Pomeranian Spitz - how to feed, what to feed, what problems arise. What to feed a Spitz and how to do it correctly. Is it possible to feed a Spitz with regular food?

When you take a puppy from a breeder’s home, be sure to ask what he ate and what kind of water he drank? At first, feed him only so that there is no stomach upset. Each baby has its own character. Some adapt to a new home on the same day, others in 3, some get used to it in a week or 2. Moving is stressful, so offer your pet only familiar, fresh food.

What to feed a puppy and an adult Spitz?

Proper feeding

There are 3 main options for how to feed:

1. Give it straight.
2. Mixed feeding (natural food + food).
3. Dry food, canned food.

Experts say that it is wrong to mix dry food or canned food with natural food. What does mixed feeding mean? More about this:

• 1st feeding - a portion of dry food;
• 2nd porridge (buckwheat on day 1, rice on day 2) + meat (boil and serve veal with chicken and turkey) + vegetables (boiled today, raw tomorrow);
• 3rd kefir or cottage cheese;
• 4th feeding - grated apple or carrots with a teaspoon olive oil;
• 5th raw meat (veal or chicken, defrost turkey with boiling water). Cut into 1 cm pieces and mix with vegetables that have previously been boiled;
• 6th - porridge + vegetables + various seafood.

Consider the age of your pet and give dry food, and then natural food. It is required that 2/3 of the day consist of proteins, vegetables and porridge 1/3 of the daily nutrition.

Veterinarians recommend giving super-premium food from a brand whose products the pet tolerates well and the composition of the food inspires your trust. If you want to switch from natural feeding to ready-made food, switch your pet to it for 7 days, gradually giving dry food for one and then several feedings and adding more of it to the diet. Don't forget about canned food, but remember that feeding natural food is healthier.

Straight

If you are against feeding your pet dry food, give him natural food. Try to make his diet as balanced as possible. There should be both proteins and fats with carbohydrates. Let 0% of the diet be porridge (rice and buckwheat), 20% of the diet should be vegetables (carrots, cabbage, zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, etc.). Give the food warm.

Change the water every day and let it be at room temperature and preferably filtered, not from the tap.

Meat

For 1 kg of weight, a pet needs from 20 to 25 g of meat per day. It is best to feed veal or mature beef. Cut the fillet or goulash into pieces (1 cm wide, 3-5 cm long) and freeze. A predator digests raw meat best.

Chicken meat may contain salmonella, so it must be boiled and then served with raw or boiled vegetables or cereals. Pamper your pet with smoked ears, other dried foods or pressed liquids, which can be purchased at a pet store. They develop the jaw in puppies.

Fish

Source of calcium and other useful microelements with vitamins, fish oil. Frozen sea fish fillets, then thawed with boiling water, can also be given raw. Just cook river fish for at least 20 minutes. after boiling and remove large bones. This way you will protect your pet from infection with helminths. Cut the meat into pieces.

It is best to feed pollock with navaga and hake. You can give your pet a fish day once a week or 2 fish feedings in 7 days. Some people feed more often. Everything is at the discretion of the owner.

Fermented milk

Children and adults can have cottage cheese with fermented baked milk, kefir, yogurt (unsweetened), hard cheese or yogurt. Cottage cheese with no more fat than 10% is suitable for oranges and other fermented milk should be of medium fat content. Some pets tolerate milk normally, while others have an upset stomach. Give some to your pet and if it doesn't suit you, don't offer it again.

Eggs

They have a lot of protein, choline (good for the brain), and fatty acids. Adult pets can have eggs 2 or 3 times in 7 days. If you want to give the shells, boil them, chop them and add them to food. Be sure to boil the eggs. Crude protein is not digested in dogs and destroys biotin (vitamin) and metabolism is disrupted. Through raw yolk, your pet can pick up salmonella.

Carbohydrates

It is best for your pet to receive them through cereal. Buckwheat and rice are the best. This is 30% daily diet. Give your pet rye crackers as a treat. You can chop the bread finely, dry it and feed your pet daily if he likes it. It's good for your teeth.

Oil

It contains a lot of fatty acids. Be sure to include it in your pet’s diet. He can use the following oils:

• Sunflower;
• Corn;
• Linen;
• Sesame;
• Rapeseed;
• Pumpkin.

It contains a lot of vitamins. For example, D with E and A. They have a beneficial effect on the condition of the pet’s coat and skin. Thanks to them, digestion is improved and metabolism is accelerated.

Vegetables

Give cabbage only stewed or boiled (to prevent your stomach from bloating), other vegetables can be grated raw or boiled. You can add some finely chopped greens to your porridge or vegetables. The following vegetables are suitable for your pet:

• Cabbage;
• Zucchini;
• Carrot;
• Pumpkin;
• Tomatoes;
• Cucumbers.

Add a little oil to the stew. Your pet will lose weight on vegetables. This is also important for bitches when all the puppies have been weaned and lactation needs to decrease.

Fruits

Just like vegetables healthy foods. They contain a lot useful substances and vitamins. Cut them into medium pieces. Most suitable:

• Bananas;
• Plums;
• Apricots;
• Pears;
• Watermelon;
• Apples.

Dried fruits that should be included in the diet: prunes with dried apricots. Let's give them a little at a time.

Vitamins with minerals

If you feed natural, introduce them into the diet. Choose the best brands at the pet store. According to the age of the pet. The veterinarian will tell you the brand and the norm.

Prohibited Products

Lamb is too fatty and high in calories, just like pork. A pet can pick up helminths from such meat and offal. Do not feed him these types of meat.

