November 2013                                                                                        Volume 4, Issue 13


Month Year Vol 1, Issue 1
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The Carolina
Dog Times        
Information You Need about the Dogs You Love
News and Views from the Front of the Pack
                 
                   

November often makes us think about the Thanksgiving Day feast! So, as we prepare for this big meal keep in mind that although you might be tempted to sneak one of those nice, juicy turkey bones to your pup, know that turkey bones-- like chicken bones--can be harmful or even lethal for dogs. These bones can splinter or get stuck in their throats or intestinal systems. In addition to keeping the bones away, here are some great tips that will ensure your dogs enjoy the holiday as much as you! Gobble, Gobble!
  • If you can't resist giving your lovable pups a special turkey treat, be sure it's only a little white meat turkey rather than dark meat or skin. Dark meat and skin can be extremely difficult to digest and cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and/or vomiting.
  • Be sure that your cooked or even uncooked turkey is safely out of reach from your dogs so that they can't jump onto the countertop and dig in while your busy setting the table.
  • Don't leave leftover pieces of foil, cord, string, skin or bones on any accessible surfaces that may be calling to your dogs, "Eat me!"
  • When you do sit down to enjoy that long-awaited meal, be sure that your dogs have been well-exercised because a tired dog is inevitably a happy dog!
  • And, lastly, if you do suspect that your dogs have ingested anything they shouldn't have, call your veterinarian immediately.

As I enjoy the holiday feast, I try to resist those second helpings calling to me since I know how it'll make my stomach feel afterward! And, portion size is just as important for our dogs! One of the most common questions dog owners ask their veterinarians is how much to feed their dogs. In this issue, our friend and veterinarian, Dr. Hilary Jerauld, shares her expert advice about how much to feed your pooches. But wait, there's more! Thor Wendland, owner of The Pet Pantry and Wendy Volhard award-winning author on nutrition and its influence on dog behavior, share important information about feeding guidelines and nutrition, too! 

 

Enjoy and have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Woof!

Elaine   

   
In This Issue
How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
Feeding Guidelines
One More Thing...
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HOW MUCH SHOULD I FEED MY DOG?

 

by Hilarie Jerauld DVM 

All 4 Paws Animal Hospital
                           

Does your dog have a little "more to love" around the midsection?

Have a new puppy and wondering how much dry food to feed her?

Nutrition is the best way you can directly influence the health of your dog.  

 

Here are some tips to help when deciding how much and how often to feed your four-legged friend:

 

How many times a day should I feed my dog?

Dogs by nature eat large meals infrequently, usually after exercising (hunting).   A dog will do best with one or two meals per day, rather than "grazing".  Feeding measured portions to your dog at specific times also is the only way to monitor how much your pet is eating each day.  For dogs that "graze" or "free feed" it may be several days before you notice a decreased appetite.  This is particularly important for senior dogs.

 

My recommendation is to measure dry kibble in a measuring cup and place in your dog's food dish two times per day.  If your dog doesn't finish all of the food by the next feeding, remove it.

 

How do I know how much to feed my pet?

High quality pet foods are calorie dense.  In fact, just a few kibbles of extra food per day can lead to a lot of weight gain over time.

 

It is very important to accurately measure your pet's food every day. 

That means, use a measuring cup (not a plastic cup from the baseball stadium!) and make sure you are leveling off the food, not allowing it to "heap" in the cup.  How much food to give your dog depends on how active they are, their age, if they are neutered or not, and what type of food they are eating. 

  • In general, a 10 pound dog will eat about 1 cup of food total per day, and a 50 pound dog will need about 2 cups per day. 

For a specific recommendation, ask your veterinarian to calculate exactly how many calories your pet needs, and you can visit http://www.petobesityprevention.com/category/food-and-calories/ to find out how many calories there are in each cup of your pet's food.

 

More Pet Food Wisdom:

  • Always wash your dog's food and water dishes with soap and water at least once a week
  • Store dry food in an air-tight container and don't purchase more food than your pet can consume in 4 to 6 weeks.
  • Store canned food in the refrigerator and discard after 3 days.
  • Filter your pet's water and change it at least once a day 

                                                

                  
Feeding Guidelines 
    
   by Thor Wendland
Owner of The Pet Pantry 
 
Dogs are just bundles of love, and something that we all cherish as precious members of our family. But what do we do when these four-legged comrades put on too many pounds?  You are most likely feeding exactly what the bag says to feed but they continue to gain weight.   My name is Thor and I am the owner of The Pet Pantry®, a local business that delivers dog and cat food, treats and supplies to homes across the triangle and triad and I would like to help you.
 

 A big misconception that many pet owners have is that the feeding recommendations on the bag are appropriate for their dog.  But unfortunately, that's just not correct.  AAFCO is the agency that determines the feeding requirements for dogs. These guidelines are a one-size fits all guide that may not be right for your friend. The guidelines printed on the bag give no consideration for age, breed, whether they have been spayed/neutered, or the activity level of your dog.  As an example of how the guidelines may not be right for your dog, when a dog is spayed or neutered, their caloric needs go down 20 or 30 percent, but the AAFCO guidelines do not take this into account. You could be feeding 20 to 30% more than your dog needs!

                 

As a very general guide I tell people most adult dogs that have been spayed or neutered, get moderate activity need about 17 calories per day per lb. of ideal body weight.  So with this general guide in mind if your dog currently weighs 50 lbs. and should weigh 40 lbs. you would multiply 40 lbs. x 17 calories which equals 680 calories per day. You would then divide the 680 calories by how many calories are in each cup of dog food you are feeding to determine how many cups of food to feed each day. You must also make sure to compensate for any treats that you are giving throughout the day by subtracting food. Keep in mind that this is a guideline only, every dog's needs are different and you will need to adjust up or down appropriately. 

                

Remember to look at your dog food bag with a discerning eye, and to feed your dog for the weight that you would like them to be and their lifestyle.  If I can be of any help, feel free to contact me at thor@feedyourpets.com. 

 

 

One More Thing...
One thing's for sure, I am constantly expanding my knowledge about all things dog-related including their food! And, what I've come to learn from many including Wendy Volhard - award-winning author & practitioner with over 30 years of experience who specializes in nutrition and its influence on our dog's behavior is that "A Little Goes A Long Way" so, "although a dog can manufacture some vitamins on his own, he isn't able to make minerals." This is SO important since - 50% to 80% of minerals are LOST in the cooking process of ALL dog kibble!!! One way to compensate - Add a balanced nutritional supplement to his food to fortify what's missing such as Endurance. For more information about this supplement click on - Endurance
To learn more about Wendy Volhard's work, check out her best-seller Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog.
Carolina Dog Training is thrilled to be taking one lucky dog named Tinkerbell who was selected to participate with me to a once-in-a-lifetime training opportunity with expert trainers including those who have mentored with Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer!

We'll be resolving difficult behavioral issues, rehabilitating instability and applying tools and techniques to create balanced, healthy pack mentality. 

Tinkerbell and I began our 7-day journey together a few days ago and we'll return to share this incredible experience with all you - our Carolina Dog Training family - in our next issue! So, please stay tuned for lots of fun tales and upcoming information on the next Burn & Learn Pack Walk!

Woof Woof!
Elaine