Keeping your dog healthy is a key responsibility – and reward – of being a pet owner. But it’s not always a perfect science, especially when it comes to mealtime. What if your dog is always wanting more than their portion? What if certain ingredients don’t agree with them? And unlikely as it might seem, what if they simply won’t eat?
“It’s not black and white,” says Saskia Yu, owner of Richmond-based dog day care Mr Woofles. Since opening her business in January 2020, Yu has become intimate with the feeding regimens of countless canine breeds. Though owners typically supply the food for their pet’s stay, Mr Woofles sometimes adds hearty toppers like freshly cooked chicken and rice with owners’ consent.
Navigating ingredients
“I see a lot of owners [add] supplements like meat, wet food or subscription food on top of a dry kibble diet,” says Yu. “They get their main energy and nutrients from the kibble, and then something on top of that as well. There are a lot of choices at the moment.”
Some dry kibbles, like Black Hawk’s range, made in New South Wales, are addressing a desire to use familiar ingredients in healthy meals for pets – think pumpkin, sweet potato, beet pulp, berries, sea kelp, chicory root and chicken meat. The idea is each ingredient contributes nutrients that benefit the animal’s overall wellbeing.
Watching weight
If your dog wolfs down its meals in seconds, Yu says to resist the temptation of overfeeding and always follow instructions. “The food manufacturer will have feeding guidelines [on the bag],” she says. “On top of that, you should be monitoring the dog’s exercise levels and how they look. Are they looking trim? You don’t want them to get too overweight, which can lead to joint and mobility issues. They should have a thin saddle quality to their waistline,” says Yu of your pet’s silhouette. “Where the hips are, there should be a slight dip in. That’s usually an indicator that they’re at a healthy weight.”
Yu also says regular bowel movements are a good sign of a healthy dog. Keep an eye out for any ingredients that cause adverse reactions. Yu says some dogs have food allergies or sensitivities to keep an eye on. “It’s important to work out what those no-go zones and trigger foods are,” she says.
Stay strong
Some dogs are just picky eaters – and the problem might be you. “A lot of dogs are a bit spoilt,” says Yu. “[So don’t] try every single different food, because then they learn how to turn their nose up and keep waiting for something else.”
Finally, be cautious when introducing a new food to your dog, as a change in diet can cause stomach upsets. Gradually mix in the new food with the old food until one replaces the other. “The gist of it is really observing, understanding and monitoring their toileting, appetite and energy,” says Yu. “And trying your best, depending on what your time constraints are like. Nothing can replace love, care and attention towards your pet.”
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Black Hawk Pet Care.
