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The most frequent feeding errors in dogs

Only if you feed your dog the right way is his body supplied with all the necessary nutrients. And only then can your four-legged friend lead a healthy and happy dog life.

Unfortunately, we have made the experience in the context of our free consultation service however that with the topic species-appropriate nutrition of dogs large ignorance prevails and certain feeding mistakes are made very frequently.

We have taken this as an opportunity to write a detailed article on the subject. Read below to find out which feeding mistakes are particularly common in dogs and why you should avoid them.

Feeding must be tailored to your dog's needs

Before we go into the most common feeding errors in dogs, we would like to sensitize you to a very important point on the subject.

The feeding of your dog must always meet his needs. And in practice these can indeed be very different. What is good and right for one dog can possibly harm another again.

An old dog, for example, has completely different demands on his food than a young dog.

Also diseases, such as kidney complaints, or also feed allergies must be considered in the diet. Failure to do so can have serious consequences for your dog.

The same applies to the feeding of sports dogs. Here, too, you have to take special needs into account and adapt your diet to the additional physical strain.

As you can see, it is not possible to make a food recommendation that applies equally to every dog.

Rather it is your task as a dog owner to arrange the nutrition of your quadruped in such a way that it contains all necessary nutrients in the correct quantity.

Regardless of this, you should avoid the following feeding mistakes with your dog in any case.

Error number 1: too much food

One of the most common feeding mistakes in dogs is the oversupply of energy. So it is not surprising that not only humans but also our four-legged friends suffer more and more from overweight and all its consequences.

This is mainly due to the fact that in many cases the food rations are simply too large.

Assuming that the dog already stops as soon as he is full, the food bowl is filled regardless of the actual needs of the four-legged friend.

The only problem is that your dog will not stop as soon as he feels saturated. Instead, he (like his relative the wolf) will eat as much as he can. After all, he doesn't know when he'll get something next time.

So it is up to you to take the "reasonable" part and only provide your dog with as much food as he actually needs.

Error number 2: Treats are not taken into account

Another problem that is associated with an excessively high energy supply and that you should absolutely avoid is the additional administration of treats, without taking them into account in the overall energy supply.

If you reward your dog from time to time with one or the other snack, you must take this into account in the basic food quantity and deduct it accordingly.

Otherwise, the treats will sooner or later become noticeable as overweight in your dog, even if the correct amount of food is consumed. This applies all the more if your four-legged friend does not have enough movement additionally.

Error number 3: too little food

Of course it is not just a mistake to give your dog too much food. You must also make sure that your dog's portions are not too small.

Otherwise there will be an inadequate supply of energy and, as a result, weight loss and possibly also listlessness.

In addition, an undersupply of food quickly results in your dog lacking certain nutrients, which can lead to additional problems and even illness.

Practical tip: In order to ensure that your dog receives the right amount of food, we recommend that you keep a nutrition diary for a period of three to four weeks. In this diary you write down everything your four-legged friend has eaten. This will help you to get a better feeling for the right portion sizes.

Error number 4: Supplement with oil and grease

We don't know what sense it's supposed to make. But unfortunately many dog owners pour frighteningly additional oil over their dog's food. The consequences of this are usually remarkably large amounts of excrement and diarrhoea.

The additional oil is completely superfluous anyway. Because dog food is usually complete food. If you give your dog the right amount of food, it means that he is automatically supplied with sufficient proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

And even for sports dogs, whose need for fat is increased, there are with products such as Bellfor Pur Active and our fitness bar significantly better alternatives to additional oil in the food of your quadruped.

Error number 5: wrong supply of minerals

Another big feeding mistake, which too many dog owners unfortunately commit, is the administration of minerals in the wrong amount.

For the health of your quadruped these so-called micronutrients are at least as important as the right amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Calcium, phosphorus and selenium are particularly important.

Calcium is particularly known to contribute to the health of bones and teeth, but also plays a role in other areas, such as the excitation of the nerves.

Phosphorus is also important for your dog's teeth and bones, and the right balance between the two minerals is important. It is also needed, among other things, for the energy metabolism of the cells.

Among other things, selenium supports the immune system by helping to bind harmful substances in the body and also supports the function of the thyroid gland and carbohydrate metabolism.

An undersupply of these micronutrients can cause serious health problems for your dog. However, oversupply is no different.

If the additional administration of selenium or other minerals should actually be necessary with your four-legged friend, it is therefore indispensable to pay attention to the correct dosage of the preparation.

Error number 6: Harmful foods

If you are like most dog owners, your dog is far more than just a simple pet. It is part of your family. This is understandable and no different for us.

However, this does not mean that your dog should end up in your stomach in the same way as you do. Because only because you like something, you do not do the four-legged friend thereby still for a long time also something good.

Some foods, such as chocolate, grapes or avocado, can even seriously harm your dog. Therefore, be sure to avoid such snacks as a supposed reward.

Error number 7: spoiled food

A sparing use of food in all honours. Dog food can also spoil. The sack of dry food has been open for months and is still not used up? Then it may be time to dispose of it and buy new dog food.

Also be aware that some products are excessively contaminated with infectious agents. These include pig ears and bull pizzle.

Bad food can lead to digestive problems for your dog or even make him seriously ill. It is therefore essential that you only provide your dog with edible products.

Error number 8: Nutritional supplements (not always much helps)

Many dog owners are of the opinion that they do something good for their four-legged friend if they supply him with as many different food supplements as possible.

However, this is not only completely unnecessary in most cases. In addition, different products may not be compatible with each other and the desired effect may not be achieved or even intolerances may occur.

Food supplements can also have many advantages for dogs. But don't make the mistake of overdoing it, use such products only when there is a real need for them.

Pay attention to quality

Regardless of the feeding errors mentioned above, you should pay attention to quality when buying dog food (as well as food supplements for dogs).

Only a combination of the right amount of food and high quality products can ensure that your dog receives exactly the nutrients he needs.

This is the best way to avoid problems such as food allergies and an over- or undersupply of individual nutrient components.

Conclusion

As you can see, a species-appropriate diet is definitely associated with some hurdles. Whether it's too much or too little food, the wrong amounts of micronutrients or simply foods that can harm your dog.

Feeding mistakes are widespread and can have serious consequences for your dog sooner or later. Only the right food in the right quantities will ensure that your four-legged friend remains healthy and productive in the long term.

So it is up to you to avoid the feeding mistakes mentioned above and thus enable your dog to live a long and happy life.

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