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Healthy Eating for Dogs: Feeding Questions Answered

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How much and how often should dogs eat?

Believe it or not, healthy eating for dogs mimics a healthy diet for humans. That means eating regular meals, cutting back on junk food — or treats — and being sure the overall calorie intake is in line with what the doctor recommends. Below is some valuable information for feeding your pup.

“Dogs should eat on a regular schedule. It helps regulate their bathroom times and ensure that they have enough fuel throughout the day,” advises Leslie Kessinger, co-owner of Three Dog Bakery.

Feeding; How often and how much?

According to Kessinger, puppies should eat three or more times a day because they are burning calories quickly as they grow. Healthy adult dogs, however, can be fed once or twice a day, depending on your preference. “I highly recommend sticking to a feeding schedule versus ‘free-feeding,’” notes Kessinger. “It helps to know how much your dog is consuming and whether he is getting enough to eat.”

How much you feed your pet depends on his size and energy output. The packaging on all consumable pet products also includes nutritional information to help you gauge how much is recommended for your dog. “Sometimes analyzing the feeding guidelines on a bag of food can give you a headache. It is usually broken down by age range and body weight and give you a range of how many cups to give per day,” says Kessinger. It’s also important to always use an actual measuring cup for accuracy because it’s easy to underfeed or overfeed your dog. “Obesity in dogs is becoming a serious health issue, shortening dogs’ lifespan and deteriorating the quality of life for many.”

Going forward, you may need to adjust the amount you feed your pup once you determine his ideal ‘maintenance’ amount. If your dog prefers to sleep most of the day, he will require less food than an active dog that spends its day playing outdoors. Either way, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian to discuss your dog’s feeding schedule and best type of food.

If your dog seems hungry frequently, or if your dog tends to get sick after eating, Kessinger says smaller meals spread more frequently throughout the day may be the answer.

Always read the ingredients in your dog’s food and be wary of chemical ingredients, fillers synthetic flavorings, and added sugar or salt. “The canine digestive tract is much shorter than a human being’s, and they react much more dramatically to junk in their system than we do,” says Kessinger. “Added chemicals or synthetic ingredients can be treated as toxins by their bodies and can cause bad reactions in the system. Processed sugar and salt are not part of a dog’s typical diet and can cause sharp spikes in blood sugar levels or blood pressure.”

.Treats and chews:

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) recommends that you give your pet treats in moderation, and says they should represent 5 percent or less of the pet’s daily food intake. Kessinger advises pet owners to also think twice about the kind of treats and chews you give your dog. “If the color of a treat doesn’t appear in nature, it’s not a good idea to give it to your dog. Try to find natural treats with simple ingredients. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it’s probably not good for your dog.”

How to Tell if Your Pet is Overweight:

You should be able to feel the backbone and touch the ribs in an animal of healthy weight. If you cannot feel your pet’s ribs without pressing, there is too much fat.

Also, you should see a noticeable waist between the back of the rib cage and the hips when looking at your pet from above.

When viewed from the side, there should be a “tuck” in the tummy, meaning the abdomen should go up from the bottom of the rib cage to inside the thighs. Dogs who fail these simple tests may be overweight. Source.

Diet, Dogs

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