Questions like the best dog food, how often I should feed it, and quantity are widespread among dog owners, and they are timely. The information about the different brands often does not correspond to the needs of the dog, which are very individual.
Not without reason, most canned foods are frequently preferred by dogs, as well as their owners. Canned food is available in countless flavors and many brands, and it tastes delicious, so even the pickiest of dogs can’t resist. But as always – too much food is unhealthy. So it’s important to vary the amount of food on a case-by-case basis so that you can supply it with all the important vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. This article will tell you about the different types of canned foods, their advantages and content, and the best way to ration them.
A look at the benefits of canned food
- rich in animal protein
- dogs will be less obese
- intense flavor
- high water content, on average 70%
- covers a large part of daily water requirements
- many brands to choose from
- high meat content
- long shelf life (closed cans)
- easy to ration
Canned food rationing
You, as the owner, have a high responsibility for your dog. Not only about the quality of the food, which of course must be high, but also concerning its rationing. The rations depend on many different factors and are completely individual for your dog. Normally, the average amount is written on the respective can. This can be seen as a starting point. However, it must be varied individually, so those amounts are only approximate values.
Rule of thumb: Weight divided by 30 is the daily serving of canned food
Advantages of canned dog food
Canned dog food has many clear benefits, and they have a considerable impact on health and taste.
Canned food consists of water in large quantities. To be precise, the average water content is about 70%. This is mainly an advantage for dogs that don’t drink a lot. Feeding them canned food is a great way to meet their daily water requirements, especially for small and medium-sized breeds.
Due to its softer texture, many dogs prefer canned food over dry food. Again, this is the case for most small breeds, as they have completely different anatomy in their jaws, so canned food is easier for them to eat.
In contrast to dry food, canned food is richer in energy, so dogs fed it can maintain their weight more easily. This is because they can eat more of it while taking in the same amount of energy as dry food.
Additionally, canned food is high in animal protein. These are extremely important to the health of your dog. It would be best if you considered that different brands have different amounts of these. For this reason, you should always observe the content of the respective brands and choose the one with the most meat.
It is important to vary the ratio by the dog’s nutrients and energy requirements. Of course, these must first be determined, as they depend on multiple individual factors.
Read Also : 5 delicious dog food recipes YOu didn’t know
Weight and height
The weight and height of your dog also play an important role in determining the daily food rations and must be taken into account. First, you must determine if your dog is of normal weight or if he is overweight or underweight. This is easy to determine. You have to watch your ribs. As soon as you can clearly feel your ribs, you are underweight. Also, if the ribs are visible to the naked eye. As long as the ribs cannot be easily felt and you need a considerable amount of time to feel them clearly, your dog’s weight is very high. Ideally, there is only a small layer on top of the ribs. If your dog is heavy, the daily amount of food should be decreased, while it should be increased when he is slightly underweight.
Your dog’s activity level
Like humans, dogs feel exhausted and hungry after a long walk and need to balance their energy balance. This means that active dogs need greater amounts of food than dogs that spend their days lying in their basket or the garden. Less active dogs need less food so that overweight can be avoided from the start. However, this only means that the dog needs a portion of LITTLE more food, not a lot. As always, the portion and content of the meal should be selected to the level of activity.
Dog food
The dog food itself is also crucial, of course. The higher the food quality, the less the dog will need to meet its own needs. If a dog receives a lot of unnecessary content, it will usually need more of it, which leads to being overweight. For this reason, you must be careful with the content.
| Dog | Canned food ration |
| 2. – 6. months | About 3% of the dog’s body weight |
| Older than 6 months | 2 – 3% of the dog’s body weight |
| Senior age (depending on the breed, from 7 years old) | Percentage of dog’s body weight |
Age
Your dog’s age is a significant factor in determining his ideal amount of food per day. A young puppy has completely different energy requirements than an adult or older dog because his food will support his development and growth. Growth, of course, has already been completed in adult dogs, so they only have to eat enough to maintain their weight and meet their energy and nutrient requirements. As soon as your dog reaches a mature age, the amount of food should be decreased again due to its slower metabolism. The type of food also depends on the dog’s age, as puppies need other contents in the food compared to older ones, which leads to specialized canned foods for puppies or seniors.
Read Also : How to Train a Puppy to Sit
Conclusion
In rationing canned food, it’s all up to your dog. The amounts given by the respective brands can be seen as an approximate value. However, they must be varied individually so that all the needs of your dog can be covered. If you don’t know exactly what to do, you should consult your vet, also if your dog is overweight or underweight.
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