| In today's modern home, pets are part of the family, | | | | It is advisable to avoid sudden changes in your dogs |
| and pet owners need to design good feeding | | | | diet as this will often result in diarrhoea. |
| practices suitable for their particular pet, and also | | | | Introduce new foods slowly by combining them with |
| suitable for their own lifestyle. | | | | the current regime, gradually increasing the new food. |
| Owners need to consider too, factors like cost, | | | | Often the easiest way to vary the diet is to offer |
| convenience, variety and availability of foodstuffs for | | | | different varieties of food from the same |
| dog food. | | | | manufacturer. |
| They need to think about the individual needs of | | | | Feeding your dog once a day is often all that is |
| their own pet and combine foods in a way that the | | | | required to keep their appetite satisfied. |
| dog food meets those needs. | | | | I would tend to advise against feeding too late in the |
| Most pets in the household live indoors, and are not | | | | evening as this may prompt calls for the toilet in the |
| in regular work so will require what is termed a | | | | middle of the night. |
| maintenance diet dog food. | | | | Some dogs are happier fed two to three times a |
| This dog food diet needs to provide a balance of | | | | day after their owners have eaten, and this can be |
| nutrients in the correct amount to keep the animal fit | | | | okay too, provided that an eye is kept on the dog's |
| both physically and mentally, and to encourage peak | | | | weight, and obesity doesn't become a problem. |
| condition and reduce disease. | | | | I would advise that dogs which are feeling unwell be |
| The dog food also needs to be concentrated | | | | fed little and often. |
| adequately so that your dog is not having to eat | | | | The same would go for dogs with a poor appetite, |
| large volumes of it, and it also should taste good so | | | | and also very old dogs. |
| that your dog eats all its meal. | | | | So how do you tell if you are feeding your dog |
| Make feeding time with your dog fun as this will help | | | | adequately? |
| with bonding your dog to you. | | | | The best way to tell would be by the appearance of |
| Dog food time is often the high spot of many a | | | | your dog. |
| dog's day! | | | | Does he look in good condition? |
| Dogs are omnivorous although we group them with | | | | Does his coat shine? |
| the carnivores. They can quite happily eat fruit and | | | | Is his skin in good condition? |
| vegetables as well as meat. | | | | Is he full of life and vitality, and not too thin or too |
| My own dog Toby loves nothing better than eating | | | | fat? |
| apple cores or cheddar cheese. | | | | Finally, keep a regular check on your dog's weight |
| It makes a change from dog food! | | | | and have him checked at least every six months at |
| He does however, have a preference for meat, and | | | | your local veterinarian. |
| will eat it raw or cooked. | | | | An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of |
| Healthy adult dogs can be fed with a variety of | | | | cure. |
| foods, or just one complete dog food. | | | | Feed your dog a well balanced dog food and let him |
| These complete diets can be either dry, semi-moist | | | | live to enjoy many years at your side. |
| or canned. | | | | He may be the key to long life for you too. |