One of the things you might not realize when you’re thinking about getting a dog is how much time you can spend thinking about what they eat. Your dog’s diet is one of the most important aspects of their health, and getting it right is essential. It can seem like it’s simple, but ensuring your dog has the right diet often ends up being more complicated than you first imagine. Every dog is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all diet that works for dogs of all sizes, ages, and breeds. In fact, there are some of the biggest mistakes that you might be making with your dog’s diet.
Overfeeding
Overfeeding is probably the most common mistake that people make with their dogs. It’s not always easy to know how much you should be feeding your dog. And even when you do know, it’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes begging for more. One thing to take note of is that feeding recommendations on packaging aren’t always the most accurate. Brands will often recommend more than your dog actually needs, which can lead to weight problems. You need to get the right amount of food for your dog’s size and ensure you stick to it too.
Not Checking the Safety of Human Foods
There are plenty of “human foods” that dogs can have too. Lots of people choose to add some of them to their dog’s diet specifically to give them more of the nutrients they need. Others might sneak their dog food from the table or let them have their leftovers. But people also often fail to check whether these foods are actually safe for their dogs. Before giving your dog food outside of manufactured dog food, you need to see if barley is safe for dogs to eat or if dogs can have things like broccoli or cheese. There are plenty of foods that you can give to your dog that can help to diversify their diet. But there are also foods that can be dangerous or might give your dog an upset stomach.
Not Counting Treats in Calories
Another reason you might accidentally overfeed your dog is by giving them too many treats. Just like you need to include snacks in your own calorie count, you also need to account for treats when thinking about how much to feed your dog. This is especially true if you frequently use treats for training. If you want to cut down on the treats you give your dog, you can consider whether they might be motivated by something else. For example, some dogs are happy to be trained if their reward is their favorite toy.
Giving Your Dog Cooked Bones
We all associate dogs with bones, and it’s true that they often love chewing on them. However, giving your dog cooked bones is a mistake. They can splinter as your dog chews on them, which could cause injuries or even lead to them choking if they happen to swallow a piece. Raw bones are considered to be safer because they don’t splinter as easily, but some vets will recommend never giving bones to your dog. There are safer toys and treats for them to chew, such as dental sticks or chew toys that are made with safety in mind.
Free Feeding Your Dog
Some people can find that free feeding their dog is easier for them. If you’re short on time or you struggle to remember strict feeding times, leaving food out for your dog to nibble at throughout the day might seem easier. However, this is also an easy way to give your dog far too much food. Unlike cats, which are more likely to graze their food when they’re hungry, dogs will often gobble up food that they don’t need, whether they’re hungry or not. It’s better to have a feeding schedule if you want your dog to have a healthy diet.
Cooking Your Pet’s Food at Home
One of the top complaints that vets and pet nutritionists have is people giving their pets home-cooked diets. Many pet owners think that this is healthier than buying commercial food, but it can be risky. By giving your dog a home-cooked diet, you could be depriving them of some of the essential nutrients that they need. While it is possible to create a balanced diet for them, it can be pretty tricky. If it’s something you’re interested in, you need to make sure you get plenty of professional advice if you want to get it right.
Not Accounting for Your Dog’s Size
Different-sized dogs need different amounts of food. That’s pretty self-explanatory. But what you might not think about is the portion sizes you give your dog and how often you feed them. A smaller dog needs less food, but it might also require smaller portion sizes given more frequently. Dogs are often fed twice a day, but a smaller dog might experience low blood sugar if not fed often enough. So it can make sense to split their food up into more meals. Feeding them three or four times a day instead could be more suitable for them.
Not Giving Your Dog Their Own Bowl
When you have multiple pets, feeding them at the same time makes sense. But it’s crucial to give your dog their own bowl to prevent problems such as food aggression. It also ensures you know how much your dog has had to eat. If you have pets of other species, such as cats, separating their food is important for another reason. Foods for different animals have different formulas, so you don’t want your dog to fill up on cat food or vice versa. Your dog could also end up overeating if they’re always tucking into the cat’s food. Feed animals in different rooms or in their own crates to keep them separate and allow them the space they need to eat.
Avoid these dog diet mistakes if you want your dog to be healthy. If you follow recommendations, you can give your dog the best diet.