed a dog with natural food, before a walk or after a walk. In accordance with the recommendations of veterinarians, the animal should be fed after walking. This is due to the increased mobility of the pet during a walk and the peculiarity of the structure of the gastrointestinal tract, which can provoke intestinal volvulus.

With a persistent habit of the animal to empty the intestines only after full feeding, the walk should take place in a calm mode. With the main goal - to cope with the natural needs of the animal. Active physical activity is permissible only an hour after the main feeding.

Prohibited Products

When using prohibited foods when feeding an animal, there is a high probability of dog health problems, there is a risk of developing allergic reactions.

List of contraindicated products:

peas, beans, beans;
bakery products;
smoked, salty foods;
fresh white cabbage;
seasonings and spices;
potato;
chocolate, sugar;
semolina;
tubular bones.

Often, owners notice allergy symptoms too late. This is due to thick hair, inattentive attitude towards the dog. The main signs of an allergic reaction:

rashes on the skin and mucous membranes;
disorder of the gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, vomiting, smell from the mouth);
suppuration, swelling of mucous membranes;
increased hair loss.

With signs of allergies, it is necessary to reconsider the pet's diet. Foods that can provoke allergies: chicken meat and eggs, milk, sea fish, mineral and vitamin supplements, flour products, wheat and oatmeal.

In the case of animals, it can be quite difficult to determine what caused the allergy. It is necessary to alternately exclude various products, monitor the condition of the pet. You can start a food diary. AT childhood there is no understanding why it is impossible to treat something tasty. It is important to control the process of feeding the dog, optimally - when one person is feeding.

Eligible Products

The physiological and emotional state of the dog depends on proper and balanced nutrition. In order for your pet to be cheerful and healthy, you should know how to feed a dog on a natural diet. Option - compilation sample menu for a dog for a week. Where all the needs of the animal's body for vitamins and useful substances Oh.

meat (with caution pork and chicken);
offal;
vegetables;
eggs;
cottage cheese, dairy products;
fish;
fruits;
bran;
vegetable oils(olive, sunflower, linseed)
cereals (rice, buckwheat, oats).

Useful and nutritious cereal soups in meat broth with the addition of vegetables. Cereals are the main source of carbohydrates. Vegetables are an extremely valuable product, both fresh and boiled. With caution, you should give the animal fresh cabbage, it can provoke bloating and fermentation in the intestines.

From fruits, apples, pears, bananas should be included in the menu. Dried fruits are an alternative to fresh fruits, they are not inferior in terms of the amount of trace elements, they are more attractive to dogs. Chicken eggs should be on the menu 1-2 times a week in boiled form. Fresh cow's milk it is mainly not used when feeding adult pets; medium-fat sour-milk products and cottage cheese are used.

Sample meal plan for one day

To properly feed your dog, you need to understand what should be approximate diet his nutrition. Veterinarians recommend the following types of food for one day for one adult animal:

1. First morning breakfast. It is best to give your pet some dairy products at this time. First of all, this applies to kefir, curdled milk, yogurt or cottage cheese. All of them are suitable for feeding a dog. An alternative would be porridge along with meat and vegetables. You can also cook fish. Not all owners consider cereals to be normal food for their dogs. Therefore, the amount of porridge can be limited to 10-15 percent of the entire morning diet.

Dairy food should be given to the dog at least once every few days. As for cereals, they should not be neglected either. It is worth adding a variety of vegetables to them so that the diet is as healthy as possible. In addition, the dog will not get tired of such food for some time, despite how often he will use it. Vegetables can be either completely raw or slightly stewed (that is, covered with boiling water). It is also important not to mix both meat and fish at the same time in one meal. Experiments should take place to the extent reasonable.

2. Second evening dinner. During this period, doctors advise giving the pet almost nothing but meat. It can be mixed with a small amount of different vegetables. If the dog is accustomed to eating only cereals, then it is best to give them at least half the usual amount in the evening, replacing them with alternative products. To make the meat more useful, and it was easier for the dog to digest it. To it should be added 0.5-2 tablespoons of the usual sunflower oil. It can also be replaced if possible with olive or linseed oil.

If you practice feeding your dog three times a day, it is best to divide the morning dose into two. In this case, the animal should eat the evening diet at a time. When the dog eats four times a day, the morning dose and the evening dose should be divided equally.

