Fondly
called “golden”, golden retriever is one of the most even-tempered intelligent
dogs. They make a delightful playmate for energetic kids, considerate
companions of other pets and the overall sweetness and brightness is something
to love. If you picture your eyes being lit up when your large golden retriever
enters, then you need to understand how to feed them for optimum health. Here
is Stephanie Taunton, a professional dog trainer with decades of experience to
walk you through how to feed your golden four-legged friend.
“To
start with, It is important to know that their needs and feeding vary on the
age and size and the puppies reach adulthood at age 12-18 months,” says
Stephanie Taunton. "They are a very active breed with fiery appetite,
hence they require high-quality nutrition to thrive," Stephanie
added.
Puppy Feeding Guidelines
Feeding a Golden Retriever Newborn's Tips
The
first six to eight weeks of food should mainly be based on the mother’s milk.
The mother’s milk is an all in one nutrient-packed meal perfect for the newborn
health. It also provides antibodies that help fight off any diseases or
infections. In case of mastitis or any other hindrances to the maternal milk,
there are high-quality milk replacers the puppies can be fed with.
How to Ween the Newborn Pups to Solid Food
This
isn’t something to change at a go and it should be introduced when puppies are
generally 6-8 weeks. The weening process should be gradual as they change fro
milk to solid food. Ensure, however, that the food is balanced with nutrients
essential for growth.
How Often do the Pup need to be Fed
How
often to feed dog retriever puppies depends on the age as well. Generally,
puppies between age:
- 8 to 12 weeks old should be fed 4 times per day.
- Puppies 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 times per day.
- Puppies 6 months to a year old should be fed 2 times per day.
Adult Feeding Requirements
Nutrition
and feeding needs differ according to breeds, therefore, it is important to
consult with the vet doctor on the best diet for a golden retriever. Here are
tips to guide you in taking care of the adult golden retriever.
How Often should the Adult be Fed
Unlike
the puppies, the adults can go with once or twice feeding per day. 1000-1500
calories are recommended daily for active golden retriever adults.
Choose a High-Quality Food
Just
like humans, feeding your golden with high-quality food is very important for
their health. “If you need well balanced nutritious meal rich in protein,
vitamins, carbohydrates and fat to thrive, so does your golden retriever.” Says Stephanie
Taunton. However, while at it, ensure you read the prescribed quantity
indicated on the manufacturer’s package. Here are the important things to look
out for when buying food or feeding your dog:
- Dogs are carnivores, ensure they are well fed with meats. Lookout for food that lists meats as the key ingredients.
- Consult the vet first to know if you can feed your golden retriever with bone. Sometimes the bone can disrupt the digestive system. Consider rawhide bones when you want to give them bone treats.
- Avoid food that contains fillers, grain, soy, corn, meat by-products, preservatives, dairy, flavors as these can be injurious to the health and also inflame allergies.
- If you would prefer to feed them with homemade diets, research or ask your vet first and ensure the food meets the proper nutrients requirements.
- Avoid giving the golden retriever human food that is dangerous to golden’s health such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, yeast, among others.
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