What to feed your Pomeranian: dry food or natural food?

A balanced diet is the key to the proper development of any dog.

An incorrect diet leads to digestive diseases, loss of activity, problems with teeth, fur, skin and claws. In this article you will find the basics of proper nutrition and learn what to feed your Spitz (including Pomeranian).

The basis of the diet is the correct ratio of three important nutrients (carbohydrates, fats and proteins). Proteins are rich in amino acids, which are important for the harmonious physical development of the dog.

Important! Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for animals. Fats contain fatty acids that are responsible for a healthy appearance. In addition, the composition should contain vitamins, minerals and water.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of dry food?

Let's talk in more detail about dry food for Pomeranians. Among its advantages is the balance of substances necessary for the development of a dog, that is, minerals and vitamins.

In addition, there is no need for additives, saving time as it does not require preparation. Another advantage is the fact that dry food is convenient for travel and transportation. The main disadvantage is the high price of premium dry food.

Of course, you can also see food at a lower price on store shelves, but you should remember that consuming such food increases the risk of health problems.

Diet for pregnant and lactating bitches

In the first month of pregnancy, it is important to provide the bitch with the best possible nutrition. During this period, puppies are just beginning to form, so there is no need to increase the volume of their diet. The main goal is the freshness and usefulness of the products. The course of pregnancy and the health of the offspring depend on feeding. Use special vitamins for pregnant dogs. Changes in your dog's taste must be carefully monitored. Perhaps toxicosis will cause you to give up your favorite foods. If your dog asks for something unusual, grant his request. But only on condition that it is not harmful forbidden food.

The second month is a period of active growth of puppies, the mother’s sides and belly appear, and the fetus begins to put pressure on the organs. The amount of protein in the diet should be increased, since this is the main building material and it is very important to provide puppies with nutrition. Keep an eye on your Spitz's condition; the dog should not become fat, otherwise complications will arise during childbirth. From the 5th week you need:

• feed the bitch in small portions so as not to burden the body;
• divide the daily portion 5 times, switching to fractional meals;
• give preference to easily digestible high quality proteins;
• increase the average daily caloric intake by 30%-40%.

If a bitch eats dry food, during pregnancy and lactation it is necessary to switch her to the appropriate line. In some cases, puppy food is suitable as it contains the necessary elements and is rich in protein. Adding vitamins to the diet is not required. High-quality dry food, especially for pregnant women, contains a large amount of vitamins. Therefore, exceeding the dosage can lead to the development of deviations.

In the first days after birth, there may be a decrease in appetite, the bitch is thirsty, she drinks more and often refuses to eat. Then the appetite may increase up to 1.5-2 times, depending on the number of puppies. It is advisable not to feed a lot of red meat in order to prevent eclampsia. The main source of protein should be fish and cottage cheese. You can try giving milk, if the mother tolerates it well, add it to the diet. Feeding frequency: every 4-5 hours.

How to choose premium dry food?

You should not blindly believe the manufacturer’s inscription on the packaging, since it does not always correspond to reality, because the law does not establish strict standards for dividing feed into classes.

Therefore, it is necessary to check the manufacturer by studying the composition, which should contain all the trace elements necessary for the dog. The percentage of meat (more than 25%), its type (whole pieces or chopped) and, most importantly, digestibility, which must be high, must be specified.

Premium-class food requires approximately two times less than economy-class dry food, which leads to the conclusion: one cannot assume that cheap food is more economical. In addition, premium food does not contain by-products that the Spitz body cannot digest.

Review of premium feed manufacturers - trademarks:

• Royal Canin
• Doctor Alders
• Pro Pac
• Flatazor
• Happy dog
• Other

Important! If your Spitz eats natural food and you are planning on switching to dry food, remember that this must be done very carefully and slowly. It is necessary to add dry food to the food, gradually increasing its share until a complete transition to “drying” occurs.

What diet is correct for Pomeranians?

The number of feedings per day is very important, depending on the age of the dog.

Below is the correct number of feedings per day:

On hot summer days, an adult dog should be fed once a day, and during heavy physical activity, the number of meals should be increased to 2.

The bowl your Spitz eats from also matters. It must correspond to the height of the dog, that is, not be raised in relation to the floor . The daily amount of food, in the case of using dry food, is indicated on the packaging and should be divided by the number of meals.

