A dog's daily diet should be balanced according to its age, weight, activity level and health status. The following are the appropriate foods for dogs to eat every day in general:
pup
- 0-4 weeks of age: mainly breast milk, breast milk contains rich nutrients and immune factors, can meet the needs of puppy growth and development, to help enhance immunity.
- 4-8 weeks of age: you can start gradually introducing some puppy-specific milk cakes or soft puppy food. Milk cakes and puppy food are rich in nutrients such as protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, and are softened with warm water for puppies to chew and digest.
- After 8 weeks of age: With the gradual growth of teeth, you can transition to complete feeding of dry puppy food. Depending on the puppy's weight and breed, feed according to the recommended amount of food on the dog food packaging, generally need to feed 4-5 times a day.
Adult dog
- Dog food: Quality adult dog food is the main food source for adult dogs, and the appropriate dog food should be selected according to the dog's weight, activity level and breed. In general, small dogs need to consume about 40-60 grams of dog food per kilogram of body weight per day, medium dogs about 30-50 grams per kilogram of body weight, and large dogs about 20-40 grams per kilogram of body weight. For example, a 10kg small dog needs to feed about 400-600 grams of dog food every day.
- Meat: You can feed an appropriate amount of meat 2-3 times a week, such as chicken, beef, lamb, etc., each feeding amount of 5%-10% of the dog's body weight is appropriate. For example, a 20 kg dog can be fed 1000-2000 grams of meat at a time. Cook meat and feed it in small pieces. Avoid feeding raw meat and meat with bones.
- Vegetables and fruits: Feeding some vegetables and fruits in moderation, such as carrots, pumpkins, apples, etc., helps to supplement vitamins and dietary fiber. Generally, the daily feed amount does not exceed 5% of the dog's body weight, such as a 15 kg dog, the daily feed amount of vegetables and fruits does not exceed 750 grams.
- Eggs: Eggs are a nutrient-rich food, and you can feed your dog 2-3 eggs per week to supplement nutrients such as protein and lecithin.
Senior dog
- Elderly dog food: The digestive function and body function of elderly dogs have declined, and it is necessary to choose a special elderly dog food. Senior dog food usually reduces the content of protein and fat, and increases components such as dietary fiber, glucosamine and chondroitin, which helps maintain joint health and digestive function of elderly dogs. The amount of feeding is adjusted according to the weight and health status of elderly dogs, and is generally slightly less than that of adult dogs.
- Easy to digest meat: you can choose some meat that is easier to digest, such as chicken, fish, etc., and feed it after cooking, 2-3 times a week, each feeding amount is about 3%-5% of the dog's body weight.
- Antioxidant-rich foods: Feeding some antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits, such as blueberries, spinach, etc. in moderation can help fight aging and improve immunity. The daily feed is about 3% of the dog's body weight.
- It is important to note that these are only general recommendations, and specific feeding amounts and food choices need to be adjusted to the specific circumstances of each dog. Also, make sure your dog has plenty of clean water at all times.