Selecting a Food for Your Puppy |
Printable Version |
| Today, most dog owners prefer the reliability and convenience of feeding a
commercial pet food. When selecting a food for your puppy, characteristics to consider include
nutrient content and ingredient quality, energy density, palatability, and the reputation of the
manufacturer. Select a food that is formulated for your puppy’s age, breed size, and activity level,
and that your puppy finds appealing and satisfying. When fed, the food should support normal
gastrointestinal tract functioning and produce regular, firm, and well formed stools. Most importantly,
the selected food should support vitality and health, good coat quality, healthy skin condition, and
proper body condition and muscle tone. |
Foods to Keep for Yourself
Although your dog may enjoy a little taste of your breakfast or dinner, some human foods are not safe
for dogs. Here are a few foods that can be hazardous and should not be fed to dogs:
- Chocolate – A component in chocolate called theobromine is toxic to dogs and when ingested in large quantities.
- Onion and Garlic – The ingestion of large amounts of onion or garlic is toxic to dogs and can cause the loss
of red blood cells and anemia.
- Grapes and Raisins - Can lead to kidney damage in some individual dogs.
- Avocado – A toxic compound called Persin is found in avocado leaves, fruit, and
seeds. Because the amount that is dangerous for dogs has not been determined, it is best to avoid
feeding even small amounts of avocado.
- Raw eggs and raw fish – These foods can cause nutrient imbalances if fed too
frequently. Raw eggs may also transmit some types of food-borne illness.
- Milk and dairy products –Some adult dogs lack sufficient amounts of the enzyme
that digests the sugar found in milk (lactose). This can cause diarrhea if high amounts of dairy
products are fed.
- Table scraps (in large amounts) – Feeding leftovers to your dog is not a problem
if done in moderation (no more than 5 % of his diet). Table scraps are generally not nutritionally
balanced and are often high in fat.
|
|
Email to a Friend |
Printable Version |
Helpful Products |
 Return to Table of Contents
Next Section
How Much to Feed
Previous Section
Diet and Feeding Instructions
|
|