The dog should eat twice in the first half of the day and twice in the second. An imbalance can lead to digestive disorders or other health problems. This applies to both the physical and psychological state of the pet.

The right amount of food for a dog

The development of a dog can only be ensured if he receives the right amount of food in the right way. But how much food a dog needs is influenced by many factors:

1. Physical exercise. The more of them, the more energy the dog spends. In accordance with this, it is very important to replenish it in the body. Therefore, if the dog is significantly active, it is best for him to slightly increase the daily portions. This should directly depend on the loads in a particular period;

2. Place of residence. If the dog lives on the street, then it spends 15-35 percent more energy than if it is constantly in the apartment. In the yard, the animal always has more freedom, as a result of which it runs more, jumps, barks, etc. Therefore, street dogs slightly more food should be given than fully domesticated ones;

3. Season. Temperature regime to a large extent it is able to influence both the need for food consumption and directly the desire of the dog to eat it. In winter, the dog needs to slightly increase portions. At the same time, in summer, the dog often has less activity due to the high air temperature, as a result, it does not require much food;

4. Estrus or pregnancy. Females that bear puppies require much more energy than other animals. Accordingly, their appetite also increases. The more fruits, the more they require nutrients and a variety of vitamins;

5. Age of the dog. Puppies should be fed about 3-4 percent of their body weight. At the same time, aging animals should be given 25 percent less food than normal. This is due to the fact that they are less active, as a result of which it requires less energy. Physical activity for a dog is a must. First of all, it concerns walking. The well-being of the animal, as well as the level of its health, depends on them.

An adult dog needs only two feedings a day. Despite this, some owners give food to their pets three or even four times, dividing the daily portion into several times.

Important rules for feeding natural food

In order for dog food to bring only benefits, it is very important to properly feed the dog. To do this, veterinarians have created a whole list of various rules that you should pay attention to when getting a dog at home:

The volume of the daily diet should be moderate. Insufficient amount of food, as well as its excess, adversely affects the health of the animal;
It is worth allocating about 15-20 minutes for one meal. After that, the food can be immediately hidden back in the refrigerator. This educates the dog and teaches her a certain food culture;
A dog only needs two meals a day. They can be increased to four, but most veterinarians say that this is undesirable;
Under no circumstances should food be salted. It is present in all types of natural food;
Use a bowl holder. Food should be at chest level. This will eliminate the need to wash the floor every time after feeding;
There should always be a certain amount of clean and fresh water. This is more important when using feed, but natural food also requires an appropriate amount of liquid;
Valuable components of the diet should not be constantly replaced by alternative ones. Experts do not advise saving meat in favor of cereals;
If the dog missed lunch, do not increase the next one. This can lead to digestive disorders;
To find out how much food a dog needs, you need to evaluate how it eats. It is necessary to focus on the norms for each breed, but at the same time, you should not ignore the constant requests of the pet to give an additive;
The diet must be constantly diversified. It is not necessary to give the same type of food every day;
Two hours before exercise and one hour before a walk, the dog should not be fed. This can significantly adversely affect the health of the animal. This rarely happens, but it's not worth the risk.

If you follow the rules, you can ensure proper feeding your pet with natural food. This can directly affect his physical condition, which in turn will affect his behavior.

Caring for a pregnant and lactating dog

During the gestation period, the animal needs more vitamin and nutrients. The outcome of childbirth and future puppies depend on the state of health of the bitch. Every breeder wants to get a healthy full-fledged offspring. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how to properly feed a natural dog during pregnancy and feeding puppies.

It is important to increase the amount of a serving of natural food already in the first month of pregnancy, or alternatively, introduce one additional feeding. Half a month before the birth, there is a need to adjust the nutrition of the animal. Reduce the amount of carbohydrates and fats consumed, feed mainly proteins. Also, do not forget about the multivitamin complex and fish oil. After the delivery process and during lactation, the animal requires a diet with a high calorie content.

Feeding a malnourished animal

The diet of an emaciated animal must necessarily include foods rich in proteins and carbohydrates, a variety of fermented milk products, chicken eggs, lean meats, grains and vegetables. If you have a starving animal that has not received normal nutrition for a long time, then you need to be attentive to the state of health of the dog.

