Dogs come in many assorted breeds, shapes, and sizes. They also have different nutritional requirements as they age. Choosing the right type of dog food for your pet will help to keep it healthy and happy as it ages. Here are some guidelines to follow when choosing the proper dog food for your dog's breed and age.
Puppies
Most dogs are considered puppies from birth to age 12 months. However, large breed dogs (such as Newfoundlanders, Great Danes, etc.) are considered puppies up to the age of 18 months. It's important to choose the right puppy food depending on the size of your dog.
"Normal" puppies require puppy food for the first year. This type of dog food contains extra protein and fats to help with muscle and skeletal growth, ensuring optimum nutrition during this fast growth stage. Large breeds, on the other hand, require puppy food specifically made for large breeds. That's because the "large-breed puppy foods" are designed to help reduce hip and joint diseases often associated with fast growth in large dogs. Remember... large breeds should be fed puppy food for 18 months.
Adult Dog Food
Once your dog has reach adult hood (12 months for most dogs, 18 months for large breeds), it's time to switch to Adult Dog Food. Depending on your dogs size and activity level, you'll need to choose the proper food to fit your dog's lifestyle. Adult dog food should contain the proper levels of protein, fat and carbohydrates that your dog will need to maintain a healthy life. However, if you dog is very active and has a lot of high energy, you may want to feed him on of the high-energy, high performance foods. These contain extra calories to supplement the calories your very active dog burns off.
Calorie Reduced Food
Humans aren't the only ones who tend to put on weight. Dogs who are less active and don't get as much exercise as they should will also tend to become "heavy". This can cause stress on your dog's joints and muscles. "Diet" dog foods are strictly regulated by the industry and must contain no more than 1409 calories/pound of food. Don't confuse this with labels that say "reduced calorie" or "reduced fat". This type of labeling is misleading, as the dog food may still contain a lot of fat and calories. Only "lite" foods fall under industry guidelines. Read your labels carefully.
Senior Dog Food
Once your dog reaches the age of 7 he enters his "senior" years. At this time, you should probably switch to the Senior Dog Foods. You will probably notice that your dog is becoming less active, sleeps more and may have more stiffness in his joints. Senior Dog food contains reduced fat, increased fiber levels, and additional Glucosomine, along with reduced salt and phosphorus levels.
Choose Your Dog Food Brand Carefully
No matter what age your dog is, be sure to take the time and research the best types of dog foods on the market. Many cheap commercial dog foods found on grocery store shelves can actually cause more harm than good over the years. To help you make a better, informed choice, be sure to read ingredient labels, compare dog food brands, and do further research on this important topic. Your dog will love you for it.
Rose Smith is the author and owner of Caring For Canines, a web site that provides information on natural dog health care. To learn more about dog nutrition, please visit us at: http://www.caringforcanines.com/canine-nutrition.shtml
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIf you have ever tried to take a picture of... Read More
This is a very controversial topic which has a lot... Read More
Do you really get the fullest amount of enjoyment out... Read More
Boxer dogs are an all around great breed, especially skilled... Read More
If you decide you want a purebred, make sure it's... Read More
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
Dog obedience training begins with the owner. There are several... Read More
The other day, I was invited to see my friend's... Read More
There is a dangerous problem that horse owners should be... Read More
Buying dog doors onlineIf you need to buy a dog... Read More
Congratulations on your choice to bring home a West Highland... Read More
Nutrition and Your Dog's Behavior Proper nutrition is the fundamental... Read More
When I carried him home, he was this tiny little... Read More
My two therapy dogs, Nikki and Benny, bring joy to... Read More
Did you know that your goldfish can live for over... Read More
This is an old saying that many of us have... Read More
You want your dog to swim?We're going to try to... Read More
Betta fish, also called Siamese fighting fish are one of... Read More
You may have heard that pets have been scientifically proven... Read More
Understanding where horses come from has been a long road... Read More
Humming birds are wonderful birds that are smart, playful, and... Read More
Pets are family members and should be treated as such.... Read More
Nobody likes ticks.In fact, when it comes to ticks I... Read More
As many of you know America is serious about our... Read More
Animal Communication, or telepathy with animals, is as common an... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..If you are looking for tips on breeding tropical fish,... Read More
Before we talk about using the essential oils, we first... Read More
"Doggy breath" ? that unpleasant odor emanating from the mouths... Read More
Of all the parasites a dog can catch, worms take... Read More
Ever had a hankering for a certain breed of dog?... Read More
Boy or Girl?How can you tell whether your Goldfish is... Read More
My dog has fleas. That one statement is enough to... Read More
A dog crate is a necessity for your dog, through... Read More
Good filtration is the prime priority in the discus tank.... Read More
None of us likes to be bitten by mosquitoes and... Read More
Cats are known for their curious and adventurous nature. Curiosity... Read More
Dog Shock CollarsDog shock collars are a touchy subject among... Read More
Which cat food should you feed your cat to be... Read More
Although many horsemen and trainers extol the virtues of the... Read More
Some say it started with the Taco Bell dog. A... Read More
Puppy crate training is one of the most effective ways... Read More
Even if you have the perfect first aid kit for... Read More
If you're looking for an unusual, eye-catching pet, it's hard... Read More
Wether it be on a vacation to your favorite resort,... Read More
As a parent, you want to be able to give... Read More
When you get a puppy, one of the first things... Read More
Pets are people, too. At least, that's the way they... Read More
With all the companionship and love that our dogs give... Read More
When you take into account that there are over 68,000,000... Read More
Just how old is your dog really? More than likely... Read More
Pet |