Don't give boiled bones. Sharp ones can injure the stomach and cause bleeding. In addition, bones cause constipation and can remain in the stomach for a long time and clog. You should not give a raw egg along with the shell, as it can injure the esophagus.

Fish too oily for orange:

• Herring;
• Cod;
• Sardine;
• Halibut;
• Trout;
• Saira;
• Mackerel;
• Salmon.

Always choose bones from pet-friendly fish species. They can injure both the stomach and the esophagus and throat.

What to feed the puppy?

First feed the puppy as the breeder said. Then natural food or dry food. From 2 to 4 months. 4-6 feedings are required. From 4 to 6 months. 4 or 5, from 6 to 10 months. 3 or 4, from 10 to 12 months. 2 or 3.

Good dry food Pro Plan for small breed puppies. There are 1 to 11 months. The base there is chicken, beef (for sensitive skin), lamb and rice. Royal Canin is available for puppies up to 2 months, which is suitable for pregnant and lactating bitches and from 2 months. to 10.

Adult

Feed adult oranges natural food or give them a mixed diet, only dry food. Good Pro Plan for adults and aging from 7 years. There is food for dogs with sensitive stomachs.

Excellent super-premium Royal Canin. Suitable for pets over 10 months old, available for aging pets over 8 years old. For those who have sensitive skin and for pets who live in houses and apartments. Remember to give the same brand of canned food.

We will look at what to feed your Spitz and how to do it correctly in this article. How to choose dry food, what to pay attention to first of all - the main points that we will analyze.

Feeding these cute little balls of happiness in the early stages of their lives is not an easy task. Everything must be thought out to the smallest detail. Better yet, imagine that you are choosing a diet for your baby.

A person can throw a couple of dry sandwiches into his stomach and function on this fuel all day long, but with a Spitz this trick won’t work even in adulthood.

Diet wishes

First of all, take care of the correct balance of carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, fats, vitamins and water. An excess or deficiency of each of these elements can be hazardous to your pet's health.

Percentage protein in the diet – at least 30%, special in puppies. This has a positive effect on the formation immune system and skeleton.

The percentage of cereals should cover no more than 10%. It is useful to add unrefined vegetable oil in any food, but do not overdo it, as this may upset your pet's stomach.

After the puppy stopped drinking mother's milk, From two months onwards it is recommended to feed five times a day:

– a small portion of dry food;

– porridge, boiled meat and vegetables;

– fermented milk (cottage cheese or kefir);

– grated apple with a spoon of olive oil;

– pour boiling water over finely chopped beef and add boiled vegetables;

At three to four months the puppy can be fed four times a day:

– boiled sea fish with porridge, with the addition of vegetable oil;

– cottage cheese or kefir;

– skinned boiled chicken meat;

– grated apple;

– vegetable stew with raw beef.

For a five-month-old Spitz, reduce the number of meals to three times., making sure that all the elements necessary for the puppy are balanced.

Feeding your Spitz with natural products

A dog, even such a cutie as a Spitz, is a carnivore, and the best food for it is meat. Especially beef and lean lamb at the rate of 20-25 g per kilogram of weight (remember: sausage is not meat).

The most preferable fish is sea fish. The worms living in it do not take root in the dog’s body, unlike river fish, and besides, the bones of river fish can lead to serious injuries to your puppy.

Hake, navaga and pollock are quite suitable for feeding, while horse mackerel, capelin and mackerel will be fatty. Dogs need to get carbohydrates from rice and buckwheat.

Vegetables are also necessary, but remember that dogs do not absorb vitamin A from carrots. Unlike humans, they get it from liver, eggs, fermented milk, and in general, animal products.

And they produce vitamin C on their own, so it is not necessary to select special products to fix it in the body.

Feel free to give your pets brown bread crackers, prunes and dried apricots.

There are a number of simple rules, following them, you will significantly improve your condition. digestive system pet:

– remove the skin from chicken and turkey;

– the fat content of cottage cheese should be no more than 9%;

– be sure to boil the eggs;

– be sure to remove bones from fish;

– you don’t have to boil the meat, just pour boiling water over it;

Can be added to feed nutritional supplements:

– to improve hair growth – Brewer's yeast;

– to create the rich color of brown and red Spitz, you don’t need to go to a beauty salon, just add dry seaweed;

– during molting, use “ Spirulina».

For the last half century, owners have been pampering their pets with dry food. The main advantages of “drying” lie on the surface - you don’t have to “steam” and think through your daily diet, calculate the ratio of proteins and carbohydrates, and, after all, you don’t have to stand at the stove and cook.

Opening and pouring are the two actions that are required of you. In addition, a refrigerator and the necessary products are not always at hand. But if you have tender feelings for your baby, think about the following information.

Feed often contains such “pests” as pesticides, chemical additives, soy with its hard-to-digest proteins, hormones, cheap grains, salt in large quantities, synthetic additives, flavors and sweeteners.

Basically, the production of animal feed is a kind of appendix to the human nutrition industry. It is on the basis of waste from the production of human food that animal feed is made.

When feeding dry food, it is important to give your pet enough water.

It is believed that high protein foods lead to kidney disease. However, it all depends on the quality of the protein. It should be easily absorbed by the body, without forcing your animals to spend huge resources on its processing.

And finally. If you buy it, then only premium class.

In the first year of life, do not under any circumstances allow your Spitz to dry out; you can allow yourself to become lazy only during the period when the body pet already fully formed.

Now it is fashionable and advisable to buy food characterized by the overseas word “holistic” (translated from Greek means holistic). This is a kind of super-duper premium class.

