Positively Nutritious Dog Food – What Other People Are Not Telling You About This Matter

The nutritional needs of a dog will change throughout her lifetime.

It is necessary to be aware of these changes not only for proper initial growth to occur, but also so your dog can lead a healthy life for many years.

When a puppy first leaves the home of her breeder, she should have been weaned from her dam for at least one week and should be eating puppy food. Be sure to ask what type of puppy food that is and plan on continuing to use it for at least the first few days your puppy is in her new home.

If it is a premium dog food and is readily available where you live, there is no reason not to continue feeding it. If for some reason you wish to switch food, and then do so gradually. Ask the breeder to give you several days supply and gradually mix it in with the new food.

If you are feeding your dog a diet that is correct for her developmental stage and she is alert, healthy looking and neither over nor under weight, you do not need to add supplements. These include table scraps as well as vitamins and minerals.

In fact, a growing puppy is in danger of developing musculoskeletal disorders by over supplementation. If you have any concerns about the nutritional quality of the food you are feeding, discuss them with your veterinarian.

The action of chewing dry food helps maintain the health of your dog’s teeth and gums. Golden Retrievers are frequently extra eager eaters, so you should keep an eye out for excessive weight gain.

Once your Golden reaches the age of 8 or 9, it is wise to begin feeding her a food with a reduced fat and protein content. While you may be tempted to add scraps from your dinner plate to your dog’s food bowl, these extra treats can lead to unwanted weight gain.