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Hi all, I would like to ask for any suggestion what to feed a new dog (2 yrs old). He was just given to me by my sister who's leaving for overseas work. I hope I won't have a hard time looking for something to feed him. I don't have an idea what my sister used to give him. And how often should I feed him with food and water?
Water should always be available. Speak to your sister and ask her about what she was feeding - sudden changes in diets can cause tummy upsets in some dogs. It's best to mix old and new food in gradually. Personally I would switch the dog over to a raw diet, that is raw meat and bones, I consider this to be the most appropriate diet for a dog, but I respect the fact that this is not for everyone - each to their own. If you wanted some more info on canned or kibble foods - have a look at the reviews on this site - Dog Food Reviews - Main Index - Powered by ReviewPost
Kristen, it is important to find out what the dog is used to eating and how often your sister fed it. The dog has a lot of changes to get used to and this will be harder if it has to cope with a change of diet a the same time. It would be a good idea to get the dog checked by a vet to make sure that there are no health problems and you could ask the vet if the dog is the correct weight. If the dog is over or under weight the diet should be adjusted to correct the weight problem, your vet could offer advice on this.
Kristen,
By far the best diet to feed your new dog would be a prey model raw diet. For more information on that click the link in my sig. If you prefer to stick with kibble, you want the one with the highest percentage of protein. You will find that information on a nutrition label on the bag. Two good brands are EVO and Orijen. They are both expensive but you don't feed nearly as much of those two as you do other cheaper brands.
You will NOT find a decent brand in a grocery store and its very difficult to find a good brand in the major box pet stores. Avoid Walmart dog food at any cost.
Bill What is Kibble? It is a term I have not come across in England and as far as I know the brands that you mention are not sold here. I would just be interested to know what it is.
Kibble is dry dog food. It's sold in bags and is in little chunks. I'm sure you have it over there, you just call it something different. :)
That weird Kernow, I am in the UK and everyone I know calls it kibble.........can't wait to read what you call it then........
Thanks Bill, I am glad someone asked that question, I am aware of dried dog food (we don't use it), but I have never heard it called Kibble. It is an odd word, what does it mean.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill
Thank you for explaining that Bill. Stephanie, I have had dogs all my life and I have never come across the term kibble. Most of my dogs have been re-homed from reputable centres such as Battersea and Wood Green. They always give advice on feeding and encourage new owners to stick with the diet that they have established the dog on, my vet also has advice sheets about feeding that are handed out on almost every visit, but I have never come across the term kibble. When I saw the word on here I asked one or two of my dog walking friends and I was met with blank looks. To answer your question, I don't really call it anything other than dry dog food, it doesn't really feature in my conversation because I don't use it.
WOW - I am amazed to read that! Most 'food' discussions I have with other dog walkers are always about kibbles and who feeds what kibble and what kibbles suits and what kibbles don't etc etc.......kibble is a major topic of conversation in whatever dog setting I am in. I guess the description 'dry dog food' covers it, pretty much.Quote:
Originally Posted by kernow
Maybe it is just a regional thing, if you are in a big city such as London perhaps that makes a difference.
Thanks very much for the advice everyone. My sister gave me a long list of instructions for the dog's diet, vaccinations and etc. The dog was and being continued to have raw diet. I really don't know much about these stuff. LOL Do you guys think it's okay to offer the dry dog food once in a while?
Unless there is a specific reason too then why? Some argue that swapping around between raw and kibble isn't good for the dogs digestion. That said, I give mine kibble when visiting family and Ruby and Jakey get it when I go away on holiday too. I don't have a problem with it and I don't feel bad about it either. I do the best I can for them and they get fed a mostly raw diet in less than ideal circumstances - no chance of me getting hold of 'whole' prey, no craigslist here, no hunters in London, no free sources of meat, no co-ops, no nothing........................
At the end of the day, it is your decision to make, my only advice would be to research your kibble choice carefully, there are some really poor quality ones around that I wouldn't feed to a rat.
Also, I am interested to see that you sister mentions vaccinations - how old is the dog? I don't vaccinate my dogs - they are all adults, most times there is absolutely no point, plus I read of far too many cases where dogs react badly to the vaccines, if not immediately, in the future – one such study here - Britfeld.com - Adverse Vaccine Reactions by Dr W. Jean Dodds I am sure Jakey's allergy issues are, in part, if not all, down to all the annual vaccinations he had before we got him.....
You can get a titre test done - this shows the level of immunity the dog has to the diseases, but in most cases it is pointless because even if it comes in low it doesn't mean that the dog doesn't have any immunity, just that the immune system hasn't been exposed recently. In this country some vets have moved from the idea of annual vaccinations from once a year to every 3 years, I believe this is the case in other countries too. Here is a link on it - Dr-Dodds-ChangingVaccProtocol
Here is some great information on vaccinations. Be sure to watch all 4 video's. YouTube - ‪Dr. Karen Becker Interviews Dr. Schultz (Part 1 of 4)‬‏
I'm in the UK and feed my cats and dogs one of the better brands, James Wellbeloved. The bag of dog food (as I normally refer to it, or dog biscuits) has "kibble" on it. Morrisons sell prepared tripe and lamb bones cheaply that I get him as treats. I also give him carrots, but be prepared for carrotty poo!
First of all, I think that your veterinarian should help you decide what is best for your individual dog. Dogs need nutrients not ingredients! I agree that there are some kibble foods that are complete "junk", but most have been formulated especially to meet nutritional needs of dogs. CORN IS NOT JUNK! Most people are misinformed when they say that corn is nothing more than just a filler. Corn is a very good source of ESSENTIAL amino acids and fatty acids. Feeding raw does not calm a dog down because "you will be eliminating sugar from their system", your dog calms down because you are reducing the amount of energy he will be receiving in his diet. Believe it or not corn provides a lot of energy because it is rich in fatty acids which are healthy for your dog. There are three ESSENTIAL fatty acids ALL dogs MUST have arachidonic acid (not essential for humans), linoleic acid, and alpha-linolinic acid. They get all three from corn. They are important for cell membrane maintenance and the omega 6's have inflammatory properties. Never feed your dogs free choice. Unlike cats, they don't just eat what they need and stop. Feed them specific measured amounts that are calculated based on your dog's ideal weight and specific energy requirements (your vet can show you how to do this!). Do not just put a bowl full of food on the floor and let him eat as much as he will in 5 to 10 minutes. This will only encourage him to eat faster and cause gastric problems.
thanks for all the information guys
plss explain me more about kibbles,what is the food made off.
choosing food for dog:
Know What’s in the Best Dog Food
Read Ingredients
Take Glutens and Grains into Consideration
Check the Facts on By-products
Look for Adequacy
Find Feeding Trial Info
Consider the Guaranteed Analysis
Ask Your Vet’s Advice
Do Homework on Your Brand
Hi there.
To figure out how much, either ask your sister how much she did feed them or see a vet (might be a good idea anyway, so potential issues are not blamed on you).
As to how often, I usually recommend 2 doses a day. Consistent. Change the water each time, refill if needed (usually on hot days).
About what to feed - I'd go with natural dog food. Here is a list of few most popular/best ranked ones.
I hope this help a bit :)