Successful dog health care can only be achieved by fulfilling their dietary requirements.

A dog’s nutritional requirements differ depending on their age, so managing their diet is not as straightforward as it initially appears.

This article will highlight the basics of managing a dog’s diet to make sure it is benefiting their general health. A good diet is essential to successful dog ownership.

Feeding Adult Dogs

Balance is the most important aspect of a dogs diet, just like in humans. Protein is fundamental in maintaining this balance. Feed your dog plenty of chicken, salmon and lamb to ensure their protein content is up and around the recommended 20 to 30 per cent.

Pastas, cereals and rice will give your dog the crucial carbohydrates they need to fuel their energy.

Complement this with plenty of fibre for a smooth bowel movement.

On top of getting the food right, it is important to feed your dog twice a day, at the same times, with similar portion sizes.

Puppies

Puppies have very similar diets to adults, except their food needs to be higher in energy and easier to digest. Because puppies have smaller stomachs, you will need to feed them less, more often.

There are some foods you should avoid giving to a puppy, that you would normally be okay giving to an adult dog. Table scraps are an example of this, because they can be particularly hard to digest.

Senior Dogs Diets

Older dogs differ from adults and puppies because they are less active and have a slower metabolism.

An older dogs diet needs to be easily digestible, as well as low on calories. Giving them vitamins C and E will support their aging joints.

As dogs begin to age, their ability to chew effectively lessens. For this reason you should keep their portions smaller and avoid meals with large pieces of chewy meat.