WhitneyFood Glorious Food
September 20th 2007 12:51
Walk into the pet food isle of a supermarket and you will find dozens of different dog foods for sale. Walk into a pet shop, and there are dozens more dog foods available. When did feeding Fido get so complicated? Here are some no-nonsense answers to common dog food questions.
Are all of the dog foods available going to meet my pet’s nutritional requirements?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a regulatory body that assesses the nutritional value of dog foods. So long as the dog food you are looking at is AAFCO approved as a complete and balanced diet it is adequate to feed. Look on the bag; it should state that the food has AAFCO approval.
Are all dog foods of similar quality?
Not all dog foods are created equal. Even if different foods are AAFCO approved as nutritionally adequate, there can be quality differences.
Premium foods – which are usually available only from pet shops and vet clinics – generally have more meat protein and less vegetable protein. They also have higher quality fibre and higher digestibility, so you can feed a smaller quantity.
Premium foods also have special formulations to meet the nutritional requirements of different dogs; there are diets specifically for puppies, adults and senior dogs, as well as diets for small and large breeds.
Why are there different dog foods for different age groups?
At different life stages, dogs have different nutritional requirements. Puppies need more protein and different vitamin and mineral levels for growth. Older dogs require less energy as their metabolism has slowed, and they can benefit from supplements like glucosamine being added to their food.
Why are there different dog foods for different breed sizes?
Small breeds have a higher metabolic rate, so they require more energy in their diet. Also, when feeding a puppy, it is important to consider whether she is going to become a large dog or a small dog, so that she achieves a proper rate of growth. Excess calcium is particularly detrimental to rapidly growing large breed dogs.
When do I move from puppy food to adult food?
The general rule of thumb is to change at 12 months of age, but small breed dogs can be transitioned over from about 9 months, and large breed dogs can stay on puppy food until 18 months.
When should my dog move from adult food to senior food?
The timing of this transition also varies with the size of your dog. Very large dogs like St Bernards can be moved to a senior diet at 5 years. Smaller breeds like a Chihuahua can wait until 10 years. The general rule is the larger the dog, the earlier they are considered senior citizens!
Should I add variety to my dog’s diet by varying the food I feed?
If you are feeding a high quality diet, there is no need to change foods. Altering your dogs diet can lead to digestive upsets, and it can make your pooch a fussy eater. Dogs given variety will soon learn to hold out for “something better”.
Are all dog foods of similar quality?
Not all dog foods are created equal. Even if different foods are AAFCO approved as nutritionally adequate, there can be quality differences.
Premium foods – which are usually available only from pet shops and vet clinics – generally have more meat protein and less vegetable protein. They also have higher quality fibre and higher digestibility, so you can feed a smaller quantity.
Premium foods also have special formulations to meet the nutritional requirements of different dogs; there are diets specifically for puppies, adults and senior dogs, as well as diets for small and large breeds.
Why are there different dog foods for different breed sizes?
Small breeds have a higher metabolic rate, so they require more energy in their diet. Also, when feeding a puppy, it is important to consider whether she is going to become a large dog or a small dog, so that she achieves a proper rate of growth. Excess calcium is particularly detrimental to rapidly growing large breed dogs.
When do I move from puppy food to adult food?
The general rule of thumb is to change at 12 months of age, but small breed dogs can be transitioned over from about 9 months, and large breed dogs can stay on puppy food until 18 months.
When should my dog move from adult food to senior food?
The timing of this transition also varies with the size of your dog. Very large dogs like St Bernards can be moved to a senior diet at 5 years. Smaller breeds like a Chihuahua can wait until 10 years. The general rule is the larger the dog, the earlier they are considered senior citizens!
Should I add variety to my dog’s diet by varying the food I feed?
If you are feeding a high quality diet, there is no need to change foods. Altering your dogs diet can lead to digestive upsets, and it can make your pooch a fussy eater. Dogs given variety will soon learn to hold out for “something better”.
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
I have a most imperious pug, Stella, who at the age of 14 and a half, has changed her usual attitude, and so she will decide when her meal is properly prepared!!
This morning, to make up for the low amount of dry food, (bad me forgot to buy more yesterday) her highness decided the freshly cooked chicken breast with bacon, then mixed in with the dry food, was not up to scratch!
In frustration I added a feshly cooked soft egg; no, still not good enough, so I added a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, and accompanied by a light bottom rub of encouragement while she observed her nouvelle cuisine, finally convinced her I had created a dish good enough to eat.
She is not always so picky, but some variety of topping is always good for her I think; salmon, tuna, chicken, bacon, beef, often with a small dash of olive oil....Stella eats better than I do sometimes!
cheers
fog
P.S Teeth cleaning is a problem, what can you suggest, as she will not eat the packaged tooth cleaning "bone" anymore, chicken wings are too fatty I think, and messy. Stella had rear three teeth yanked last year, and cleaned, but I don't want to put her through that again, the recovery from the anaesthetic was long and difficult.
Comment by Whitney
Gaming for Life
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You can purchase dog toothpaste and brush her teeth at least 2-3 times a week.
I understand about recovering from the anesthesia, as it can be hard for some dogs to recoup, But regular teeth brushing should prevent the dog from needing to go in to have them cleaned by the vet.