How and how to feed a domestic dog at home?

A dog’s nutrition is one of the main conditions for its good health, vitality and good exterior. Such genetic characteristics of outbred yard dogs, such as a strong immune system, good health and natural acumen, made them very "comfortable" for the owners. But this does not mean that they do not get sick at all, and they can be fed low-quality feed.

Usually, owners of domestic dogs think little about their food, and many do not even suspect that they are being fed improperly. They rightly believe that since the dog is a predator, it should be fed mainly meat products with various additives. But if all components are mixed in arbitrary quantities, not taking into account the nutritional value and composition of the feed, then the effectiveness of feeding will be doubtful. Do not try to feed the mongrel with leftovers from your table or the cheapest feed, this will inevitably lead to problems with the animal’s health.

In matters of proper nutrition of dogs among the owners there are two large groups:

• supporters of finished industrial feed;
• adherents of natural home diets.

The choice of method of feeding completely depends on the preferences of the owner, his free time, financial opportunities, his literacy in matters of keeping dogs. The use of finished industrial feed significantly saves personal time and physical effort to keep animals, they contain a ready-made balanced diet.

But remember that premium class feeds cannot be cheap, as they contain natural animal proteins, balanced fat and carbohydrate composition, vitamins and minerals. Advertising cheap dry feed is nothing more than a marketing ploy of manufacturers. The health of the pet will be much calmer if you bypass such feed.

The ration for the mongrel is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the animal, since outbred dogs have unknown heredity, often not entirely “successful”. It is important to consider the dog’s past if it has come to you as an adult. It is noted that if the dog once had to go hungry, then it will tend to overeat, therefore, it is necessary to strictly monitor the daily norm of food in order to prevent obesity. Here is an approximate list of products that should be part of the diet of a yard dog when choosing a natural method of feeding:

• raw or boiled meat (beef, horse meat, lamb, chicken, turkey, rabbit);
• meat offal (beef tripe, bird offal, lungs, liver, heart, beef tails);
• boiled sea fish (cod, hake, pollock);
• dairy products (low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt without fillers);
• boiled eggs, only yolk is better;
• vegetables (carrots, zucchini, pumpkin);
• fruits and berries (apple, blueberries, banana);
• greens (salad, parsley);
• cereals and bran (in the form of porridge);
• vegetable fats (sunflower, olive oil);
• vitamin complexes.

There is a myth that mutts are omnivores, but this opinion is very far from the truth. There are products that are better not to give yard dogs:

• tubular bones and chicken legs - may damage the inner lining of the digestive tract;
• sweets - cause fermentation and upset digestion;
• sausages of all kinds - contain many spices and additives harmful to the liver of dogs;
• flour pastries and potatoes - contribute to bloating and constipation.

Approximate daily food intake - 3% of the dog’s body weight, is adjusted depending on the way of keeping (at home or on the street), the season (the norm increases in winter) and the animal’s energy activity (guard, service, free yard dogs and dogs on the chain different indicators). In the feeding regime of aging animals, the proportion of high-calorie foods is gradually decreasing, but proteins and fats should remain in the same volumes.

For a puppy, you need to immediately determine the type of feeding - natural or industrial, so that later you do not have to transfer it from one species to another. The digestive system of a growing organism will form under a certain food and will produce the corresponding enzymes. A fundamental change in feed will inevitably lead to stress in all body systems.

If you choose a natural type of food, then from a month old puppies of a mutt puppy can be fed with natural food. Until the age of one, it is necessary to gradually introduce useful components into the pet's diet - vegetables, berries, greens.

When using ready-made feeds from a month old, a puppy can be fed with canned wet food, in 3 - 4 months you can soak dry food and gradually introduce it into the diet. High-quality dry food can be taken as the basis of feeding when the puppy's teeth are completely replaced.

Real dog fans will always provide their pets with comfortable conditions for a full life, regardless of breed, and owners of a faithful outbred dog are often called not a mongrel, but a noblewoman with love.

See how to feed your dog in the next video.