It uses only high quality products, the meat content ranges from 50 to 80%. In general, this is nutrition close to human nutrition.

How to choose the right dry food

When choosing dry food, consider the following criteria.

Fine:

– unprocessed grains

– meat comes first in the composition

– the protein is obtained from a high-quality source (whole meat, for example).

Badly:

– artificial preservatives and colors

– sugar substitutes

– propylene glycol

– processed meat by-products

How many times a day to feed

While the puppy is tiny and feeds on its mother's milk, its instincts themselves regulate the number of meals; as a rule, it feeds after each awakening. Well, then try to empirically calculate the required amount, taking into account the specifics of its age.

As a rule, at the age of two months he is “prescribed” five meals a day. Remember that it has a tiny ventricle, so portions should be small.

At three months, your young friend begins to feel like a “person” and show character. Eating on a schedule is for weaklings. In such situations, reduce the amount to four times.

If the little rebel continues to reject the food offered, then reduce the portion sizes, not the number of feedings. Then, up to seven months, switch to three meals a day and watch his appetite.

If your pet's eyes are bulging out of their sockets from hunger and he's hanging around the empty bowl in despair, feel free to assign additional snacks in between the main ones.

Well, if your Pomeranian resembles the most quoted Shakespearean character and is in thought, “To eat or not to eat,” the number of meals and the volume of portions can be reduced.

Additional feeding is necessary during molting, in winter, and for pregnant and lactating mothers.

Requirements for food energy value for German and Pomeranian Spitz

Since these are two varieties of the same breed, there are no differences in nutritional characteristics. The right diet– these are two-thirds proteins and one-third vegetables and cereals.

Everyday meals should contain vitamins A, D, C, which help improve immunity and vitamin E, which improves skin covering keep your pets healthy, B vitamins, high-quality fats, omega 6, fiber, sodium and potassium chlorides, potassium phosphate - this is not a complete list of microelements necessary for a Spitz.

What should you not feed your Spitz? Prohibited Products

What is included in stop list.

- Sweets. They not only cause you to gain weight and damage your teeth. Those with an excessive sweet tooth have excessively tearful eyes.

– Citrus fruits. They cause allergies in delicate creatures.

- Pork. It is fatty and bad for the liver.

– Potatoes and legumes.

– Fried, salted, spicy, smoked – everything is like during a diet for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases.

- Raw fish.

– Milk due to lactose intolerance.

- Pearl barley and millet.

– Pasta and fresh bread

– Raw protein.

We hope that now you have no questions about how and what to feed Spitz dogs.

Write to us in the comments what you feed your Spitz!

Feeding with homemade products - “natural”

If you decide that you will feed your Spitz homemade food, then you will have to learn several important rules that you need to strictly adhere to.

You should only cook separately for your dog and the food should always be fresh. Never use uneaten food from a previous feeding. The food should not be very hot and in no case cold; always warm the food slightly before feeding. Cook only from fresh ingredients and never spoiled ones. The Spitz's diet must be varied, balanced in the content of all nutrients, and vitamins must also be included. Do not feed your Pomeranian between feedings, no matter how much he asks for it (Spitz are beggars!), and never feed your Pomeranian table scraps.

A Spitz, like any other animal, needs to be fed meat - this is the basis of any dog’s diet. You can feed beef, horse meat or lean lamb (lamb). If your Spitz is not allergic to chicken meat, then you can give it, but it is still not advisable. Meat must undergo heat treatment (boil any meat well). Remember, it will not change its taste, but problems such as helminths can be avoided. Under no circumstances feed your Spitz sausages or smoked meats - this is not meat, it is real poison for the baby.

Also, a Spitz's diet must include grains. This is buckwheat and rice porridge. Dogs cannot digest pearl barley, semolina is useless, but oatmeal can even cause allergies. You can literally add a couple of drops of vegetable oil to the porridge.

The fish should only be boiled, lean, without bones and only from the sea.

As for fermented milk products, Spitz gladly eat low-fat crumbly cottage cheese to strengthen the skeleton; you can also give kefir for digestion, fermented baked milk or yogurt. Milk is strictly prohibited for adult dogs.

Introduce vegetables into your diet; it is advisable to stew them for better absorption (with the exception of potatoes - not allowed in any form). The Spitz enjoys eating an apple. As for eggs, you can give them, but not more than 1-2 times a week. It should be a boiled yolk (pure whites are not allowed for dogs), and even better if it is in the form of an omelet.

Occasionally, you can pamper your Spitz with low-fat cheese as a treat or black bread crackers as a reward; you can give dried apricots and prunes. And don’t forget to introduce vitamins into your Spitz’s diet to avoid vitamin deficiency.

Remember: what we eat is not always suitable for a Spitz. Never feed your dog pasta, potatoes, lard, fatty foods, hot or spicy, sweets, chocolate and nuts. Most nuts are poison for dogs.

As for bones, for a dog, this is, of course, not food. You should not give your Spitz even the smallest tubular bones or chicken bones. IN best case scenario the Spitz will simply be injured by bone fragments, or at worst die from a perforation of the esophagus or stomach; also, stuck bones often cause the Spitz to suffocate. You can give your orange a seed, but be careful that it doesn't swallow it. Golden Rule: A dog can eat what's on the bone, but never the bone itself.

What is important to know when feeding with natural products: recommendations and useful tips

Proper natural food for dogs is for the most part a uniform, specific diet that does not require heat treatment, mainly consisting of fermented milk products of medium fat content, raw meat or raw offal (heart, tripe, kidneys, etc.) and plant foods (vegetables and some unsweetened fruits) in raw form, as well as in the form of bran from cereals as an additive to the main diet.