The requirement of a dog's body for dietary salt is significantly lower than that of a human. When preparing food for a dog, dishes to your taste should not be salty. Do not forget about vegetable oils, this is an extremely tasty and healthy supplement for dogs. Knowing how to feed a natural dog, following the simple rules for compiling a diet and nutrition schedule, you will get a healthy and funny dog. For each breed of dog, depending on age and body weight, an individual amount of necessary food is calculated.

The key to health, a confident “stand”, correct posture, shiny coat, activity and a full-fledged lifestyle of a dog is the way it is fed. Exist general rules 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 deal with the nuances.

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

In most cases, it is fraught with metabolic disorders.

Adversely affects 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 either to obesity or to a decline in strength and exhaustion. The daily weight of food should be 2-3% of the weight of the dog, if we are talking about an adult pet.

An important nuance than more dog, the less her need for a daily calorie intake of a kilogram of weight.

When calculating, take into account the energy needs of the animal; you cannot feed a yard dog of chain or aviary content in the same “mode” with a pet that is employed in the service or regularly engages in “dog sports”. Elderly dogs also have reduced calorie requirements, but protein, fatty amino acids, and proteins should remain the same.

Need large breeds with a weight of 45–70 kg: 30–24 kcal / kg of body weight.

The need for medium breeds with a weight of 15–30 kg: 39–33 kcal / kg of weight.

The need for small breeds with a weight of 5–10 kg: 52–44 kcal / kg of body weight.

The need for miniature breeds with a weight of 2-5 kg: 65 kcal / kg of body weight.

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

Provide constant access to water, the dog should have it at any time, especially after an active walk, in hot weather, with low humidity. , a subtle but serious threat to the life and health of a 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 water to drink with purified water - salts, phosphorus, chlorine, unpurified calcium obtained from water, the most common cause of urolithiasis.

Note! Excessive water intake is a dangerous symptom for the female. Dogs experience intense, uncontrollable thirst when they develop pyometra, a purulent inflammation of the uterus.

Feeding an adult dog - daily requirement for energy and vitamins

Novice owners often face a number of difficulties in compiling a diet, succumb to manipulation by pets and lose sight of important features of the breed. We will figure out how to properly feed a dog at home and how to calculate the required amount of food. An adult dog takes food 1-3 times a day, based on the regimen. daily allowance per portion.

Water

The basis of proper metabolism, digestion, and therefore good health is water. The daily rate is calculated on the basis of an indicator of 40-60 ml. per kilogram of the body of an adult pet (80–110 ml for puppies), if the ambient temperature does not exceed 25 ° C. Please note that the daily rate of water includes the liquid that is part of the porridge.

Squirrels

Material for cell restoration and division. One of the necessary elements that the body cannot stock up for the future, so proteins must be present in the animal's diet daily. The dog's body synthesizes many vitamins and trace elements on its own, but a number of essential amino acids are 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 then, if you have time.

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

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

As a means for teething and brushing the teeth, the dog is given sugar bones (moslak). Moslak should not fit in the dog's mouth. Don't leave an animal chewing on a bone unattended - a pet that is too enthusiastic can damage the jaw if the moslak gets stuck.

Read also: We teach the 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 a veterinary examination, otherwise the product may endanger the life of the animal.

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

Milk must be fresh.

Mixing meat and milk in the same feeding is not recommended.

Carbohydrates

The energy base of the body, including the immune system. Fiber - bran, the shell of cereals and some of their components, act as a catalyst for digestion and bowel cleansing. Daily fiber intake adult dog 2-3% of the diet, carbohydrates - 10 gr. per kilogram.

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

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

Fats

Contrary to all the arguments about the dangers of fatty foods, no metabolism is complete without fats. Of course, the dog should not be fed excessively fatty, fried foods, products containing harmful vegetable oils (palm, recycled). The pet needs to receive non-synthesized fatty acids Omega 3 and 6, as well as products that will allow you to build up a small fat layer on winter time. The daily norm of fats is 1.3 g per kilogram for an adult dog, 2.6 g for puppies.

Source of healthy fats - boiled ocean fish, vegetable oils: olive, pumpkin, sunflower, 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 do not accumulate in reserve, therefore they must be present in food daily.

