Natural food is an excellent way of controlling the proper weight of our pet, it also usually contains fewer additives and is more digestible. A he althy and wholesome option.
One of the biggest concerns for caregivers who opt for a natural diet is overfeeding or underfeeding their dog. Do you also have these doubts?
In this article on our site we will talk about natural food for dogs, an organic and he althy option that will help dogs with allergies, to puppies or just any dog. Keep reading and discover our tips:
Steps prior to natural feeding
Before taking the step to natural feeding, you must observe and weigh our to understand what your dietary needs will be in the current time.
A good way to estimate the nutritional or caloric needs of the dog in care is observation. Note that the abdomen is narrower than the chest, and that the ribs can be felt but not seen with the naked eye. However, remember that there are exceptions, such as the Spanish greyhound, whose ribs can be seen with the naked eye without being thin. It is your natural constitution.
When changing to a natural diet, it is recommended to weigh the animal and repeat the process at least one month later. If you were overweight, the logical thing is that you lose weight gradually, and if you were very thin, you should gain weight. Sudden changes in weight in our pet may indicate a pathology or an error in the nutritional management of our dog.
Carnivores extract energy mainly from proteins and fats so these represent the basis of their diet:
If the amount of food or the number of calories is below the appropriate level, the dog will lose weight. On the contrary, if we exceed the quantity or calories, the animal will gain weight
For this reason, it is important to weigh your dog periodically and observe his body condition
Natural dog food: BARF
ACBA or BARF feeding, acronym in Spanish for Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding, suggests that an adult dog should eat between 2-3% of their live weight. The 2% percentage corresponds to more sedentary animals and the 3% corresponds to more active and athletic animals.
However, each individual requires their own nutritional needs. For example, feeding a puppy, an adult dog, and a geriatric dog will all be different. Even the caloric needs of dogs in the same group will vary individually according to age, he alth status, breed, etc… Discover an example of a BARF or ACBA diet to learn more about this type of diet.
Properly complement meat
On the other hand, the types of meat differ from each other regarding the meat-to-fat ratio. But it also depends on what part of the animal we are giving. There are cuts of beef as fatty as pork or parts of chicken as lean as turkey.
Do not always give the same cut of lean meat because we can produce a progressive weight loss of our dog. Seeing this weight loss, one tends to increase the amount of food, but without solving the problem.
It is essential that you understand that feeding your dog naturally does not mean giving it meat exclusively, since, like other animals, they also need other nutrients, although to a lesser extent, such as fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals…
A small proportion of the dog's diet should be appropriate fruits and vegetables for good physical development. Don't forget to check those foods that are harmful to dogs.
Also remember that there are foods that, despite not being toxic, are not the most suitable for a dog, as is the case with wheat. Substitute rice.
How to start a natural diet for dogs
Everything we have explained you will learn little by little with practice and with the progressive reading of all the possible information. But remember, your best teacher is your four-legged companion. On the other hand, it will be essential to consult with the veterinary professional so that he can guide you and indicate the steps to follow, it is logical not to start a diet without knowing if our dog can suffer from anemia or is free of all diseases.
Don't hesitate to comment and ask us any questions you have, thanks for visiting our site and, see you soon!