Feeding regimen and dosage

Miniature Spitz dogs are prone to obesity and can gain excess weight even on a high-quality diet. Therefore, it is so important to follow the feed dosage recommended by the manufacturer. Here is an example of feeding guidelines for the Acana Dog product for small breeds.

As follows from the table, a two-kilogram dog with high activity requires 40 grams of food per day, and with low activity, 30 g is enough. The calculated amount of food is usually divided into two equal portions and given twice a day - in the morning and in the evening after a walk. If the food granules are too large and uncomfortable for a small Spitz, you can first fill them with warm water and then lightly knead them with a fork. Please note that you cannot keep this “porridge” for a long time without a refrigerator: it is better to soak only the required portion immediately before feeding.

You should not pamper representatives of this breed with “pickle pickles”: dishes from the human table and high-calorie treats are harmful to the Spitz, they provoke an imbalance of substances, excess weight gain and excessive pickiness in food. If you still want to treat your pet, choose biologically appropriate meat treats with moderate energy value. They do not contain salt, spices or other components harmful to dogs, and the information on the packaging allows you to accurately estimate the calorie content of what you eat.

Regardless of the type of diet you choose for your Pomeranian, it is important to provide him with 24-hour access to drinking water. Use only clean water and keep it fresh at all times.

How to recognize underweight and obesity in Spitz dogs? What does this mean?

It is easy to check whether your dog is getting enough food by examining the ribs. If they stick out and there is no fat layer, your pet does not have enough food and the daily amount of food should be increased , and if when palpating you do not reach the ribs and the fat layer is thick, the daily amount should be reduced.

Remember that Pomeranians gain weight at an extremely fast pace and have a very difficult time losing it. Therefore, it is better to underfeed the dog than to give it too much food, since the second option will lead to obesity, which, in turn, will entail negative consequences in the form of problems with the musculoskeletal system. It is believed that dogs with little hunger are the healthiest.

When Spitz dogs become obese, serious physiological changes occur. Males lose interest in bitches, and they, in turn, lose their ability to breed. This is why it is so important to monitor your dog’s diet and condition!

Important! If your pet eats natural food, constantly monitor its freshness. If the puppy has not eaten food within half an hour, it should be put in the refrigerator.

Natural nutrition

If you choose natural food, you don’t have to change the menu often. It is enough to develop a diet and feed the animal with this set of products daily.

Meat and offal

The Spitz is a carnivorous animal, so a complete diet must include meat. It is preferable to feed raw meat.

Traditionally, when feeding natural food, the choice is made in favor of poultry, beef, and horse meat. Lean lamb is acceptable. Pork is prohibited due to the risk of helminth infection and increased fat content.

Most owners prefer to feed their pet chicken and turkey. Give chicken breast or other type of meat in the form of cut pieces. You cannot feed minced meat - it is not absorbed by the body. It is believed that a dog should eat 20-25 grams daily. meat per kilogram of your weight. If you replace meat with offal, then 15% more of them are required.

Tripe is suitable as an offal, which can be combined or replaced with chicken stomachs. They give turkey, beef, chicken liver and neck, chicken legs - the Spitz eats them quite well.

Fish can be given both sea and river. It is advisable to feed the seafood product without bones. Both raw and lightly cooked fish are acceptable.

Low-fat varieties are suitable for systemic nutrition: pollock, hake, cod, navaga. Spitz does not tolerate mackerel, herring, capelin - they are too fatty.

River fish is well boiled at home to protect the animal from helminth infection.

Cereals

When deciding which cereals can be given and which ones should be discarded, it is better to consult with the breeder or veterinarian. It is believed that your pet should not eat oatmeal or semolina. The best option is rice, buckwheat.

You can give your Spitz bread, but without yeast. The only flour that is allowed is dry biscuits.

Dairy and eggs

The Pomeranian's diet should include fermented milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk), cottage cheese. They are useful for all ages. Cheese is also not contraindicated for Spitz. Many dog ​​owners are interested in the question: can a Spitz drink milk? Breeders and veterinarians do not see anything reprehensible in this. If the dog drinks it with pleasure, the stool is not disturbed, the pants are clean after going to the toilet - you can safely pour the milk.

It is necessary to give milk to your puppy. This is a good source of energy. It is used to feed the puppy. However, it cannot absolutely replace bitch milk - it contains less protein, fat and calcium.