Actually, cereals (porridge and other flour products) should not be present in the dog’s diet. Porridges and products made from or with the addition of flour contain easily digestible carbohydrates, which can cause disruption of the intestinal microflora, as well as a decrease in resistance, in all dogs and cats, which are known to be carnivores. The state of the animal’s health directly depends on the state of the intestine, which is a key organ not only in digestion, but also in providing the defense system (resistance and immunity of the body). Thus, the presence of dysbiosis in the intestines, which is facilitated by dietary disturbances, can lead to the development of mass pathological processes, including increasing the susceptibility to allergies, disruption of internal organs, and the occurrence of a number of chronic inflammatory diseases and obesity, often associated with each other.

The health and resistance of animals depends very much on nutrition; the state of the gastrointestinal tract and healthy intestinal microflora play a very important role in this. If your dog's diet includes cereal or commercial dry food that contains from 40 to 55% grains, corn or sweet potatoes, then you cannot expect normal, healthy intestinal microflora. However, even with a natural diet, digestive disorders are possible, indicating a painful condition of the dog.

Meat in a dog's diet

The main meat in a dog’s diet is lean beef, maybe not the first grade. It is not necessary or even advisable to feed your dog tenderloin and other high-quality meats. It is allowed to feed dogs of all ages lamb, horse meat, turkey, and rabbit meat, given the high calorie content of lamb and rabbit meat. It is not recommended to give pork.

Chicken, turkey and their offal can also be given, but individually, paying attention to the reaction from the digestive system and skin. It is not advisable to feed chicken skin to dogs.

Meat, both beef and chicken, can be given raw, pre-frozen (7-10 days at a temperature of -20C), pre-doused with boiling water, and it is possible to carry out other heat treatment of the meat. If you give raw meat, then it should not be ground into minced meat, only finely chopped.

By-products and beef tripe

Meat feeding a dog can include not only meat, but also by-products (kidneys, heart, udder, by-products of chickens, turkeys, etc.), which can completely replace meat. By-products must be raw. It should be taken into account that offal is a less nutritious component of the meat diet compared to meat, but at the same time the udder is significantly more caloric than meat

The exception is liver and lung; these by-products are not recommended to be given to the dog often, since not everyone tolerates raw liver equally well, and it makes no sense to treat it thermally. However, many people successfully use these components in the diet of dogs and cats. Unprocessed, unpeeled beef tripe deserves special attention; it is often given to dogs. You can start introducing meat into your diet with tripe, then gradually adding beef. Cleaned tripe is simply a lighter organ meat. However, not all dogs tolerate a particular meat component equally well, so if an ingredient is intolerant, which is manifested by diarrhea or vomiting, it should be removed from the diet, as well as if other components of the dog’s natural diet are not accepted.

Of course, one can become infected with one or another disease from one or another product, but rare cases of infection from raw, untested and not frozen meat do not allow one to be afraid of feeding a dog a raw product. It is unlikely that any veterinarian will be able to recall a case of infection from anything from meat. In addition, the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the stomach of carnivores there is more than in humans and is sufficient to perform its disinfecting functions in relation to raw meat and fish. We also do not recommend purchasing meat “from hand” at the Poultry Market, where you can buy products obtained from a known sick animal, and even freezing it will not help, and heat treatment of meat reduces the nutritional value of the product for the dog.

Fish in a dog's diet

Dogs can be given raw fillets of sea and oceanic frozen fish, not bony, low-fat varieties, replacing meat with seafood in meat feeding 2-3 times a week. However, it is not recommended to constantly feed fish.

There are several questions that are often asked regarding fish feeding:

The problem with thiaminase is relevant for animal farms, where there is mainly a mono-diet and if you feed only raw fish, there will be hypovitaminosis B1, and therefore this is almost not relevant for a home mixed diet.

Dairy products

Dogs can be given fermented milk products with a fat content of up to 9%; not everyone tolerates such fat content well. In many dogs, a fat content of cottage cheese of more than 2% can already cause loose stools. But low-fat dairy products should not be given either.

Also, loose stool may be associated with the brand of kefir, which must be selected more individually for sensitive dogs. Ryazhenka should not be given to dogs, nor should yoghurts with fruit or sugar.

The most optimal fermented milk products are cottage cheese with a fat content of up to 5-9%, kefir with a fat content of 3.5%, and yogurt, with a short shelf life of up to 7 days.

Using Evitalia and Narine starter cultures based on pasteurized milk, you can make a healthy fermented milk product that is useful not only for dogs and cats, but also for humans, and feed it either separately or together with cottage cheese. You can use homemade yoghurts prepared using bifidobacteria.

Dividing dog food into fermented milk and meat

The main components of the diet are fermented milk products at one feeding and raw vegetables and raw meat with a small amount of butter at another. As mentioned above, vegetables can, if possible, be fed to the dog separately.

This means that fermented milk feeding can include either kefir alone, cottage cheese alone, or kefir with cottage cheese, curdled milk, yogurt, etc. It is advisable to give fermented milk products with a short shelf life, up to 7 days. Only bran and raw eggs can be added to dairy products no more than 2-3 times a week.

Meat feeding may include raw meat, offal or fish. You cannot mix the components of meat and fermented milk feeding with each other.

Vegetables in a dog's diet

Dogs can be fed most vegetables: carrots, cabbage, bell pepper, pumpkin, zucchini, beets, cucumbers. It is useful to give greens: parsley, dill, lettuce.

