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How to Feed Your Dog Appropriately

It is obvious that a balanced diet is vital to the health and well-being of dogs. In the following we will explain what you have to pay attention to when feeding your dog and which mistakes you should avoid.

Feeding Dogs Appropriately – the Main Points at a Glance

  • First and foremost, dogs need a sufficient amount of animal proteins and fats.
  • In moderation, carbohydrates from easily digestible sources are part of a balanced dog diet.
  • Appropriate feeding is possible with both dry and wet food.
  • An improper BARF diet can easily lead to a dangerous oversupply or undersupply of nutrients.
  • How much food a dog needs depends on its age, weight and level of physical activity.
  • The daily amount of food should be divided into two to three meals to make it easier for the animal to digest.
  • Switching food frequently can cause severe digestive problems and should therefore be avoided.
  • A vegetarian or vegan diet is not recommended for dogs, despite the supposed benefits for the environment.
  • Dogs Need High-Quality Protein

    How to Feed Your Dog Appropriately

    Dogs are so-called semi-carnivores. Their digestive system is primarily designed to digest animal proteins and fats. This must be taken into account when feeding the four-legged friends.


    The food should therefore have an appropriate proportion of animal components such as meat or fish in good quality, so that the dog is optimally supplied.

    Can Dogs Digest Carbohydrates?

    Since dogs are not purely carnivorous, their food must contain a certain amount of vegetable components in addition to animal ingredients. These supply the four-legged friends with fibre to promote digestion and provide energy in the form of carbohydrates.


    Contrary to some sources that say otherwise, dogs can digest carbohydrates as long as they do not make up the main part of their diet.


    However, you should avoid grains containing gluten, such as wheat, which is unfortunately one of the most frequently used ingredients in dog food these days. Gluten-free grains such as corn and rice or potatoes and sweet potatoes are much easier to digest.

    Which Dog Food: Dry or Wet?

    When shopping for dog food, there are many options available. One of the decisions you are faced with is whether you should choose dry food or wet food. Some dogs like to eat dry food, while others prefer wet food.


    Due to the lower moisture content, dry food has a significantly higher energy density, which is why comparatively small amounts are sufficient to cover the dog's calorie requirement.


    In principle, appropriate feeding is possible with both variants, provided that it is a complete food. Which food you choose for your dog is more or less up to you. You can choose to use either dry or wet food, or a combination of both, for feeding your dog.

    Feeding Dogs Appropriately: BARF Diet or Ready-Made Food?

    Another choice you will have to make is between ready-made food and home-made meals. The so-called BARF diet has enjoyed increasing popularity in recent years. At the same time, however, this form of feeding is also associated with various risks.


    An over- or undersupply of important nutrients is a not uncommon side effect of the BARF diet and is often associated with fatal health consequences for affected dogs. In addition, raw meat, which is used in barfing, is quite often contaminated with germs, which is problematic not only for dogs, but also for humans.


    We therefore advise dog owners to give preference to high-quality, ready-made dog food. In this way, you can rest assured that your dog is receiving all the essential nutrients and you also save a lot of time that you would otherwise have to invest in preparing BARF meals every day.

    How Much Food does My Dog Need?

    In addition to high-quality ingredients of the dog food, the correct amount of food is of course also important. In the long term, too much food inevitably leads to obesity and too little food to being underweight.


    How much food your dog needs depends on various factors such as age, weight and the amount of physical activity your four-legged friend engages in. Young animals and particularly active service or sport dogs, for example, require a relatively large amount of energy, which must be taken into account when portioning the food.


    On the packaging of dog food you will usually find recommended quantities staggered according to body weight. You can use this as a guideline for the portioning of the food for your dog.

    How Often Should I Feed My Dog?

    Opinions differ on the frequency of meals. It is often advised that dogs should only be fed once a day.


    Generally it makes however much more sense to divide the daily amount of food into two to three meals in order to make it easier for your four-legged friend to digest it.


    This is especially true for large breeds of dogs. These naturally have an increased risk of twisting of the stomach. Having several small meals can help relieve the animal's stomach and reduce the likelihood of gastric torsion.

    Should I Change the Food Regularly?

    Us humans would not like to eat the same thing every day. However, this does not mean that dogs feel the same way and that you should regularly change its food.


    On the contrary - the frequent change between different types of food with regard to their composition can very easily lead to severe digestive problems in dogs.


    If you want to change the food for a specific reason, you should do this over a period of several days and gradually mix the new food with the old one. In this way, you ensure a smooth transition and prevent unnecessary symptoms such as diarrhoea.

    Can I Give My Dog Vegetarian Food?

    If animal welfare and environmental protection are important to you, you might be wondering whether you should feed your dog a vegetarian or even vegan diet. However, neither is recommended and can harm your four-legged friend in the long term.


    If you were to feed your dog a vegetarian diet and rely on dairy products as a source of protein, this would result in considerable digestive problems, among other things, since dogs are lactose intolerant. Dairy products should therefore only end up in their food bowl on exceptional occasions and only in very small quantities.


    A vegan diet is also not a good choice for dogs. There is now quite a large selection of vegan dog food. However, most dogs cannot metabolise vegetable proteins as well as animal protein. In addition, ingredients like pulses can very easily lead to bloating and other digestive problems in dogs.

    Our Alternative for Meat-Free Dog Nutrition

    If you want to feed your dog meat-free without compromising on the appropriate supply of nutrients, we have the right solution for you. With our insect-based varieties, we have developed a species-appropriate alternative to conventional dog food.


    In contrast to a vegetarian or vegan food, you can rest assured that with our insect-based dog food your four-legged friend will be supplied with sufficient highly digestible proteins. In addition, the protein produced from the larvae of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) is hypoallergenic, so that the food is very wholesome and well tolerated.


    Get to know Bellfor dog food with insects.

    Fresh Water Is a Must

    In addition to good dog food in the right amount, your dog naturally also needs fresh water to drink. Make sure that your four-legged friend's drinking bowl is always filled. This is especially important in warm temperatures and when feeding dry food, as this contains very little moisture.

    Pay Attention to the Quality of the Dog Food

    There is a large selection of dog food on offer. Unfortunately, not all commercially available products are equal in terms of quality. Experience has shown that many brands use inferior raw materials and wheat as the main ingredients for their products.


    If you want to feed your dog high-quality food, you should therefore take a look at the list of ingredients of the respective dog food. In this way, you can quickly see whether it is a high-quality product or whether you should look for a different type of food.


    With dog food from Bellfor, you can be sure that you will not compromise on quality. Our food does not contain wheat, artificial flavours or preservatives. Instead, we use carefully selected raw materials such as fresh fruit and vegetables as well as human-grade meat and fish.

    Feeding Dogs Appropriately – Our Conclusion

    As you can see, there are quite a few things to consider when feeding dogs. However, if you dig into the subject a little, you will quickly find that feeding in a species-appropriate manner is not all that complicated.


    In this context, keep in mind that with a healthy dog diet you are making a decisive contribution to reducing the risk of numerous diet-related diseases. So it pays off to make sure that your four-legged friend receives all the essential nutrients in the right amount.


    In the Bellfor range you will find everything you need to feed your dog properly, from dry and wet food to dog treats and natural food supplements. If you have any questions about dog nutrition or our products, feel free to call us to receive advice from our nutrition experts.

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