Food is the basis for making our furry companion he althy, strong and happy. For this reason, we should not skimp on expenses when it comes to offering a quality feed if we want all their nutritional needs to be well covered. The Jack Russell terrier dog is one of the most popular due to its small size, vitality and easy care. However, it is also one of the most demanding at a nutritional level to maintain its muscle mass in perfect condition and avoid the dreaded canine obesity.
Don't know how much your dog should eat a day? Do you always leave his food bowl full, without controlling the grams he consumes, and have you noticed that he is starting to gain a few extra kilos? Find out on our site and start controlling your diet! Keep reading and discover the amount of daily food for a Jack Russell terrier ideal.
What does the amount of daily food depend on?
When selecting the best feed for your dog, you should not only look at the quality of the food, it will also be essential to purchase a product designed to meet the specific needs of your dog. This is so because the nutritional needs of a puppy and an adult, for example, are completely different, as are the requirements of a giant-sized dog and another toy. In this way, the factors that you will have to pay attention to when choosing the food for the Jack Russell terrier are the following:
- Age
- The weight
- Physical activity
The Jack Russell terrier stands out for its temperamental, curious, active and very playful character. Therefore, he is ideal for homes with children or people who love to spend long hours playing with their furry companion. On the other hand, as it is a small breed dog with a tendency to become obese if it does not get the exercise it needs, the food provided must be up to its nutritional requirements in order to avoid becoming overweight.
How much should a Jack Russell puppy eat?
The Jack Russell terrier dog usually reaches adulthood after a year of life, so until then you will have to offer him food from the junior range, specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of puppies.
Now that you know that you should pay attention to those foods that indicate that they are junior, it is essential to talk about their composition to ensure that the baby Jack Russell grows and develops properly. In this sense, it is essential that the feed has a balanced amount of calcium, protein and phosphorus to ensure proper growth. This is so because, although adulthood reaches a year of life, its bones stop growing at 10 months, so it is a canine breed with rapid bone growth and an excess or lack of calcium or protein, for example, can seriously affect its evolution. Likewise, do not forget that the dog is a carnivorous animal, so it will be ideal that said amount of protein comes from meat or fish, not exceeding 25%. On the other hand, omega 3 fatty acids, also of animal origin, are highly beneficial for maintaining the he alth of the puppy's skin and coat, as well as vitamin E, B and C.
To offer the best food to the dog, we advise you to discard those feeds that base their composition on flour and cereals, since they are indicative of poor quality. Remember that the he alth of your furry companion is at stake, and you must provide him with quality food to ensure that he grows he althy and strong. Also, pay attention to the following tips:
- During the first five months of the Jack Russell's life, it is recommended to increase the daily dose of food to promote growth. Once the sixth month has been reached, it is recommended to lower it to avoid being overweight.
- Up to four months, the daily dose should be offered in four doses.
- From four to six months, it should be reduced to three feedings a day.
- From the age of six, you can ration the puppy's food in two feedings.
Now, we share a table with the recommended daily amount of gramsfor the Jack Russell terrier puppy according to the age and weight he will reach as an adult. Yes, the doses are calculated based on the kilograms that the dog will weigh once it reaches adulthood, data that only the veterinarian can provide you.
How much should an adult Jack Russell eat?
As we discussed in the previous section, once exceeds 12 months of age the dog will become an adult and, therefore, your nutritional needs and daily amount of food must be adapted. At this point, the grams per day will be calculated based on his weight and physical activity level. To do this, you should know that the breed standard for the Jack Russell terrier stipulated by the FCI determines that the maximum weight it can reach is 6 kg, and measure 30 cm at the withers. If it exceeds this figure, it is possible that it is obese and you should go to the vet to find out the best diet to follow.
At this stage of the dog, you will have to look for those feeds from the adult range that have 30% protein of animal origin (meat or fish), 15-20% fruit and vegetables and about 15% fat. Since the Jack Russell terrier is a very active dog, which needs to burn a large amount of energy, it also requires a high intake of energy to maintain its muscle mass in perfect condition. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the balance between the percentage of protein and fat.
If you have found a quality feed that offers everything your dog needs but has few fruits and vegetables, keep in mind that you can offer this percentage yourself through fresh food. Check out our article on the best fruits and vegetables for dogs. Of course, do not neglect this part of your diet because these products have powerful antioxidant properties, essential to prevent cell oxidation and loss of vitality of the dog.
In addition to what is indicated, the ideal feed will have to continue providing the animal with omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins, both to provide the energy that its body needs and to ensure the he alth of the skin and fur. Also, don't forget that the Jack Russell is a dog with a tendency to be overweight, so give him the exercise he needs and spend hours playing games to stimulate his mind.
Consult the following table and discover the amount of daily food for an adult Jack Russell terrier that, as we said before, you can divide into two takes if you prefer.
How much should an elderly Jack Russell eat?
Once the dog is over seven years of age, it is considered that the dog has reached old age and, therefore, must go on to consume a food from the senior range. At this stage, it is very important to pay special attention to the amount of essential minerals in the food to continue offering the calcium, phosphorus and iron that your body and bone system need. Keep in mind that this breed of dog is susceptible to patellar dislocation, among other pathologies, and, therefore, we recommend that you go to the veterinarian so that he or she can indicate the ideal percentage of minerals in order to maximize its development. He alth.
During old age the tendency to suffer from obesity is enhanced and, therefore, the percentage of fat should be lower than indicated during adulthood. On the other hand, vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids must continue to be present in their diet to keep the Jack Russell active and vital for many more years. In this sense, you also have the option of offering your furry companion vitamin supplements for the elderly, always under the supervision of the veterinarian. Also, do not forget that exercise is still essential to help the dog to free itself from tension and accumulated energy, you just have to keep in mind that, as the years go by, you will have to adapt the type and level of physical activity. Don't miss our article on the best activities for elderly dogs.
At this stage, the daily amount of food for the Jack Russell is maintained, following the guidelines for weight and physical activity level. Here, what is recommended to modify is the type of croquette or feed, since, as with humans, the dog's teeth can be weakened over time. In this way, it is advisable to opt for smaller croquettes, alternate dry food with wet food or, in very old dogs and with few teeth, go directly to canned food.
If you notice that your elderly Jack Russell shows symptoms of any pathology, such as vomiting, diarrhea or lack of appetite, don't hesitate and Go to the vetRemember that now his immune system is weaker, as well as his body in general, and you will have to pay attention to all his behavior. Find out about the most common diseases of the Jack Russell and prevent their development by offering them the best quality of life, or detect them in time by acting quickly.