Note! High-quality industrial feed contains a full range of 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 the same complex, as they are absorbed in proportion, and the excess is excreted from the body.

Back when commercial pet food was something of an exotic, the term " natural nutrition» have not been used. It appeared when industrialized nutrition appeared on the market and began to move strongly. Today it is not so common to meet a dog owner who knows the answer to the question: “ What ?» Most often, people think that this is any food other than industrial feed.

But such an opinion is wrong. Nutrition should be natural, not only in origin, but also according to the adaptation of a particular species of animal to it. Examples: , . Both are natural products, but meat is good for a dog, but not for a horse. But oats are completely “natural” for a horse, unlike a dog. also does not eat hay, but for a rabbit this is a completely natural product.

So, if your dog eats bread and cereals (albeit not only them), or a horse receives half a bucket of high-protein (meat) food, natural diets it cannot be named.

Amounts of food needed in a natural diet

For each dog, the selection of the amount of food is an individual matter. The age of the dog is important, its condition (pregnancy, illness), lifestyle, which is often sedentary. But some general guidelines can be set. Up to 6 months, the dog (most small and many large breeds) is actively growing. To support the proper development of the body, the diet should not be poor. The dog should eat food in the amount of 7% of body weight. After six months of food you need half as much: 3.5% of the weight of the animal.

Please note that this is the total amount for the day, the dog should receive it for 2-3 times. Example: 10 month old dog weighing 30 kg. 3.5% of the dog's weight is equal to 1 kg. Of this weight, half (0.5 kg) should be for meat and offal, and another 0.5 kg for dairy products. In addition, the dog needs plant food. It is little digested, but participates in the formation of the correct intestinal microflora. All vegetable food(carrots, apples, cabbage, lettuce) should be given raw and chopped. Sweet fruits and starchy vegetables (bananas, potatoes) are not allowed.

How to avoid overfeeding and underfeeding?

This is the most common mistake that owners make when feeding. Underfeeding is extremely rare. How to determine that you are overfeeding an animal and prevent this? First of all, the bowl after eating should be empty. If even a small piece remains, this is excess food, and it is necessary to reduce the portion so that the dog eats it completely.

If you notice your dog is sharing food to "beloved" and "unloved", know that she is overfed. Reduce the amount of "favorite" food.

The dog (not a puppy!) eats the entire portion completely, and gains weight. Reduce the amount of food you eat to avoid obesity.

The dog eats the prescribed amount of food, but does not eat if you offer more food or shows signs of satiety. The amount of food will have to be reduced. It would be normal for the dog to eat another bite, since it is normal for the dog to be a little hungry. It is impossible to allow an animal to remain in a state of satiety.

The dog will eat all the food it gets from you, but at the same time loses weight, going beyond the limits of permissible conditions? The animal does not have enough food, increase its volume!

Weight: norm, excess, deficiency

In a dog of normal weight, the ribs are easily palpable with the fingers. but they are not visible from the outside. When the dog is standing, his stomach should be tucked up, that is, not the same diameter as the chest. Seen from above, the abdomen just behind the last ribs appears narrower in relation to the ribcage.

Does your dog's "portrait" fit this description? This means that the weight is within the normal range. Are there differences? Most likely, the animal is overweight or underweight. Weighing is necessary to track how the weight of the animal changes. You need to be careful about the weight indicated in the breed standard: it is relative and often above veterinary standards.

A person who has taken a puppy for the first time has a number of quite natural questions, and one of them concerns the nutrition of a new family member. First of all, how many times a day you need to feed the dog on various life stages? It all depends on a number of factors - the age of the pet, its activity, physiological characteristics, dimensions and other things. It is necessary to determine the pet's diet and follow the recommendations of a specialist.

There is a general grid of the number of dog feedings, from puppyhood to full adulthood, when the dog is fully formed:

from 1 to 2 months - six meals a day, and with a mandatory night meal;
from 2 to 4 months - five meals a day, gradually the baby weans from night meals, for this the last feeding should be as late as possible, and the first - early;
from 4 to 5 months - four times a day;
from 5 months to six months - you need to feed the baby 2 times tightly - in the morning and evening, and 2 times - less plentifully, gradually canceling one daily snack;
from six months (in small breeds) and from 7-9 months (representatives of large and giant breeds), pets are transferred to an adult diet - 2 meals a day.