Vegetables may be present in the feeding as a mono option, or there may be several types of vegetables, but one type of vegetable is quite sufficient, with the exception of cabbage and cucumbers.

It is advisable to give the dog a raw clove of garlic once a week, a few spoons 2-3 times a week sauerkraut, which is very rich in ascorbic acid.

Greens and vegetables should always be given raw, finely chopped or grated on a regular coarse grater. In the summer, when keeping a dog at a dacha, you can feed any edible greens, including young shoots of steamed nettle growing in the garden. If the animal eats plants and fruits on its own, then you don’t need to add any extra.

Vegetables and greens should always be given only with meat feeding or separately. There is no need to mix raw plant foods with components of a fermented milk diet, with the exception of bran, which goes well with meat and dairy foods.

As a treat and as a source of raw fiber, dogs can be given vegetables or unsweetened fruit to chew on.

Bran (about bran, see below) in a dog’s diet can complement or even replace raw vegetables, especially in cases where the addition of vegetables leads to various types of indigestion (flatulence, vomiting, diarrhea).

Consistency of dog food

Dogs should not be given food in the form of minced meat or puree. The meat should be cut into pieces, hard vegetables grated on a large regular grater, greens and lettuce finely chopped. Dogs love to chew apples on their own; bran can be added to wet food, both dairy and meat. Dogs and cats do not chew food, but swallow it if the piece corresponds to the size of the animal or they bite off a piece that is accessible for swallowing - this is physiological for them and does not cause harm. In addition, ready-bought chopped meat contains too much fat. Even if the dog has few or no teeth, food can be given in chunks.

Eggs in a dog's diet

Eggs can be given raw, both chicken and quail, adding to milk feeding 2-3 times a week. Both puppies and adult dogs can and should be given both the yolk and the white, without separating.

Bran

Bran in a dog's diet, like vegetables, is a source of fiber and therefore it is recommended to add them to the dog's diet along with vegetables or replacing them.

The main advantage of bran is high content dietary fiber(fiber), which enhance peristalsis, regulate and improve the condition of intestinal microflora.

Bran can be purchased in bulk at health stores, pharmacies or grocery stores and added in this form to both fermented milk and meat feeding.

But fermented milk is preferable, since bran shows its maximum effect when it absorbs liquid and swells. Then, once in the stomach, the bran does not undergo any changes and, retaining water, enters the intestines, accelerating intestinal motility.

Or you can buy bran in the form of crispy sticks or bran plates and pre-soak them. You should not buy bran products, including crispy sticks with added salt. But at the same time, you can give bran combined with fiber from carrots and other vegetables. The amount of bran (in dry form) for a dog weighing 20-25 kg is 1 tsp. without a slide added to each feeding. The dose can be varied for greater effectiveness or for high sensitivity.

Oil in a dog's diet

Dogs can add different types of oils to their meat diet: olive, unrefined sunflower, pumpkin, flaxseed, etc., but exotic ones should be avoided. The main oils are unrefined sunflower and olive. Vegetable oils are added to the bowl where there are plant components of food (vegetables) in a dose of a few drops for a small dog and up to a tablespoon for a large dog.

Fruits and dried fruits

There should be no sweet fruits in a dog’s diet; dogs simply should not be given sweets. Almost all fruits are sweet, the only acceptable fruit is a green apple that is not too sweet, although there is no need to prohibit the dog from eating berries at the dacha.

Bones in a dog's diet

Raw bone - important source calcium and phosphorus are part of the canine diet and, of course, bones can be fed to dogs that have a full-fledged dental apparatus, but do not have chronic diseases gastrointestinal tract. Large dogs feed the ends (epiphyses) of the bones; smaller ones can be given spongy raw chicken bones: breast, neck. It is not recommended to give boiled bones to dogs; they are difficult to digest, as they can cause intestinal obstruction.

Prebiotic and probiotic environment in the intestines. Carbohydrates in the diet

Probiotics are preparations based on living “good” microorganisms: lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, which remain viable when passing through the gastrointestinal tract, multiply in it and suppress the development of pathogenic bacteria.

Prebiotics are completely indigestible food ingredients that serve as a substrate, a nutrient medium for the growth and life of beneficial microorganisms in the intestine, and also stimulate its work.

In the absence of a prebiotic environment (indigestible fiber), the amount beneficial bacteria sharply decreases, since they lack the prebiotic environment they need for nutrition and their share in the intestinal microenvironment will be occupied by pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, yeast, etc., which, in essence, is dysbacteriosis.

Cereals, bread, pasta are easily digestible carbohydrates (starch); dogs need complex carbohydrates of another type, which are found in raw vegetables or bran and which dogs and cats cannot digest. Carnivores cannot extract energy from complex carbohydrates and crude fiber; ruminants and herbivores “specialize” in this. It is raw vegetables and bran, or rather the indigestible fiber they contain, that create a prebiotic environment in the dog’s intestines, which is the basis and substrate for creating a probiotic environment and the formation of healthy intestinal microflora.

Moreover, if the dog has proper natural nutrition, then the dog, even without the use of probiotics, will eventually develop the correct probiotic environment and intestinal microflora, but only if the animal is healthy and free from congenital and acquired diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that require treatment and independent of the correct diet. It is for this reason that introducing probiotics into the diet of a dog that receives cereal or dry food does not bring the desired long-term results.

The role of the prebiotic environment in a dog’s diet is played by raw vegetables, which are best (but not necessarily) given to animals as a separate feeding, and also, when added to a dairy or meat diet, these components are compatible.

It is better to give dogs veterinary probiotics, only if they are not available, then try using human ones. It is possible to take probiotics prophylactically once every 3-4 months, but prebiotics must enter the digestive system constantly, especially since this is not a medicine, but a regular component of the diet.

