Taking care of a dog can be simple, but at the same time, very complicated. It all depends on several factors, and the breed, age, size, and weight of the pet can greatly influence how you should take care of its needs.
Younger dogs are very energetic and might require more attention because of their social behaviors, but it is true that certain breeds of dogs are more independent and reserved than others.
Senior dogs, for example, tend to suffer from joint pain and are more likely to suffer from certain diseases, and since they cannot engage in exercising the same way younger can, you have to exercise them more carefully.
When it comes to their diet, their size and breed are very important things to consider, and understanding their needs based on specific physical conditions is essential to keep them happy and healthy.
Ideally, you should always do your research and understand the breed you own before taking any decision, but there are some general rules you can follow to make sure that your dog is being properly fed. In this article, we will cover some of those rules.
The Basics of Weight and Size
A lot of people believe that overweight in dogs is caused by eating too much food. Although this is true, it is not the only cause behind it. There are specific breeds (especially large breeds) that are built to retain as many calories as possible, and if they don’t burn them during the day, these calories can turn into fat, thus, causing overweight.
This is very common in large breeds, as mentioned earlier, but there are exceptions to this rule. A good example of this is Great Danes, which are very large in size, and although they are hunting dogs, they don’t necessarily need a lot of exercises to keep themselves healthy.
Most of the time, overweight is caused by a poor diet that is not rich in protein and other necessary components that help burn fats faster (directly or indirectly) during exercises. The protein found in food is well known for aiding the body build muscles and burn fats faster, for example!
Poor diets are also linked to giving too much food to a dog, or too little. Large dogs need more food than smaller dogs, and this is a fact, however, knowing exactly how much to give to a dog and at which times can be complicated, and for that reason, planning is important.
Planning a Dietary Routine
It is always better to have a planned schedule for your dog’s meals. This helps them digest the food much better, and also makes it easier for you to ensure that the dog is eating the right amount of food since it gets used to the schedule.
The most important aspect of planning a schedule is to know the number of calories your dog should consume each day. If you have the complete amount, it is easier to distribute them throughout the day for a more precise schedule.
Usually, a schedule should consist of three meals per day, just like us, but there are people who fed their dogs twice a day, a medium-size meal in the morning, and another one in the afternoon.
If your dog is overweight, however, you should try to play around with the schedule and the amount of food to give. This can be tricky since it takes time and dedication. If you want to deal with its overweight as efficiently as possible, adding exercising routines is absolutely necessary as well, so consider researching for some of the best ways to exercise with your dog.
Choosing the Right Amount of Food
Dogs are a world of their own. Considering all the factors influencing this aspect of being a pet owner, you should take your time to do some experimentation and research information about the breed you own and how to calculate the food.
The most important aspect of choosing the right amount of food is observation. Fill the bowl and see how much food the dog leaves. Cut down on the amount of food if your dog happens to leave some, and then monitor its weight. If its weight is slowly increasing even though you are properly exercising it, you know for sure that you have to reduce the amount of food.
Rice and The Right Type of Food
Now, choosing the right type of food is a little complicated specially if you include rice. Yes, rice – some prefer them, and some dislike them. Generally speaking, dogs enjoy eating wet and dry food which are a combination of different types of meat and contain a lot of the components they need to remain healthy.
Still, some brands are better than others, and the right one between them is difficult. For that reason, you should be open and experiment a little, and get to know what your dog likes and dislikes.
There are some foods that we eat that might also be very good for them. For example, if you check out pethempcompany you’ll get to know how rice can be used in a pet’s diet. With that said, there are some foods you should absolutely avoid, including:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Foods with high levels of sugar
- Chocolate (This, especially, can be toxic for them and even cause death!)
- Beverages with caffeine
- Foods with too much salt
- Yeast
