Foods Dangerous To Labradoodles
The following foods should be avoided as they are dangerous to all dogs including the Labradoodle breed:
- Chocolate A stimulant in chocolate called Theobromine can affect a dogs heart, nervous system, kidneys and stomach.
- Avocados A component of avocados called persin can cause diarrhoea, heart congestion and vomiting if consumed by a dog.
- Raisins and Grapes These foods can contribute to kidney failure in a dog. Dogs with underlying health issues are more at risk.
- Macadamia Nuts If a dog consumes a macadamia nut it can lead to depression, vomiting, tremors and weakness.
- Cooked bones These bones can splinter easily and become lodged in a dogs intestines.
Why Does My Dogs Food Amount Matter
The right kind of nourishment helps keep your dog healthy. Overfeeding your dog can cause weight gain, which can lead to joint problems and other health issues.
Keeping portion sizes consistent and appropriate based on his age, weight and activity levels will help him maintain his ideal weight and remain active. Find out how your veterinarian assesses your dogs body condition with our Body Condition System.
For more feeding tips from our experts, visit our Pet Expertise page.
Step : Determine Your Dogs Ideal Body Weight
The first piece of the puzzle is to have an answer to the question:What should my dog weigh as an adult?I cant tell you how many people are misguided on this topic so its an important place to start. For some, this question is an easy answer. For others, it may not be.Here are some tips to get the ball rolling.
Review AKC breed information. Or, do some research on your dogs breed to learn what the ideal weight range is for males and females. From here, choose the lower number or the average number from the range provided.If your dog is a mixed breed and you know the breeds, research them. Make your best attempt to come to a logical conclusion on proper weight.
Consider Breed:
Your veterinarian should be able to tell you what a healthy weight for your dog would be, or at least fall within. Give your vets office a call or ask at your next visit.
Ask Your Veterinarian:
Body Condition Should Be the Determining Factor:
Good question.
The number youve determined for your dogs ideal, adult body weight can now be used for calculations.For example, say 40-lbs was a healthy weight for your dog. Youd calculate 2-3% of that number. That would equal a range of 0.8 1.2 pounds of food, per day.At this point you may be thinking, thats nice but which amount should I use?
Now Write Down Your Dogs Ideal Weight:
Well use a few other factors to narrow down to an exact percentage to begin with.
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How Many Cups Are In A 5
Think of it as you are feeding your pet dog. You want to feed it by cup measurement. Now you went to the store to buy new dog food.
You are thinking of the diet of your dog and cant decide how many cups are in a 5 pound bag of dog food. In shops, there are dry dog foods and wet dog foods. Thus, the weight varies.
If you are a new dog owner, it is easy for you to get confused. Do not panic, lets see how you can measure how many cups are in a 5-pound bag of dog food.
Contents
Body Condition Still Applies With Puppies:
Puppies will look thin and gangly as they grow. This is normal theyre growing! Dont you remember when you were an awkward string bean? You may hear comments from people who assert your dog is too thin. These are often the people who have no idea their dog is overweight ignore them.Emaciated and underweight body conditions are different from a healthy, growing puppy. Follow the chart referenced earlier and youll be okay. And if youre unsure, ask your vets opinion.
This group needs to be treated like puppies from a food volume perspective.Once pregnancy is confirmed, you can begin to move your dogs daily food intake up from 2-3% to 4-5%. When the puppies are born, youll want to stay within that 4-5% range . Prior to weaning will be the highest point for your dogs daily food volume needs.After puppies are weaned, your dog can go back to her normal 2-3% range within a short period of time.
Pregnant Dogs:
No vast difference in quantity of food with older dogs. But if your dog is less active you may need to slightly decrease food volume.
Senior Dogs:
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Feeding Your Dog Too Much Food Can Be A Path To Health Problems
We all love our pets to feel full and happy. But going over these food quantities has its risks, especially in obesity.
Congestive heart failure
Heart conditions are very common in dogs that overeat. Some of them even eat the wrong foods which are filled with sugar and salt and in large quantities, these foods lead to minor or serious congestive heart failure.
Obesity
More than 95% of todays pet owners are unaware of their dogs obesity problems. However, overfeeding dogs is one of the main causes of obesity, together with a lack of exercise. If you still think overeating isnt all that bad, here are just a few health conditions associated with it.
Your pet can suffer from type 2 diabetes by eating too much or by eating unhealthy foods. Osteoarthritis or a condition of the ligaments is also tied to eating too much. As seen above, high blood pressure is also an issue, but it can be a condition tied to other health problems.
Skin disease is common in dogs that dont eat the right amount of food. Most importantly, data shows that overeating decreases life expectancy for dogs by an average of 2.5 years. Given dogs dont live as long as humans, this is a long period to simply overlook.
