Feeding Your Dog

Just a couple decades ago, you fed your dog scrap meat and dinner leftovers. Today, veterinarians dedicate entire careers to developing the proper dog diets. Dog food is now a major business. Each feed company advertises their product as a life-prolonging miracle food. When I got my first dog, my Veterinarian in Denver advised me on a proper diet, but it's important for you, the owner, to understand the basics of dog nutrition too.

The Basics
At a biological level, dog are carnivores. They have evolved from a traditionally meat eating species and have digestive systems and teeth designed to break down meat products. "But my dog will eat just about anything!" - Yes it's true. That's because as dogs have adapted to domestic environments, so have their digestive systems. If necessary, a dog could survive on a vegetarian diet but this is never recommended because meat provides important nutritional components. A meat diet ensures that your dog receives a balanced diet of fats, proteins, vitamins, and carbohydrates - all important for a healthy and energetic dog.

Kinds of Food
Moist diets come in tins and can be bought at all supermarkets. They typically must be used within 24 hours of opening and require a minimal amount of preparation. Dry diets are an alternative option and offer the benefit of being extremely easy to serve. In most cases, they can simply be scooped strait from bag to bowl. Some dogs will like a little bit of warm water poured on the dry food to soften it. Finally, semi-moist diet options are available but require more preparation than dry food because a carb or protein supplement usually needs to be stirred in. Whatever the kind of food, all manufactures these days add the proper minerals and nutrients your dog needs to live a healthy life. The best way to decide upon a diet is to to consult your vet. My vet at the local Denver Animal Hospital recommended a special diet while my new dog was still a puppy. The diet my vet recommended for the first few weeks was designed for growth needs. Other speciality diets exist for older dogs, dogs with kidney problems, pregnant dogs, and for other special circumstances. (As a side note, dogs should not share a food bowl because it is unlikely that the amount of food is distributed correctly.)

Obesity
One of the most common ailments vets at my Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital see today is dog obesity. According to PetMD, over 50% of the dog population in America is overweight. This is because most dog owners don't recognize that their pet is gaining weight. Some dog owners feel bad about not feeding their dog "enough" and others consider it mean to reduce their dogs meal ration. If your dog is obese, your vet might recommend a special obesity diet. This diet makes your dog full but is less calorific. To get an idea, if your dog is overweight and your target rate is about 30 pounds, a diet of 470 calories/day will result in a slow loss of weight. If your target rate is 10 pound, 200 calories/day will help reduce weight.


Chocolate!
We've all heard, "Keep that chocolate away from the dog!" That's because chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is a toxin to dogs. The question becomes, how much chocolate is too much chocolate? Well, if your dog eats a couple M&M's you're okay. Here's a rule to follow: For milk chocolate, a 10lb dog would be in danger range after eating 10oz. (A 30lb dog after eating 30oz. etc). The darker the chocolate, the more toxin it contains. A 10lb dog could be in danger after just 1oz. of bittersweet chocolate. So here's the moral of the story - don't panic if you drop an M&M on the ground, but never give your dog chocolate as a treat!