At the same time, you need to understand that if a dog has proper nutrition and the dog is healthy, then without the use of probiotics in the intestines, over time, a healthy intestinal microflora is formed on its own.

Is it possible to mix dry food and wet natural or canned food?

Mixing different types feeding does not have any advantages over the strict principles of feeding a dog, moreover, dry food is designed for feeding it exclusively. If you add other components throughout the day, then an imbalance is guaranteed. In addition, combining diets does not make any sense: either convenience or a natural diet.

Vitamins and mineral supplements

An adult dog that receives proper natural nutrition does not necessarily need to be supplemented with any vitamin and mineral supplements at all times. In spring and early summer, you can add dry yeast to your food, which is a natural complex of vitamins. You can also give seaweed (kelp) once a year as a natural source of vitamins, but you must take into account the possibility of an individual allergic reaction.

At the same time, puppies adult dog During pregnancy and lactation, vitamins and minerals are necessary.

The total volume of food from all feedings per day is calculated using the formula: up to 6 months. 6-7% and older than 6 months. 3-3.5% of body weight (body weight is calculated without taking into account body fat, of course, approximately).

The resulting daily volume of food is divided in half between 50% fermented milk products, 50% raw meat and everything related to meat (beef offal, poultry, fish), raw plant foods are given ad libitum, but approximately 15-20% on the volume of meat portion. For example, an average dog weighing 20 kg can be given an average carrot to eat per day, cabbage leaf, two teaspoons of bran, a medium apple, etc. Please note that vegetables and bran are supplements to the protein diet and are not included in the calculated percentages (6-8% and 3-4%).

An example of calculating the volume of food for a dog weighing 3 kg, age 6 months and older:

3x0.04*=0.12 kg. or 120 gr. Of these, 60 gr. this is cottage cheese and kefir, which will make up fermented milk feeding and meat feeding will consist of 60 grams. raw meat, to which about 20 grams are added. raw grated vegetables and 1/3 tsp. unrefined vegetable oil.

An example of calculating the amount of food for a dog weighing 3 kg, less than 6 months old:

3x0.07*=0.21kg. or 210 gr. Of these, 105 gr. this is cottage cheese and kefir, which will make up fermented milk feeding and meat feeding will consist of 105 grams. raw meat, to which about 20-30 grams are added. raw grated vegetables and 1/4 tsp. unrefined vegetable oil.

* - Coefficient obtained by dividing 4 and 7% by 100

This formula is not absolute and mandatory, the dog’s feeding regimen, and the amount of food can also vary depending on the physiological state (pregnancy, breed tendency to be overweight, the presence of hormonal disorders, etc.); age: for old and aging animals, the amount of food is reduced to 2.5-3% of weight; from physical activity (duration of walking, office work, swimming); the animal’s habitat (apartment, open enclosure); time of year (more in winter, less in summer); others individual characteristics etc. Fasting days without meat at all, but also without increasing the dose of dairy foods, are also welcome.

Are there breed specific characteristics of a dog's diet?

There are no fundamental features for healthy dog any breed, regardless of size and anatomical discrepancies with the ancestor of canines - the wolf. A sick animal may need correction, but this requires individual work with the pet.

Afterword

As you can see, among the indicated food components there are no dry or wet commercial feeds, cereals in the form of porridges, breads or other carbohydrate foods. They are not recommended for a dog, just as feeding sweet, sugary fruits and everything else is not recommended.

The main mistake that owners make in feeding dogs is overfeeding. Even if the recommended components are kept, but their volume is greater than the norm, then this is as harmful as feeding the dog unacceptable products.

Should be adhered to simple rule, which works in most cases - if after eating food a dog or cat leaves any amount of it in the bowl, this means that the animal is already overfed. The bowl should not be constantly filled, as is often the case. Only an animal with a moderate feeding instinct will not overeat in conditions of unlimited access to food.

An animal that experiences health problems (diarrhea, regular vomiting) while eating natural food is sick and requires treatment. Switching to dry food will only adapt the animal to the disease, and will not relieve it. This is like a diet that makes life easier, which has the right to be used in practice veterinarian, especially in cases where the animal’s health condition is irreparable or the doctor is unable to cope with the pathology natural diet. Owners need to understand this.

Therefore, the question - What to feed a dog, can be answered this way: only natural food, which contains everything necessary for the body of a carnivorous animal. And all the talk about the domestication of the dog is nothing more than talk: the dog, like the wolf, was and will remain a dog and a wolf. It is also necessary to know that the recommendations of breeders or felinologists, as well as the popular literature written by them on keeping and feeding cats, have nothing to do with objective in the right ways feeding, because the reason for such recommendations is partly due to ignorance and lack of understanding of the biological nature of dogs and cats, and, partly, to reduce the cost or simplify the maintenance of the animal.

If you follow all the above feeding rules, your pet will live a long and healthy life.

So that your Pomeranian does not have digestive problems, is cheerful and active, the coat shines in the sun, is silky and thick and looks well-groomed, so that the teeth, skin and claws are healthy, you need to take care of a properly balanced diet. It is very important.

The diet should include everything necessary for health and proper functioning of the digestive system. nutrients -proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamin complex and water and in the correct proportions.

Squirrels contain different amino acids that a dog needs for harmonious growth and tissue regeneration. Both deficiency and excess of proteins are dangerous for Spitz health. Carbohydrates, however, like proteins, are a source of energy. To prevent your dog from becoming obese, physical activity must compensate for the carbohydrates consumed. From fat Pomeranians receive the fatty acids necessary for a dog to live a full life and good health. appearance. It is also necessary to ensure normal life minerals, vitamins, water.

