Proper nutrition is the key to your pup’s health and happiness.
We all want the best for our fur babies, but when it comes to feeding time, there are a few mistakes that are easy to make, especially if you’re a first-time puppy parent.
In this blog, we explore five of the most common puppy food mistakes and how you can avoid them in the future.
1. Overfeeding
Whether you’re unknowingly overfilling their bowl at meal times or slipping them one too many treats for their good behaviour, overfeeding your pup is easily done.
However doing so can be detrimental to their health.
From diabetes and heart disease to arthritis and a host of other health conditions, giving your furry friend too much food can have serious consequences, so it’s better to recognise it sooner rather than later.
To avoid overfeeding your dog, pre-measure their portions and avoid giving them too many treats during the day (treats should make up no more than 10% of their daily calorie intake!).
2. Frequently changing formulas
There are several different types of puppy food to choose from – from wet and dry puppy food to grain-free options.
However, you should try to buy one formula and stick with it until they can transition to adult food, unless:
- You suspect something is wrong
- Your vet has confirmed that your pup is suffering from food intolerances and needs to switch foods
- The food has been recalled, discontinued, or is simply unavailable
Randomly and frequently changing your canine companion’s food can cause stomach upset, so don’t pick any old food off the shelf (yes, even if it’s on special offer!), and if for any reason you do need to switch things up, make sure to do it gradually and follow guidelines from your vet.
3. Storing food incorrectly
When it comes to storing puppy food, many of us are guilty of keeping the open bag in a cupboard and taking cups or handfuls as needed.
This air exposure can lead to bacteria build-ups and food spoiling well before its expiry date, so if you can, re-seal the bag after each feed or – even better – empty dry food into an air-tight container and make a note of the expiry date for future reference. sThis leads us nicely to our next point…
4. Not keeping note of expiry dates
Typically, dry puppy food has a shelf life of 12-18 months whilst wet food can last for up to two years, but it totally depends on the food you opt for.
Usually, you’ll find an expiry date somewhere on the bag so remember to make a note of this if you’ll be transferring the food to a different container.
If you haven’t got it written down or you can’t find a use-by date on your bag, there are several tell-tale signs that your puppy’s food has gone bad, including:
- It has a bad smell
- It’s moist and crumbly
- Your pup is reluctant or refusing to eat their food
- It has been exposed to heat or humidity
If you notice any of the above signs or it’s past the date displayed on the packaging, you should avoid feeding this to your pup and get a fresh bag as soon as possible.
5. Washing food bowls infrequently
We wash our own plates and bowls after every meal, so why wouldn’t we do the same for our furry family members?
We understand that life can get busy and while it may seem like an unnecessary extra chore at first, it’s a good idea to get into a routine of washing your pup’s bowls and measuring scoops after every meal with hot soapy water.
Doing this will help keep bacteria, mould, and mildew build-up at bay and their food super tasty.
Need more expert advice?
Whether you want more information on puppy feeding habits and diets or are in need of expert puppy food recommendations, our experts are here and would be more than happy to help.
Get in touch with our team today by calling 0161 728 4656 or emailing shop@pet-shop-online.co.uk and we’ll be in touch to answer your questions.
Alternatively, why not come and browse our collection in-store and bring your pup along? We’d love to meet you and help you identify the best diet for your precious pooch.
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