SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED

MY DOG VOMITS/ HAS DIARRHOEA OCCASIONALLY BUT ISN'T ILL THE FUSSY DOG THE PERPETUALLY HUNGRY DOG WHY DOGS EAT GRASS? WHICH IS BETTER - CANNED FOOD OR DRIED? WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IF MY DOG IS FINE ON ITS PRESENT FOOD? HOW MUCH FOOD DOES MY DOG NEED?

IS IT HARMFUL TO ADD OTHER THINGS TO THE DOG FOOD? I CAN'T BE OVERFEEDING BECAUSE MY DOG IS NOT OVERWEIGHT I CAN'T BE OVERFEEDING BECAUSE MY DOG ONLY EATS WHAT HE NEEDS AND LEAVES THE REST MY DOG HAS DRY, FLAKY SKIN. DOES HE NEED MORE OIL IN HIS DIET? MY DOG HAS ARTHRITIS. WlLL ADDING OIL TO HIS DIET HELP THIS? MY DOG IS UNDERWEIGHT. SHOULD I FEED HIM MORE?

 

 

MY DOG VOMITS/ HAS DIARRHOEA OCCASIONALLY BUT ISN'T ILL

This usually indicates that there is a build-up of waste matter in the dog's system. The vomiting or diarrhoea is a way of discharging this waste thus helping to cleanse the system for a time. There is probably some sub-clinical disease present.

This pattern of behaviour is usually associated with feeding low-quality pet food and a change to decent feeding regime will usually solve the problem. See the Health Management Programme at the end of this site.

Many owners find that the dog (or cat) habitually vomits in the mornings. The owner may be advised to feed frequently. This is often successful in stopping the vomiting but it is not good practice because this is only keeping the lid on the problem not curing it.

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THE FUSSY DOG

It is truly remarkable how many owners have dogs which are fussy. Many owners seem determined to make their dogs eat come what may. The main reason why a dog refuses food is that IT IS NOT HUNGRY! However, the owner concludes that the dog no longer likes the food and decides to try something else (usually tastier) in order to get the dog to eat. The dog will eat this tastier food for a time until it tires of that. The owner will then seek out something else in order to stimulate the dog's jaded appetite. And so it continues. The owner does not seem to realise or care that the dog is simply not hungry .

The best way to please a dog is to give the dog, not food, but time by providing the stimulation of play or by taking it for a walk.

The Health Management Programme offers advice on organising the feeding of the fussy dog.

 

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THE PERPETUALLY HUNGRY DOG

Some dogs seem to be always hungry and to want to eat non-stop. This occurs even when it is clear that the dog does not need more food. Many humans are similar in this respect. Sometimes there is no solution to this problem of feeling guilty that the dog is being deprived. Very often, the desire for food is conditioned. That is, the dog has learned from past experience that if the owner is eating then the dog will be given food.

The best way of dealing with this is the same as for the fussy dog - by providing diversion and stimulation in the form of a walk or play. The more you giv efood on demand, the more the dog will expect it.

 

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WHY DOGS EAT GRASS?

Grass eating is an intuitive action by the dog which wants to vomit as a means of discharging toxins from the system.

 

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WHICH IS BETTER - CANNED FOOD OR DRIED?

The answer is that what is in the food determines whether it is good for your dog, not how it is presented. Moist foods tend to be tastier than dry (mainly because they contain more protein and fat) but dry is more economical and convenient.

 

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WHY SHOULD I CHANGE IF MY DOG IS FINE ON ITS PRESENT FOOD?

Health problems are more likely on a low-quality food and they often develop without showing outward signs. A high-quality diet reduces the risk of a problem developing in the future.

 

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HOW MUCH FOOD DOES MY DOG NEED?

It is much easier and much more common to overfeed rather than underfeed.

Recommended feeding amounts are only a very rough guide and as such should only be used as a starting point. Two similar dogs may require very different amounts and this will only become apparent with experience. . Also the amount will probably vary from summer to winter. The dog will probably need more food in winter in order to generate body heat.

The Health Management Programme is really a feeding guide which should enable you to find the right amount for each individual dog.

The amount of food your dog needs and how much he wants are not necessarily the same things. Remember you can undo the value of good quality food by overfeeding.

 

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IS IT HARMFUL TO ADD OTHER THINGS TO THE DOG FOOD?

This depends on the individual dog and what you want to add but home-made food especially vegetables may be acceptable.

A prepared pet food cannot by its nature be tailored exactly to suit every circumstance and I sometimes even recommend adding other home-made foods depending on the individual's needs. I do not necessarily agree with the advice which some manufacturers give that adding to the diet will "upset the balance". But it is not advisable to add things regularly to the food in order to get the dog to eat more. Over a period of time this will result in the dog eating more than it would otherwise and could undo any benefits.

 

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I CAN'T BE OVERFEEDING BECAUSE MY DOG IS NOT OVERWEIGHT

NO! ! ! Many dogs which are overfed do not put on weight but discharge the excess giving rise to the symptoms described in the Development of Disease Stage 1. This tends to be true especially for dogs which have lots of exercise. In general, it is the dogs which are not well exercised which become overweight

 

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I CAN'T BE OVERFEEDING BECAUSE MY DOG ONLY EATS WHAT HE NEEDS AND LEAVES THE REST

NO !!! If your dog regularly picks at his food and leaves food behind then this means that he is eating as much as he wants rather than as much as he needs. It is likely that he could manage with a little less each day, his health would improve and he would probably enjoy his food more if he was eating less.

 

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MY DOG HAS DRY, FLAKY SKIN. DOES HE NEED MORE OIL IN HIS DIET?

No! Dry, flaky skin (dandruff or scurf) is a sign that there is an excess of waste matter in the system. It is not a sign that anything is lacking in the diet. The solution is to feed a high quality diet in smaller amounts. This will enable the body to eliminate the waste matter and the skin condition will then improve. See the Health Management Programme.

 

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MY DOG HAS ARTHRITIS. WlLL ADDING OIL TO HIS DIET HELP THIS?

Some dogs do improve when oil is added to the diet but the best way of treating arthritis is to tackle the cause which is the build-up of waste in the system. See the Health Management Programme. It is better to improve general health by feeding a good quality diet than to supplement a poor diet in order to compensate for inadequacies.

 

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MY DOG IS UNDERWEIGHT. SHOULD I FEED HIM MORE?

It is first necessary to establish if the dog really is underweight. There are so many overweight dogs that a fit, lean dog looks underweight. Forget what the charts and scales say. You should be able to feel the dog's ribs with only a thin covering of skin. In a short-coated dog you should not be able to see the ribs and the bones should not be prominent. Many dogs are lean because they are active, not because they need more food. Often, increasing the food intake will reduce the efficiency of digestion so the dog may not put on weight. Increased feeding may even cause problems, for example signs of excess in the system as described in Stage 1 of the Development of Disease.

 

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