Dog Nutrition & Feeding Guide
Proper nutrition is fundamental to your dog's health, longevity, and quality of life. This guide covers everything from choosing the right food to understanding portion sizes and identifying foods that could harm your pet.
Puppy Feeding Guide
Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. They require more calories, protein, and specific nutrients for proper growth and development.
Puppy Feeding Schedule by Age
| Age | Meals Per Day | Feeding Guidelines |
|---|---|---|
| 6-12 weeks | 4 meals | Small, frequent meals. Soften dry food with warm water |
| 3-6 months | 3 meals | Gradually increase portion sizes as puppy grows |
| 6-12 months | 2 meals | Transition to adult food around 12 months (later for large breeds) |
| 12+ months | 1-2 meals | Adult feeding schedule and portions |
Large Breed Puppies: Need special large-breed puppy food to prevent joint problems. Continue puppy food until 18-24 months.
Choosing the Right Dog Food
With countless options available, selecting appropriate food can be overwhelming. Here's what to consider:
What to Look For:
- First ingredient: Should be a named meat (chicken, beef, salmon)
- Life stage appropriate: Puppy, adult, or senior formula
- AAFCO statement: Confirms complete and balanced nutrition
- No fillers: Avoid foods with corn, wheat, or soy as main ingredients
- Named fats: Like chicken fat, not generic "animal fat"
- Size-specific: Small, medium, or large breed formulas when relevant
Types of Dog Food:
Dry Food (Kibble)
- Most economical option
- Good for dental health
- Easy storage and measuring
- Longest shelf life
Wet/Canned Food
- Higher moisture content
- More palatable for picky eaters
- Good for dogs who don't drink enough
- More expensive per serving
Understanding Dog Food Labels
Learning to read labels helps you make informed choices:
- "With" (e.g., "with chicken"): Contains at least 3% of named ingredient
- "Flavour" (e.g., "beef flavour"): May contain less than 3%
- "Dinner/Entrée/Platter": Contains at least 25% of named ingredient
- No qualifier (e.g., "Chicken Dog Food"): Must contain at least 95% chicken
Toxic Foods to Avoid
Many common human foods are dangerous or fatal for dogs. Never feed these items:
Highly Toxic - Can Be Fatal
- Chocolate: Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are most dangerous
- Xylitol: Artificial sweetener in sugar-free gum, sweets, and baked goods
- Grapes & Raisins: Can cause kidney failure
- Onions & Garlic: Damage red blood cells (all forms: raw, cooked, powder)
- Macadamia Nuts: Cause weakness, vomiting, and hyperthermia
Dangerous - Avoid
- Alcohol: Even small amounts can cause intoxication
- Caffeine: Coffee, tea, energy drinks
- Avocado: Contains persin, toxic to dogs
- Raw Yeast Dough: Can expand in stomach
- Cooked Bones: Can splinter and cause internal damage
- Corn on the Cob: Choking hazard and intestinal blockage risk
Safe Human Foods (in moderation)
- Carrots (raw or cooked)
- Apple slices (no seeds)
- Plain cooked chicken
- Green beans
- Sweet potato
- Pumpkin (plain, not pie filling)
- Blueberries
- Plain rice or pasta
Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
Making your own treats ensures quality ingredients and can save money:
Simple Peanut Butter Biscuits
Ingredients:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup natural peanut butter (xylitol-free)
- 1 1/4 cups hot water
Instructions: Mix dry ingredients. Add peanut butter and water. Roll out, cut into shapes. Bake at 180°C for 20 minutes.
Frozen Summer Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
Instructions: Mix all ingredients. Pour into ice cube trays. Freeze for 2 hours. Perfect for hot days!
Raw Feeding Basics
Raw feeding (BARF - Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) is growing in popularity:
Typical Raw Diet Composition:
- 70% muscle meat: Including some fat
- 10% raw edible bone: For calcium and phosphorus
- 10% organ meat: Liver, kidney, heart
- 10% vegetables/fruits: Pureed for digestibility
Important: Consult your vet before starting raw feeding. Ensure proper food safety practices to prevent bacterial contamination.
Portion Control & Weight Management
Overfeeding is a common problem leading to obesity and health issues:
Determining Correct Portions:
- Check feeding guidelines on food packaging (starting point only)
- Adjust based on your dog's activity level
- Monitor body condition score weekly
- Reduce if gaining weight, increase if losing
- Account for treats (should be <10% of daily calories)
Signs of Healthy Weight:
- Can feel ribs easily but not see them
- Visible waist when viewed from above
- Abdomen tucks up when viewed from side
- Energy for normal activities
Water Requirements
Fresh water is as important as food:
- General rule: 30-50ml per kg of body weight daily
- Increase in: Hot weather, after exercise, illness
- Multiple bowls: Place water in several locations
- Clean daily: Wash bowls to prevent bacteria
- Monitor intake: Changes can indicate health issues
Feeding Tips
- Feed at consistent times each day
- Use puzzle feeders to slow fast eaters
- Don't free-feed - measure portions
- Transition foods gradually over 7-10 days
- Store food properly to maintain freshness
- Wash food and water bowls daily
Frequently Asked Questions
Puppies need 2-3 times more calories per kilogram than adult dogs. Feed according to the guidelines on your puppy food, divided into 4 meals daily for very young puppies (6-12 weeks), reducing to 3 meals (3-6 months), then 2 meals (6-12 months). Adjust portions based on your puppy's body condition - you should be able to feel but not see their ribs.
While dogs are omnivores and can technically survive on a carefully planned plant-based diet, it's challenging to meet all their nutritional needs without animal products. Dogs require specific amino acids, vitamins (like B12), and minerals that are most readily available from meat. If considering this, work closely with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure complete nutrition.
Common toxic foods include chocolate, xylitol (artificial sweetener), grapes/raisins, onions, garlic, macadamia nuts, alcohol, caffeine, avocado, and cooked bones. Even small amounts of some foods can be fatal. If your dog ingests any toxic food, contact your vet immediately. Keep the packaging if possible to help determine the toxic dose.
Transition gradually over 7-10 days to avoid digestive upset. Start with 75% old food and 25% new food for days 1-3, then 50/50 for days 4-6, then 25% old and 75% new for days 7-9, before feeding 100% new food. If your dog experiences diarrhoea or vomiting, slow the transition. Some sensitive dogs may need up to 2 weeks.
Grain-free isn't necessarily better unless your dog has a specific grain allergy (which is rare). Recent studies have linked some grain-free diets to heart disease (DCM) in dogs. Most dogs digest grains well, and they provide valuable nutrients and fibre. Choose food based on overall quality and your dog's individual needs, not marketing trends.
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily caloric intake. For a medium dog eating 1000 calories daily, that's 100 calories of treats. Many commercial treats are high in calories - a single large biscuit might be 50-100 calories. Use small training treats, break larger treats into pieces, or use healthy alternatives like carrot pieces or green beans.
Most adult dogs do best with two meals daily, roughly 12 hours apart. This helps maintain stable blood sugar and reduces the risk of bloat in large breeds. Single daily feeding can work for some dogs but may lead to hunger-related behaviour problems. Puppies, senior dogs, and those with medical conditions often need more frequent meals.
First, rule out medical issues with your vet. Then: stick to scheduled meal times (remove uneaten food after 20 minutes), don't leave food out all day, limit treats, avoid feeding from the table, try warming the food slightly, add a small amount of low-sodium broth, or try puzzle feeders to make meals more interesting. Most healthy dogs won't starve themselves and will eat when hungry enough.