How Come My Dog Lost Weight On Raw
After figuring out how much to feed, some people remark that the quantity of food seems too small. That or it seems less than what their dogs were eating before.This is nothing to be worried about.Raw diets are calorie dense foods. They contain more fat than kibble, which is mostly starch-based. Fat carries more than twice the calories per gram as protein and carbohydrates.From a food volume perspective, you may be feeding less raw than dry dog food and thats okay.Remember why you chose to feed raw. Now that your dog is eating real, quality foods, expect there to be some differences in how their food bowl appears.
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Puppy And Growing Dogs Feeding Schedule
Not only will puppies require a different kind of feeding schedule, but they also will require a lot more attention to ensure they are adjusting well to new foods. Amidst all the craziness that comes with raising a young pup, you are probably wondering just how much dog food a puppy requires.
For the first eight weeks, puppies should freely nurse on their mothers milk whenever they want. After the first four weeks, they can start incorporating small amounts of watered-down dry food, which will help them transition off their mothers milk.
After eight weeks, puppies should be eating nutrient-rich food twice a day.
Planning Your Labs Diet
There are so many different brands of Labrador food available! And so many different opinions on dog food generally. Not to mention the alternatives to commercial food. But weve put together this Labrador feeding guide to help you out. Feeding your dog is a big topic so youll find links to more information in the green box below.
Jump straight to the section that interests you most from here:
Im going to help you choose the right diet for your dog and answer your feeding questions and concerns about how to feed a Labrador. If your Lab is under six months old, youll probably want to visit our puppy feeding page for detailed information on feeding your Labrador puppy. This includes how much to feed a Lab puppy.
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Dry Vs Wet Puppy Food
Although dry kibble is a popular choice, its not the only option. As you walk the dog food aisles, you may see both dry and wet puppy foods.
This can make it harder to decide what to feed your puppy. Fortunately, as long as both the wet and dry formulas are complete and balanced for growing puppies, you can feed either one to your pup with confidence.
You and your puppy may have a preference when it comes to dry versus wet. Feeding a combination of the two is also an option.
According to Purina Nutritionist, Allison Millican, PhD, If youre feeding your puppy a combination of wet and dry food, it is extremely important to ensure the total caloric value does not fall short or exceed their daily energy requirement. Use the calories reported on the package to understand how much wet food will replace the dry and vice versa. This allows you to calculate the amount of each product needed to meet your puppys nutritional requirements.
For example, Millican explains, one thirteen-ounce can of wet puppy food may contain four hundred and seventy-five kilocalories and replace approximately one cup of a dry puppy formula with a similar value of kilocalories per cup. In this scenario, you could substitute a thirteen-ounce can of wet food for one cup of the daily dry food recommendation.
The brand websites and your veterinarian are great resources and can help you develop a feeding plan specifically for your puppys needs.
How Much Should I Feed My Adult Dog
One rule of thumb is to feed 2-4% of the pets body weight. Smaller dogs will require a higher percentage of their body weight, while larger dogs will require a smaller percentage of their body weight. The daily portion should be split between morning and night.
- a 10 lb. dog will eat about 2 to 2-1/2 lbs. per week or about 10 lbs per month
- a 25 lb. dog will eat about 5 lbs per week or about 20 lbs per month
- a 50 lb. dog will eat about 8 lbs per week or about 32 lbs per month
- a 75 lb. dog will eat about 10-1/2 lbs per week or about 42 lbs per month
- a 100 lb. dog will eat about 13-1/2 lbs per week or about 54 lbs per month
Remember that these are guidelines and that food needs vary. Observe your pet closely and increase or reduce food quantity as needed for proper weight. Always consult your integrative veterinarian, especially for puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs.
Important note: If you are transitioning from dry food, it is common to see significant weight loss in the first week, which is primarily water weight. After this, it is important that they lose no more than 1 2% of their body weight per week. It is recommended that you work with your veterinarian to assist in monitoring your dog during weight loss.
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Should You Feed Cows Milk To Your Lab
One common mistake made by new Labrador puppy owners is to feed their puppy on cows milk. Unfortunately cows milk is not well suited to puppies and may give your puppy diarrhoea. You can buy replacement dog milk but an eight week old puppy is actually weaned and doesnt need milk at all.
If you have inadvertently bought a puppy that is too young to leave its mother , phone your vet for advice on proper care and feeding. And take the pup for a check up without delay. Adult animals dont need milk. With adult Labradors, as with adult humans, many do enjoy drinking milk as a treat, and some tolerate it well.
Others however, will feel uncomfortable or nauseous after drinking milk, or even suffer from diarrhea. Only you will know how milk affects your dog. If in doubt, go without.