Some adult dogs leading sedentary image life, you can feed only once - in the morning, but be sure to observe the feeding time. However, experts still advise dividing the daily portion of food into 2 meals.

How to determine the required portion

If the dog eats ready-made dry rations, then determining a single portion is not difficult. It is enough to study the information indicated on the package, where the right amount of food is usually prescribed, in accordance with the age and weight of the pet. Then calculate the daily rate, focusing on the body weight of the dog, and divide it into 2 doses.

But what to do if the dog eats natural food? Usually the basis of the diet is porridge with meat and vegetable ingredients, the daily portion of which is also determined by the weight of the animal. Usually it is 60-70 grams of food per kilogram of weight. For example, if a pet weighs 10 kg, then he should receive 600-700 grams of porridge per day. Naturally, these are only average indicators that do not take into account the characteristics of the dog.

How to know if your dog is getting enough food

Of course, you should listen to general recommendations, but also do not forget about the individuality of each dog. If the dog, after eating food, does not leave the bowl and licks it thoroughly, then most likely he does not have enough food and it is worth slightly increasing his portion.

If the food remains in the bowl, then you should not wait for the pet to return and finish eating, it is recommended to remove it until the next feeding. If this happens constantly, then you need to reduce the number of single servings. When can the dose be increased?

If the dog is expecting offspring or feeding puppies.
When the dog receives an increased load - before competitions, exhibitions, works a lot, etc.
During periods of intense growth, different breeds it comes at different ages.
If the dog has had an illness and needs to be restored.
AT winter period if the pet is on the street content.

It is worth paying attention to the behavior of the pet, and in addition, consider whether he is prone to obesity. In this case, do not get too carried away with additives.

What should be the feeding regimen

For a dog - its health and organization, it is very important to observe the feeding regimen. There are several rules that should be observed, regardless of the age and breed of the dog:

The dog must receive food in a strictly designated place and at the same time - this will allow the dog to develop a conditioned reflex and discipline the pet. It is also worth taking care of the stand, this is especially important for puppies and adult dogs of large and giant breeds.
If you have an intense load, then you should not feed the dog in front of it. After all, the digestive tract of the animal is designed in such a way that the dog must rest after the meal.
before the walk. It is desirable that an hour and a half pass after eating.
Do not give your pet food immediately after he has received a large load. He needs to rest.

In addition, it is advisable for the owner to familiarize himself in advance with the "black list" of food that should not be included in the dog's diet. In most cases, these are products that should not be given to dogs of any breed, including outbred dogs - sweets, sausages, smoked meats, dishes with spices and marinades, pastries.

But some recommendations are individual. For example, representatives of breeds with a flattened muzzle are not recommended to give soups. Or else - regular milk is not given to adult dogs, as there is a risk of diarrhea, but pugs need it at any age - this product helps them get rid of heartburn. Therefore, when purchasing a dog, it is worth consulting with the breeder about the features of feeding this particular breed.

Another rule is that the dog must have round-the-clock access to a clean drinking water. This is especially important when eating dry diets. Four-legged friends need compulsory education, which means that the owner must be as organized as possible. You can not give the dog food outside the established schedule or start periodically treating him from your own table. Otherwise, the whole regime will be violated, and the dog will quickly find the weak point of its owner and quickly turn into a beggar.

The amount of food for a dog depends on such criteria as the physiological state of the animal, activity level, breed, age, living conditions.

So, for example, the volume of a serving of food will increase or decrease depending on whether the pet lives in the heat or on the street, whether he is sick or healthy, as well as from pregnancy, old age.

The amount of food for a puppy will vary depending on its size, activity, metabolism. Overfeeding puppies can lead to deformed bones and other health problems.

The energy requirements of active dogs are higher, so they need a nutritious food with more calories. However, do not forget that an increase in the nutritional value of the feed does not mean an increase in the amount of food. By the way, you can’t feed active pets immediately before and immediately after training. To satisfy your pet's hunger, you can give treats during training and not restrict access to fresh water.

In older pets, activity decreases, therefore, they need to reduce the caloric content of food, but the volume of the daily serving can be left the same.

