Beagle Nutrition

Nutrition and food is extremely important in keeping your pup and dog physically healthy. There is a lot of “Dog Foods” being sold out there that have little nutritional benefit, or can even be harmful to your dog. Dogs also enjoy people foods, which can be good or extremely bad for them. This article is going to look at premium dog food, regular “supermarket” dog food, and people foods and how they can affect your dog.

Premium Dog Food

Premium dog food comes in the form of dry biscuits, and is a complete, balanced and nutrient rich diet for your dog. They are specific to your dog’s age and size, so you know the exact type to buy to ensure your dog is getting the right nutrition it needs. Some benefits of feeding your dog premium food are:

• The ingredients will support a healthy immune system
• No extra food or supplements are required
• On a per meal basis, they can be more economical than tinned food.
• They have high quality ingredients that can result in a shiny coat, clear eyes and skin, and your dog’s poop is likely to be less smelly.

It would be best to buy premium food from a specialist pet food shop or vet, as they will know brand is best for your dog. If you are buying premium food from the supermarket, check the back of the packaging and ensure that the product is approved by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

Regular Dog Food

Regular dog food is food found in tin cans. Most tinned dog food do not contain all the nutrients that dogs need, so if you are to feed them tinned food, it should only be for a small portion of their diet, as they need other nutritional foods to make up the rest of there diet. Jelly meat from a tin is around 80 percent water, so it is not a sufficient diet for your dog AT ALL.

Good Beagle Health with People Food

People food can be beneficial to your dog, if you ensure he is getting the right food, and right quantity. Some people food can be extremely harmful to your dog too, and should never be given to your dog.  Here is a brief list to what sort of people food is good and bad for your dog.

Healthy People Foods

• Vegetables (raw or cooked) (see below for vegetables that are bad for dogs)
• Pasta and Rice (in moderation)
• Cooked Meat (in moderation)
• Dairy Products (in moderation)
• Fruits (in moderation) (see below for fruit that is bad for dogs)

Unhealthy Foods

• Sweets/Lollies/Candy/Chocolate (no excuses! Chocolate can be fatal to dogs)
• Uncooked Red meat (harmful bacteria and parasites)
• Chicken and Turkey Bones (can cause choking, and can splinter and cause internal damage)
• Grapes and raisins (toxic)
• Garlic and onions (can cause anemia)
• Avocado (toxic)

Please consult your vet if you are unhappy with your dog’s diet and wish to make a change, or want more information on dog food and how to keep your dog as healthy as possible.