Ten principles for novice dog owners

1. Prepare enough drinking water

Give your dog cold water suitable for drinking at any time and frequently Change the water and consume an average of at least 60 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day, while puppies, lactating female dogs, working dogs or in hot climates consume more water.

2. Gradually change the food

The dog's diet should be changed gradually, and the transition should take one week, so that the animal's taste, digestion and metabolism can adapt. The intestinal microorganisms of dogs are more adaptable to the food eaten than the intestinal microorganisms of humans, and therefore can restore their functions to digest new foods.

3. Regular feeding

The greatest pleasure for a dog is to eat the same plate of food at the same time and place every day. The frequency of meals depends on the dog's physiological state and should be evaluated frequently.

4. Control the amount of food

The amount of food per portion depends on the daily energy requirements of the animal and the calories contained in the food. Serving sizes should be recalculated frequently to prevent obesity and should be adjusted as the dog's weight changes.

5. Balanced diet

Whether the food is homemade or commercial, it should contain all the nutrients your dog needs, in sufficient amounts and in appropriate proportions. , adapted to the dog's size (small, medium or large breeds), physiological state (maintenance, breeding, exercise), age (puppies, adult dogs, middle-aged dogs or senior dogs), and the proportion should be consistent with the disease if necessary. adapted to the status.

6. Choose food carefully

Choosing food is very important. First, nutritional balance should be considered. There are two criteria for choosing the right food for your dog: age (puppy, adult, middle-aged, or senior), physical or physiological activity level (active, sporting, and breeding), and size (small, medium, or large ).

7. Reasonable feeding

The way of feeding is as important as the ingredients in the food. Therefore, when feeding commercial food, merchant instructions must be strictly followed. When feeding homemade food, thoughts such as "my dog ​​eats what I eat," "my dog ​​eats what he likes," or "my dog ​​just eats" should be eliminated. Finally, dog food should be free of table scraps, sweets, candies, cakes and chocolate.

8. Cleanliness

Commercial food provides the best guarantee of hygiene and health. As long as it is used in the right place, there is no risk of poisoning. Opened cans of dog food, fresh or thawed food should be refrigerated, while dry food should be placed in a sealed bag in a dry place. If the dog does not finish all the food, the remaining food should beThrow away the bottom part. The dog food bowl must be scrubbed every day.

9. Record simple indicators of your dog

"Some simple indicators" should be used to record the impact of diet and any dietary changes. Such as weight changes, hair texture, stool characteristics, appetite and daily behavior.

10. A veterinarian should be consulted

Veterinarians can also be trained to be nutritionists for patients and healthy dogs. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog's condition, such as persistent lack of appetite or excessive appetite, excessive weight loss or gain, persistent diarrhea or constipation, worrying health and behavioral problems, or significant changes in thirst or appetite. These are often signs of general illness and require thorough examination.