Exists three main ways to feed dogs - this is feeding dry food, feeding natural products And combined feeding. But no matter what method you choose, it is worth considering that in any case, the bitter orange along with food should receive all the substances described above in the required ratio. With a properly balanced diet, the dog does not need special supplements. But if changes have occurred in the life of a Spitz that require additional resources - a sudden change in climate, illness, during feeding and gestation of puppies - the dog should be fed. Puppies do not need feeding - this can disrupt the harmonious development of their osseous-ligamentous apparatus! Before you decide to use supplements, be sure to consult a veterinarian nutritionist.

Now let's look at each type of nutrition in detail.

1. Feeding dry food

Feeding your Spitz with dry food has a wide range of advantages:

1. it is much easier to feed “dry” than to prepare different foods every day, taking into account the balance of vitamins, minerals and other things, therefore, you save time on preparing food;
2. dry food is already balanced in mineral and vitamin composition;
3. no additional additives are required in the diet;
4. ease of storage;
5. Convenience of feeding during travel and transportation.

The only thing that can scare owners away from this method of feeding is feed price, because if you feed “drying”, then, of course, it must be good (and not the kind that is advertised on TV). But super premium dry food is very economical due to its high digestibility! Of course, like everything good and high quality, dry food is not cheap. Eating economy-class dry food causes enormous harm to the health of your Spitz.

If you feed your pet natural food, but decide to switch to dry food, the change should not be drastic. Slowly add small portions of dry food to natural food over the course of a week, gradually increasing the proportions in favor of dry food until you completely switch to it.

When you pick up your Spitz puppy from the breeder, ask him for the dry food he fed the puppies. It will be enough for the first few days, after which you can choose the appropriate food yourself.

How to choose high-quality and good food for your Spitz?

Currently, there are four categories of dry food on the market: economy class, premium class, super premium class and holistic food. But the presence of appropriate inscriptions does not always tell the truth about the food’s belonging to a particular class, because this classification is not regulated by law. Therefore, to determine whether a food is good or not, you need to carefully study its composition.

Firstly, the composition of the feed should be described in great detail, all ingredients are listed with sources of proteins, fats, carbohydrates in decreasing order of their weight content.

Example #1: the composition contains corn, wheat, etc., and one ingredient of animal origin, therefore, this is an ordinary porridge, the consumption of which will lead to gastrointestinal problems.

Example #2: the composition of the feed is general in nature - cereals, meat, meat products, etc., please know, this is economy class feed, which is made from waste from flour milling and slaughterhouses.

Secondly, the hallmark of good food is In its composition, meat comes first, its type is indicated (it can be whole, for example, chicken, or chopped), its percentage is indicated - at least 25% of the total composition of the feed, there are two or more sources of protein of animal origin (eggs, fish products, meat products, such as liver).

Thirdly, an indicator of good food is high degree of digestibility, and the better the digestibility process goes, the lower the feeding rates indicated on the packaging, that is, the more less for the dog you need to eat the food per day (see the “Feeding norms” block on the bag of food).

Hence the conclusion: good food does not cost twice as much, just by buying cheap food, only half of it is absorbed by the animal’s body, and the remaining half goes to waste! But along with high-quality food, your pet receives the entire range of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the required volumes, which ensures the health of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems.

A good dry food should also contain:

• strictly up to 50% (preferably about 30%) cereal products and/or vegetables are carbohydrates and fibers that are necessary for proper digestion;
• vitamins;
• minerals;
• natural preservatives - vitamins E, C, herbal extracts and oils (pay attention to this, because this is a source of pride for feed manufacturers and additional advertising). They provide the possibility of long-term storage of feed without loss of properties;
• special supplements for the proper functioning of joints, intestines, supplements that enhance immunity;
• special feeding diet for puppies (acceptable amounts of calcium and phosphorus), adult dogs, etc.

Note: As preservatives, it is officially permitted to introduce various acids (hydrochloric, acetic, sulfuric, phosphoric, etc.), some salts of these acids, sodium bisulfite, sodium nitrite. This should be avoided - read the packaging carefully, the fine print.

Good dry food should not contain:

• offal, that is, waste from slaughterhouses, and this is not only the liver, lungs, heart, but also hooves, horns, wool, feathers;
• chemical preservatives, or EWG additives (Ethoxyquin, BHA (E320), BHT (E321), Propylgallate). Research results have shown that these additives cause cancer and general developmental disorders, provoke allergies, and interfere with the proper functioning of the liver animals;
• dyes;
• flavorings;
• sugar and caramel;
• empty fillers that do not carry an energy load, but only “clog” the stomach and cause a feeling of fullness - cellulose, nut shells and similar substances.

I think it’s clear that feeding Spitz dogs with economy-class food is not recommended.

Premium food differs from economy-class feeds in the absence of by-products. They contain animal or poultry meat (chicken, beef, etc.) or fish, additives in the form of cereals and vegetables (no more than 50%). But the meat content is small, there is a lot of water and poorly digestible components; Feed digestibility is average.

Premium food:

• Happy Dog (Happy Dog);
• Pro Pac (Pro Pak);
• BioMill (BioMill);
• Nutro nuggets (Nutro nuggets);
• Doctor Alders (Doctor Alders);
• Flatazor (Flatazor), etc.

