My Friendly Pets

People are becoming very aware and concerned with the food they are feeding their dogs today. With the tainted dog food crisis last year which resulted in many dog deaths as well as hundreds of ill dogs, many dog owners are carefully researching the ingredients and source of the dog food while still others are making their own…a true labor of love. However, many of the digestive issues that dogs have are not with the food itself, but how the dog eats. There was a whitepaper recently published by dogpausebowl.com that discusses many issues regarding the meals of our pups. The publication is titled “Feeding Fido”. I’d like to offer some bits of information from the publication that may be helpful to you and your dog.

Dogs seem to have many of the same eating issues that their human owners have. Unfortunately many of our bad habits are passed on to our dogs and that has led to severe obesity in dogs, reflective of society as a whole. Portion size is a major issue for everyone and should be taken into consideration when feeding your dog. According to the publication, which was developed with the assistance of veterinary experts, most dogs require a maximum of two cups of food per feeding. A less active dog would require less. O.K, but how should I be feeding the dog? More and more information and recommendations are being made that states it is better to feed your dog 2 to 3 smaller meals throughout the day than one large feeding. It is better for the dog’s digestive system and will also allow for an equal distribution of caloric intake and usage throughout the day, giving your dog a more even keel energy level. It is better to take the total daily food amount for your dog and spread it out over the day. This gives the dog “special mealtime events”, while also allowing them to feel better. This is an excellent way to train your dog that when it is human mealtime for you, it is also dog mealtime for them, thereby eliminating or minimizing Fido’s table begging!!!!

In the next couple of entries, I will highlight some other dog eating issues, and will also be announcing a contest with a great doggie prize…so keep reading!!!