FOOD AND NUTRITION
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Rocky
Feeding your dog an appropriate amount of a well-balanced, quality diet is vital to its overall health and well being.
Because of their tooth structure and intestinal tract the nutritional needs of dogs can be met by feeding an omnivorous diet, a combination of plant and animal foods.
Although it is entirely acceptable to feed your dog a pure kibble diet, I also like to include some cooked or raw meat, fish, vegetables and rice in their diet. Avoid meat with preservatives as this can be harmful to your dog.
For variety you could consider:
Chicken wings or chicken necks
Poached chicken
Cooked vegetables
Fish such as tinned sardines or tuna (not raw)
A teaspoon of yoghurt for digestive health
Diced raw carrot as a healthy treat and reward
Generally a bone a week is sufficient to help remove plaque from teeth.
Things to remember when feeding bones:
1. Bones should always be given raw. Never feed cooked bones as they can splinter and cause internal damage or obstruct the intestine.
2. The bone should be large enough that the dog can't fit it in its mouth whole. Don't feed small, hard or sharp bones eg chop bones.
3. Always give them when you are home to supervise and remove any bones that are not finished.
4. Where there is more than one dog in a household, bones can sometimes become the focus of potential tension, so feed the dogs separately.
Always ensure that your dog has access to plenty of clean, fresh water so that they are well hydrated. Make sure that their water bowl is filled up all times and is changed daily.
8-16 weeks
This is the age when most pups go their new families. It is important not to change their diet too much as this could lead to stomach upsets.
Initially it is best to feed what the breeder recommends. If you wish to introduce the diet you want to feed, do so in small stages over a few weeks.
The best food is a high quality kibble specifically designed for puppies. This will provide all the nutrients your puppy needs for their growth and development at this age. You can add cooked meats, vegetables or rice but the balanced kibble should form the staple part of the diet, at least 75%.
For growing puppies to obtain all their nutritional requirements they need, it is best to feed 3-4 smaller meals a day at this age.
16+ weeks
At the 16 week mark, chicken necks or chicken wings can be introduced. You can also start to give some raw meaty bones such as a brisket bone. This is usually when adult teeth are erupting and bones encourage active chewing rather than chewing your shoes or couch.
Be aware of any introduced foods that may cause your pup an allergy or illness.
As your pup gets older (6+ months), you can gradually reduce the feeds to twice a day.
Adult Dogs
Adult dogs should be fed either once or twice a day. Cocker spaniels are considered adult from 12+ months of age.
If using kibble, always use a high-quality complete and balanced commercial dog food, appropriate to your dog's life stage and health. You can still add meat (raw and cooked), vegetables and fish for variety. Choose large raw meaty bones.
Most importantly don't overfeed.