Essential Tips for Preparing Food for Your New Dog

Dogs are considered omnivores like humans, which means they can eat a wide variety of food to meet their nutritional needs. They get a balanced diet from a combination of proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients, including fiber, carbohydrates, and water.

The main types of dog food are wet food and dry kibble, but there are also some alternatives, including home-cooked food, raw food, and freeze-dried raw food.

Figuring out how much to feed a new dog can be tricky, especially if they came from a shelter or were rescued as a stray.

They may be very thin when you adopt them, so the amount they need to eat at first may be different than what they will need for long-term weight maintenance. Also, new dogs are adjusting to new experiences.

A good rule of thumb is to use the guidelines on the food label itself. The label will advise how much to feed based on your dog’s weight and age.

These recommendations tend to be generous, so don’t feed more than the label recommends unless directed by your veterinarian. In some cases, your dog may eat much less than suggested, especially at first.

It is also useful to be in the habit of measuring out your dog’s food in a consistent way, such as with a spare measuring cup or spoon, so you use the same amount each time.

large-breed dogs are more likely to have certain bone and joint problems and may need food that is low in calories and high in joint-supporting nutrients, especially during the growing puppy stage.