A dog's appetite may change, and this is not a reason to reduce or increase the portion each time. However, loss of appetite that persists for several days and is accompanied by symptoms of the disease should be a reason to visit the veterinarian.

How many times a day to feed a dog

The number of feedings depends on the age of the animal, as well as the total amount of feed. The norm is calculated individually for each dog, there is only general recommendations, which you can focus on, but no one except the owner can say exactly how much food a dog needs. The animal should not independently decide when and how much to consume food. Free feeding is unacceptable, because it threatens with obesity, pickiness.

It is better to feed according to the schedule, for example, give 2/3 of the daily allowance in the morning, and the rest in the evening. By the way, dogs tend to sleep after eating and, knowing this feature, you can use it. If a pet is left at home alone while the owner is at work, then after eating a large portion in the morning, the animal is likely to devote most of the day to sleep.

The number of feedings depending on the age of the dog

*Adult dogs need to be fed 1-2 times a day. For example, a large breed dog needs up to 1 kilogram of food per day, but it is advisable to divide this amount into two parts and feed the pet twice a day. A medium sized dog can be fed once a day.

If a meal was skipped, for any reason, then you can not increase the next portion. A pet will not die of hunger, but it can easily overeat.

How much natural food to give your dog

The amount of natural food depends on the body weight of the animal. So, up to 6 months, the puppy should be given food (natural feeding) in the amount of 5-7% of the puppy's weight. For example, a puppy weighs 10 kg, and 7% of its mass is 700 grams. The calculated daily allowance should be divided into two equal parts, of which half of the diet will be meat with offal, and the other half - sour-milk products (10%), such as cottage cheese, low-fat kefir, cereals (30%) and vegetables (10%). To calculate the correct portion of meat, you need to multiply 1 kilogram of the dog's weight by 30-40 grams of meat. After 6 months, the volume of food is halved and the daily rate is already calculated as follows: 3.5% of the animal's weight.

Puppies of large breeds need to be fed in small portions, as rapid weight gain causes various problems with the musculoskeletal system.

How much dry food to give a dog

Difficulties with determining the daily volume of dry food should not arise, because the packaging usually contains a table that indicates the feeding rates depending on the weight and age of the animal. However, some dogs require more or less food depending on their lifestyle, for example less active dogs and more for sports dogs. Reduce the amount of food you need and older dogs, as well as animals prone to obesity. But it is necessary to start feeding with dry food exactly from the indicated norm, and then, observing the pet, determine the required amount of the daily portion.

The amount of dry food depends on its class. It is known that super-premium class food is more concentrated and less is needed to saturate and get the necessary nutrients for the dog, while economy class food requires 100-200 grams more.

Dry food for small but stocky breeds, such as pugs, is low in protein and fat. When choosing food and determining the portion, you should consider the content:

animal protein, which should be at least 18% for adult dogs and 22% for puppies;
fats, which in the daily diet of adult dogs should be at least 5%.

Fresh water must be freely available, at least 1 liter per 500 grams of dry food.

How do you know if your dog is getting enough food?

Overfeeding, as well as underfeeding, are dangerous to the health of the animal. Therefore, it is important to be able to determine the daily amount of food, and for this you need to observe the animal. His behavior will tell you whether to increase or decrease the daily portion.

Reduce the amount of food should be in cases where the pet chooses food from a bowl without eating certain foods, and after feeding refuses additional treats. The dog must eat all the food offered without asking for more. If some of the food remains in the bowl, then it is advisable to reduce its amount.

There are situations in which the pet eats everything to the last crumb, but at the same time weight gain is observed. In such situations, you should also reduce the portion.

If the dog eats everything and takes what is given as an additional treat, and then walks around and sniffs for food, then most likely he is malnourished and the portion needs to be increased.

The animal should remain hungry after eating, satiety comes later, and given that animals quickly absorb food, they can eat a few more servings until they are full. Therefore, you should not strive to feed your pet until the moment when he himself refuses to eat.

The normal weight of a pet is checked by appearance, as well as by the weight values in the breed standard, which can be guided. In a dog of normal weight, the ribs are palpable, but they should not be visible to the eye; the stomach is tucked up, but the dog should not look skinny; when viewed from above, the abdomen is narrower compared to the chest (starting from the last ribs).

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