Pet Care Tips, Advice and Information

In the first instance, you must be aware that everything that tastes good is not always good for human beings as well as dogs. Thus you cannot rely merely on a dog’s likes or dislikes. You are responsible for the proper feeding of your dog, as he lives under your care. Dogs are exposed to the same food-related health risks as you are. Overweight in many dogs may be due to consumption of unsuitable foods.
Anatomically a dog appears to be a meat-eater, as his teeth and digestive tract are akin to those of his forefathers. Today, however, dogs have adjusted to human food. There are three main schools of thought regarding diet for dogs.
1. Western countries generally depend upon well-balanced commercial dog foods, which comprise a very big industry. These foods are available in dry, canned and semi-moist forms, and are the result of years of scientific research. It is difficult for an average dog owner to provide a diet as balanced and nourishing as that sold by manufacturers who employ nutrition specialists and the latest technology for research on dogs. Thus the users of these commercial foods take advantage of scientific research and convenience.
2. Some people regard dogs as pure meat eaters and feed the latter only meat. In fact, some feed only raw meat which is neither a balanced food, nor free from the great risk of infections like certain bacteria of the salmonella group and parasitic infections.
3. Due to various factors like cost and non-availability of well-balanced commercial foods, most dog owners in India purchase the ingredients for their dog’s food and cook for their pet. They also feed the dog food cooked in the house for family members. Giving only leftovers from meals, thinking that table scraps are enough for dogs, is a completely incorrect notion, and this is the least healthy method of feeding dogs.
Thus, from a practical point of view, in certain countries like India, we have to depend upon cooked meals for dogs, in spite of the undoubted superiority of scientifically well-balanced commercial foods as are available in Western countries. In general we should be aware that dog food should contain approximately 30 percent proteins and 50 percent carbohydrates, in addition to 5 percent fat. Besides this, an adequate quantity of vitamins and minerals like calcium and phosphorus should also be present in the diet to make it balanced. The actual requirement of proteins for dogs is still a matter of great debate, as it is affected by many environmental, dietary, physiological and genetic factors.
Preparing cooked meals is not difficult and most educated people know which foods are rich in proteins and which in carbohydrates, and so on. To find out articles, and then to calculate the quantities required, is not an easy task. There are as many feeding schedules advised as there are breeders, and puppies generally do fine on most of them. It is best, however, for the new owner to follow the feeding schedule suggested by his veterinarian, who will keep in mind the availability of what he recommends, palatability and nutritional quality.