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No two dogs are alike. So when choosing your pet's food, you'll want to take into consideration the dog's breed, size, age, weight, and lifestyle.
Full growth will happen at around 1 to 2 years, with the exact age determined by your dog's breed—small-breed dogs mature faster than large-breed dogs. “Grown dogs, especially ones who are more athletic, will start to eat more quantities in one feeding,” says Madan Khare, DVM. “You want to limit his feeding to one or two times a day, depending on his activity level.” Exact quantities should be determined by consulting your vet or by reading the package labels (just remember to split a daily serving). Mature dogs are prone to obesity, so it is necessary to feed them carefully. in half if you choose to feed the dog twice a day.
When transitioning your dog from puppy food to premium adult food—such as IAMS™ ProActive Health™ Adult Dog Food —you want to do it gradually. “Never change a dog's diet abruptly,” Khare says. Here's a schedule for transitioning your pet from puppy food to an adult dog food.
Day 1: Fill your dog's bowl with 75% puppy food and 25% premium adult dog food.
Day 2: Use 50% of each food.
Day 3: Feed your dog a mixture of 75% premium adult food and 25% of your current dog food.
Day 4: Give him 100% premium adult dog food.
Daily exercise and a diet packed with high-quality protein from chicken, lamb, or fish and essential nutrients will keep him happy and healthy throughout his lifetime. Premium dry pet food has all of the daily nutrition your pet needs. It helps promote healthy teeth and gums, too.
“When it comes to feeding your dog human food, I have three words,” Khare says. “No. No. No.” Interfering with your pet's food regimen by adding higher-fat and higher-calorie human foods can disturb the animal's digestive system. When it comes to biscuits, Khare recommends looking for ones low in sugar, salt, and fat. 'You have to keep in mind that you're adding calories to his daily diet, so offer them in moderation,” Khare says. Finally, make sure your pet has a clean bowl of fresh water at all times.
Nutrients are divided into subcategories: protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, and water. Regular brushing and professional cleaning can keep your dog’s teeth healthy and gleaming. Giving your pet appropriate toys to chew prevents fractures.
Common dog food protein sources include meat, poultry, fish, and some plant ingredients, such as corn gluten and soybean meal.
IAMS™ dog food incorporates chicken as a primary ingredient in all of its products, providing dogs with a rich and complete source of protein.
Protein is best known for supplying amino acids to build hair, skin, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. It also plays a main role in hormone production.
Dogs, best fed as carnivores, require essential amino acids that are not all found in the proper balance in single plant protein sources such as soybean meal.
Common carbohydrate sources are plants and grains. Carbohydrates, also categorized as starches (sugars) and fibers, provide energy and bulk, respectively.
Starches are made up of various types of sugar, such as glucose or fructose. Through digestion, dogs can easily convert sugar into usable energy.
Fiber may or may not be fermented or broken down into short-chain fatty acids by bacteria in a dog’s intestines. Highly fermentable fiber sources, such as vegetable gums, provide high amounts of short-chain fatty acids. Moderately fermentable fibers, such as beet pulp, provide short-chain fatty acids and bulk for moving waste. Slightly fermentable fibers, such as cellulose, provide mainly bulk for moving waste through the digestive tract and only a few short-chain fatty acids. Highly fermentable fiber sources
Water is the single most important nutrient for the body. Without it, the body cannot transport nutrients, digest nutrients for energy, regulate temperature, or eliminate water.
Fats are found in meats, poultry, fish, and plant oils. Fat, for all its bad press, fulfills many vital body functions. Animal cell membranes are made of fat. Fat also helps maintain body temperature, control inflammation, and more. Fat is the primary form of stored energy in the body, providing twice as much energy as carbohydrates or proteins.
Fats also have been shown to be important in blood clotting and managing inflammation.
Vitamins are responsible for aiding functions such as bone growth, blood clotting, energy production, and oxidant protection. Vitamins A, D, E, and K require fat for absorption into the body, while vitamins such as the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C need water to be absorbed into the body.
Minerals provide skeletal support and aid in nerve transmission and muscle contractions.