You can give chicken eggs. It is better to feed cooked, since fresh protein is not absorbed in the dog’s body. The yolk is good both boiled and raw. The shell is not considered a source of calcium. Even finely ground it can harm the esophagus.

Plant products

Unrefined vegetable oil is added to the Spitz's diet daily. The main thing is to calculate the dosage so that there is no intestinal upset.

Often dog owners transfer their eating habits to their pets. They believe that their diet should contain a large number of different vegetables and fruits so that the daily requirement of vitamins is replenished. The owners include carrots, cabbage, pumpkin, and zucchini in the menu for the Spitz. Carrots are mixed with vegetable oil to absorb vitamin A. However, the fact is that dogs only absorb retinol from animal products. Vitamin C is produced independently by the body.

Of course, it is recommended to give vegetables to your dog, but as a source of fiber, so that the intestines work normally. Canine nutritionists view them as a minor component of nutrition. Vegetables are also necessary when the Spitz's feeding changes. For example:

if the pet has gained weight and is put on a diet; if after giving birth the bitch produces a large volume of milk.

However, Spitz themselves happily eat fruits and berries. He will tell you what fruits to give your pet.

Fluffies love to eat strawberries, gooseberries, apples, and pears. They will happily eat bananas and various nuts. Citrus fruits (tangerines, oranges) are not allowed - there is a high risk of developing allergies.

What should you not give to your Spitz?

When getting a dog of this breed, you should keep in mind that Spitz are very picky eaters and the list of prohibited foods for them is quite extensive. Below are the main prohibitions:

1. The main prohibition is fatty meat (lamb and pork) . We have already talked above about the difficulty of combating obesity in Spitz dogs, and these products actually contribute to an increase in body fat.
2. A special feature of Spitz dogs is the absence of lactose in the body , which makes drinking milk unacceptable, since this enzyme is responsible for its absorption.
3. Legumes will also be harmful to your pet; they impair the absorption of vitamin D , which is responsible for the pet’s skeleton.
4. bones , as they can injure the esophagus, stomach or intestines and lead to irreversible consequences, including death.
5. Smoked meats (fish, hot dogs, sausages) are strictly prohibited because they, like fatty meats, contribute to obesity.
6. Eating sweets will not have a beneficial effect on your pet, but rather will lead to problems with the eyes and ears.
7. Prohibited foods also include potatoes, citrus fruits, juice, and products with a high content of dyes or expired products.

So what should you feed your Spitz?

If you choose natural or combined food, you need to familiarize yourself with the list of products that will benefit your dog. These include:

1. Lean meat (beef, turkey, chicken). And also prepare your own treats with a high protein content.
2. Eggs, both chicken and quail. BUT: no more than 2 pieces per week. Contains many vitamins, calcium, protein and iron.
3. Cottage cheese and kefir (low fat). Contain a lot of Ca, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamins and proteins.
4. Fruits and vegetables. As for people, they are sources of vitamins and microelements. But, the amount should not be more than 10% of the daily value.
5. Porridge (Rice, buckwheat and rolled oats). Again in small quantities, no more than 10%.

Natural food - the right diet

When feeding a Japanese Spitz with natural products, you need to properly formulate the diet.

It should include:

Meat. Beef without fat streaks (or lamb) – raw, but pre-frozen. The same goes for offal. It is better to serve chicken boiled.

Fish. Seafood, pre-boiled and boneless.

Cereals. Rice and buckwheat are best. You can use Hercules porridge.

Vegetables. After preparing porridge with meat, you can add pieces of carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, cucumber or broccoli to it. They need to be rubbed through a grater.

Eggs. Boiled or in the form of an omelette. No more than 2 times a week.

To clean teeth from plaque, you can sometimes treat your pet to a cracker or a bone (with the exception of tubular bones).

Related Posts

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• Pros of the Pomeranian Spitz breed

What can you give your Spitz as a treat?

Sometimes you want to pamper your pet or praise him for following commands. The most common option is to buy cookies or other training treats from the store. They are inexpensive, and they are sources of vitamins and microelements, so it is recommended to choose them.

If, for some reason, you don’t plan to buy treats, you can choose a treat for training: cheese, a little honey or black bread crackers, or prunes..