Having a dog is a big responsibility, as you are accountable for your pet's health and proper feeding. A dog should never be fed chocolate, sugar or human snack foods. Dog snacks are OK in moderation, but dogs can gain weight from eating large amounts of unhealthy snacks. With proper feeding also comes the need for veterinary checkups and vaccinations, as well as monthly heartworm prevention medication.
Dry Dog Food
The best food to feed your dog is dry dog food, which is available at any pet store. There are many brands to choose from, as well as ingredient combinations such as chicken and rice, lamb and beef. Dry dog food is recommended by veterinarians as it has the nutrition that your dog needs, but it also helps with bowel movement control. Commercial dry dog food is also available for different breeds, dog sizes and even in adult or smaller puppy-sized kibbles.
Starches from corn, white rice, whole grains and brown rice are also mixed in with dog food, usually with a meat ingredient such as lamb or beef. Necessary protein and carbohydrates in the dog food depend on the dog's size and activity level. Eukanuba Premium Performance Sporting Dog Food is for dogs who are athletes and are more active; this type of food is higher in protein and fat to provide sustained energy. Science Diet Light Canine Maintenance Dog Food is an example of a low-carb food for dogs who are not as active or have trouble maintaining healthy weight.
Human Food
Certain human food, such as cooked chicken, fully cooked rice, turkey and hamburger meat, is OK for dogs to eat. The important things to remember when feeding a dog human food is that it should never be a long-term supplement to dry dog food, it should always be completely cooked and you should never feed your dog very hot food. Cooked rice and chicken are often referred to as "bland diet," which can be given to dogs with diarrhea or other medical condition, as it is easier on their bellies. Always remove all bones and never feed your dogs human food off the table with salt, oil and other seasonings.
Vegetables
Dogs can be fed cooked vegetables such as cut-up carrots, potatoes and peas. You can mix this food in with other ingredients such as chicken and rice. Vegetables can even be given as snacks, especially if a dog is overweight and needs to be on a diet.
Onion should not be given to dogs because of diarrhea, stomach upset and toxicity possibilities. Onion toxicity in dogs can be caused from raw onions, cooked onions, onion powders or flavorings.
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