Everything you need to know about feeding your dog for optimal health, from choosing the best dog food to understanding nutritional requirements at every life stage.
Feeding amounts depend on your dog's weight, age, activity level, and the specific food's caloric density. Start with the feeding guidelines on your dog food package, then adjust based on your dog's body condition. You should be able to feel (but not see) your dog's ribs, see a visible waist from above, and observe an abdominal tuck from the side. Weigh your dog monthly and adjust portions accordingly - most dogs need less food than package guidelines suggest.
For most dogs, grain-free food offers no health advantage. Grains like rice, oats, and barley are easily digested by dogs and provide valuable nutrients. The FDA has investigated a potential link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, though research is ongoing. Unless your dog has a diagnosed grain allergy (rare - most allergies are to proteins), there's no reason to avoid grains. Consult your veterinarian before switching to grain-free.
Yes, but it requires careful planning. Homemade diets often lack essential nutrients without proper supplementation. Studies show that most homemade dog food recipes found online are nutritionally incomplete. If you want to feed homemade, work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to formulate balanced recipes. You'll likely need supplements for calcium, fatty acids, and micronutrients. Never feed an unbalanced diet long-term.
Food allergies in dogs typically cause skin symptoms (itching, especially around ears, paws, and rear), recurring ear infections, and sometimes gastrointestinal issues. The only reliable way to diagnose food allergies is through an elimination diet trial lasting 8-12 weeks under veterinary supervision. Blood and saliva tests for food allergies are unreliable. Common allergens include beef, dairy, chicken, and wheat - not grains in general.
Scheduled meals are recommended for most dogs. Scheduled feeding helps maintain healthy weight by controlling portions, makes monitoring appetite easier (loss of appetite is often an early illness sign), supports house training in puppies, and prevents resource guarding in multi-dog homes. Most adult dogs thrive on two meals per day, 8-12 hours apart. Free-feeding (leaving food out) can lead to obesity and makes it harder to notice appetite changes.
Price doesn't always correlate with quality, but premium foods often have better ingredients, more animal protein, and fewer fillers. The key is reading ingredient lists - look for named meat proteins as the first ingredients rather than vague 'meat meal' or excessive corn/wheat. Consider cost per calorie rather than cost per pound, as calorie-dense foods require smaller portions. A healthy dog on quality food often has lower vet bills long-term.