Dog Training

Diet for Bacterial Overgrowth in Your Dog

The type of treats you give your dog makes a difference in your dog’s diet. Do you pass out cookies and scraps from dinner, or maybe a piece of popcorn or two? Junk food for you becomes junk food for your pet. In fact, some healthy foods for you are not good for your dog. Raisins are a healthy snack for humans to munch on between meals, but they can be detrimental to the health of your dog. Keep your dog’s diet healthy even during snack time with treats.

Rawhide’s are an area of controversy. Some pet owners and vets feel they do not make a good treat for your pet. Others feel that rawhide’s provide entertainment and good dental health for your dog. Find out what your vet recommends. If you decide to allow rawhide’s in your dog’s diet, avoid them in excess. They can create thin stools and provide many empty calories.

Importance of a Feeding Schedule in Your Dog’s Diet

Just as important as what your dog eats, is when you feed your dog. Similar to humans, your dog needs to eat regularly. Nutritious meals and snacks should be monitored as part of your dog’s diet. Spacing out mealtimes and snacks or treats on a feeding schedule is a good idea.

Puppies require more mealtimes throughout the course of the day. Nursing pups should be permitted to nurse on demand. As you alter your puppy dog’s diet from milk to dog food, you will need to offer food four or five times per day. Once the puppy has become weaned and used to the new diet, you may reduce the feeding times to three occasions during the day.

Even the treats you hand out as part of your dog’s diet will become part of your dog’s daily routine. If your dog knows that every morning just before your lunch, you offer a chew bone, he or she will await the daily ritual.

Take control over your pet’s health by making your dog’s diet at home. Avoid processed food that is not as healthy for your pet. Many natural diet options are out there. Speak to your vet about which natural dog diet is best for you and your pet. When the quality of your pet’s health is important, a natural diet for your dog is the best way to go.

Proper Ways to Switch Your Dog’s Diet

Over the course of your dog’s lifetime, there may be several occasions when you need to switch your dog’s diet. If is important to know the proper method to change your dog’s diet to ease your pet through the transition.

Day 1 of the switch you would feed your dog 3 and 1/4 cup of the original kibble and 1/4 cup of the new dog diet. This total amount should be portioned between the number of meals during the day. Day 2 you would feed 3 cups of the original diet and 1/2 cup of the new diet. On day number 14, your dog’s diet will have been completely changed over.

This gradual process may seem slow at first, but be assured, it is for the best. A dog’s diet is not like a human’s diet. People vary their diet on a daily basis. Sometimes we stir things up from meal to meal. Your dog’s diet is best when it is consistent. Do not change brands or feeding methods frequently.