How Long Will A 30 Pound Bag Of Puppy Food Last
I go through about one 35 lb bag of food every two to three weeks for three dogs. I am guessing that a 30 lb bag will probably last you about a month or slightly more, but that is really just a guess. It all depends on the specific food and your dog. Its cheaper than most brands and still grain free.
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How Long Do Puppies Eat Puppy Food
Dont overlook the importance of planning and allowing for a transitional process when changing dog food. Imagine eating the same meals every day. Then, suddenly, you switch to something completely different. Youll probably experience a tummy ache or other gastrointestinal problems.
The same thing goes for your puppy. Remember that its a process that should take a minimum of six days, and sometimes longer . Heres a video that highlights the transition process so you know how to properly change your puppys food.
How Much To Feed Puppies
Puppies nutritional needs are of course different from an adult or even adolescent dog. For starters, they often eat more times a day than adult dogs. Depending on your pups breed and age, she may eat up to four meals per day or two to three times the amount of an adult dog.
AKC recommends a method called watch the dog, not the dish. Giving puppies a schedule for their meals, and then taking away any leftover food 10-20 minutes after a meal is served, helps to establish good eating habits.
This method will help you to learn how much your puppy needs and helps your pup to establish good habits, as in: if youre hungry, eat!
If a puppy misses out by not eating enough at one meal, their hunger will help them finish their meal at the next feeding and learn to eat when the food is available. And because they have frequent meals, they wont go hungry for long.
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The Pros And Cons Of Feeding Raw
Raw feeding is quite a big topic. It is both complicated and simple. Complicated because we tend to worry about the nutrients our dogs are getting. And we cant see a list of ingredients on a meaty bone. But the truth is, we dont need to.
Raw feeding is not as convenient as kibble feeding, It requires plenty of freezer and refrigeration space, a designated preparation surface*, and good meat preparation hygiene. .
Small puppies are growing fast and are vulnerable to diets with a poor nutrient balance. It is very important you do your research before attempting to raw feed a small puppy.
As a brief summary, the primary well documented benefits of raw feeding are great dental health , small quantities of virtually odourless poop, and a diet free from grains.
Raw feeding also provides a huge amount of pleasure for dogs. Pleasure that is hard to quantify, but youll know it when you see it! You can read more about the pros and cons of raw feeding on our The Happy Puppy site
Puppyhood Is The Best Time To Consider Pet Insurance
As a puppy, your dog has probably not shown any significant health concerns at his young age. Since pet insurance companies dont cover pre-existing conditions, the younger your dog is when you sign up, the better coverage you will likely receive throughout his lifetime. Furthermore, pet insurance can help support you financially during the unpredictable puppy years when dogs are more likely to chew on things they shouldnt and run into dangerous situations. Check out our pet insurance guide to learn more and to determine whether pet insurance is worth it for your puppy.
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What Sort Of Feeding Schedule Works
Free-feeding, or leaving food available to dogs at all times, is often not recommended by veterinarians. For multi-species or multiple-dog households, free-feeding makes it difficult to account for different diets and to track each dogs intake. Additionally, free feeding can lead to obesity when dogs overeat.
Sticking to a schedule can help your canine companion avoid grazing, feel like part of the family, and can encourage good mealtime behavior. You should plan a feeding schedule by consulting with your veterinarian.
Should I Mix Wet And Dry Dog Food
Mixing wet and dry dog food or wet and dry cat food is fine as long as both options are of high quality and meet your pets nutritional and other health needs. Quality wet and dry foods are formulated to provide your pet with all the protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients they need to thrive.
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If You Would Like To Find The Very Best Pet Food Then You Want To Be Sure That You Stick To The Rules For Purchasing The Pet
If youre confused about what sort of dog foods to buy, this article can aid you. There are many different types of wet and dry dog food available, and all of them have their advantages and disadvantages. The actual differentiation, however, is primarily what they are against every other specifically, which one is more healthful for your furry friend? The canned dog food is generally dry and the canned dog food that is usually sold in pet shops is usually tender, also, but it is your choice what sort of food youre going to feed your pet.
Dry vs. Wet: The biggest distinction is in what theyre against other kinds of dry dog food: specifically they have a lot of moisture content compared to any other kind like wet dog food. Butjust because they have more moisture does not necessarily indicate theyre better. You ought to look at the way a dogs digestive system works, how healthy it is, how long its been at the meals, and whether its a good diet for your dog. Some dogs do not have very good digestive systems, so they ought to be on a canned food diet before their digestive systems improve. This is particularly true when your dog has a medical condition or is more prone to diarrhea.
This depends on your dogs requirements. And, if youre feeding him homemade food, then you might want to look at going with canned pet food. In fact, you should consider producing your own dog food, so youre able to control the ingredients and the way your pet gets fed.