Super premium food very close to natural nutrition, have an excellent balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates. It contains only pure meat (turkey, chicken, lamb or fish), barley, which has a beneficial effect on heart health, oats - to improve digestion, hypoallergenic rice, dried tomatoes - a source of vitamins. You will never find ballast substances or dyes in them. They have tremendous digestibility, so they justify their price.

Super premium food:

• Eukanuba (Eukanuba);
• Hills (Hills);
• Iams (Yams);
• Pro Pac (Pro Pak);
• Nutro Choice (Nutro Choice);
• 1st Choice (First Choice);
• ProPlan (ProPlan);
• Royal Canin (Royal Canin),
• Bosh (Bosch);
• Happy Dog (Happy Dog);
• Petreet (Retreat), etc.

For Spitz, for example, Canadian 1st Choice for small breed dogs is suitable, which contains L-carnitine and prebiotics, and has a good chicken content - 30%. MD-25 food from the French company Royal Canin, unfortunately, has been discontinued. Now the company offers a wide selection of food, where the X-Small series is suitable for Spitz or food for Chihuahuas or Yorkshire terriers.

New generation feed Holistic (holistic) contain proteins of animal origin that were grown without the use of hormones and antibiotics, and plant ingredients - without chemicals and pesticides, do not contain genetically modified organisms and plant proteins. Called to heal and bring harmony.

Korma holistic:

• Orijen (Orien or Orijen);
• Acana (Akana);
• Chicken Soup;
• Merrikk California Naturales;
• Pinnacle;
• Berkley (Berkley);
• Golden Eagle (Golden Eagle);
• Go Natural & Now Natural (Go Natural and Now Natural);
• Eagle Pack Holistic Select;
• Innova (Innova);
• Innova Evo (Innova Evo);
• Felidae (Felide);
• Canidae (Kanide).

Feeds "Canide" and "Felide" are among the top ten the best feed USA (according to Whole Dog Journal).

For Spitz dogs, you need to choose food designed for small breed dogs, taking into account the age of the dog. Feed according to the recommendations on the package. Be sure to make sure that your Spitz has pure water in a bowl, change it periodically.

When changing from one dry food to another, do the same as when switching from natural feeding, that is, do it gradually, otherwise the dog will be stressed.

Do not overdo it with the number of treats you give your pet - only when training and accustoming to procedures.

When will it appear in your house little puppy, you need to feed him according to the following scheme: For the first 7-10 days, feed as recommended by the breeder, because changing the feeding pattern will cause stress. For puppies, you should choose super premium food “for puppies of small breeds” - it is designed for puppies from 1 month to a year. The food can be either dry or canned, they can even be mixed, but leaving the serving size the same. After these ten days, switch to the generally accepted feeding scheme for Spitz dogs (possibly a link to this scheme, it is in general recommendations according to the diagrams). When your baby grows up - he will be one year old, switch to food “for adult dogs” (from 1 year to 7 years) of the same brand. After 7 years of age, you need to buy appropriate food for older cats.

You will understand that a particular food is suitable for your dog based on the condition of its coat, teeth, dog’s stool and its general condition, the dog should eat it with pleasure. If you notice the appearance of allergic rashes on the skin of your Spitz, try choosing an allergenic food. Once you find the right brand of food, don't change it to another without good reason.

An adult orange needs from 50 before 80 grams of food per day depending on the size of the dog.

2. Feeding with natural products

In this feeding option, the disadvantages are the advantages of dry food. Of course, talk about the benefits of nutrients natural products unnecessary.

But the biggest drawback of this method is its labor intensity: every day you will need to set aside time to prepare food, and take into account all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that come with food, which is very difficult to do, you understand. But you know what you feed your dog, what this food consists of, how high quality and fresh it is.

If you choose this feeding method, keep in mind that Spitz dogs do not need the variety of foods that humans consume. Make approximately the same menu for your dog every day - this will be better for the animal's body. Also note that with this feeding option it is necessary to include vitamin and mineral supplements in the diet. You should consult your veterinarian about their use and dosage, because this is a very serious issue - a deficiency or excess of these substances is very harmful to the dog’s metabolism and development. Your veterinarian will help you choose an individual vitamin complex.

Here are the foods that should be included in your pet's diet if you feed him homemade food:

1. Meat- the best is beef, horse meat, lean lamb is allowed, the meat can be boiled or raw, which can be doused with boiling water if desired, but always only fresh. It is best to give it in the form of small chopped pieces, but not minced meat - it is not so well absorbed by the body. Meat is the main source of protein and should account for approximately 1/3 of the total food consumed to ensure the full development and life of the dog. A Spitz should receive approximately 20-25 grams of meat per kilogram of weight per day. An adult Spitz can be given boiled stomachs, hearts, lungs or liver.

Bones can be given to a dog only for the purpose of training the jaw muscles and cleaning plaque or during the change of milk teeth and only starting from 3-4 months of age. They must be raw and sugary, that is, have a spongy(!) structure, and of such a size that the Spitz cannot chew and swallow it. Spongy bones: vertebrae, ribs, shoulder blades - those bones that have the shape of an irregular cube or polyhedron. You can give the heads of tubular bones, but not the bones themselves, because their fragments are dangerous for the Spitz's intestines, and dogs should also not eat chicken bones. If a dog eats a cooked bone, it may become constipated.

Dogs over 5-6 years old should not be allowed to eat bones.

You can use the bones to make broth for your Spitz.

2. Fish- sea and only boiled river. It is also a very important component of the orange’s diet, because from the fish your dog will receive very useful vitamins and microelements (calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, B6, B12, D, E, iodine, zinc, selenium, fluorine, magnesium, Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids -3, amino acids, such as taurine) and protein.

If you give sea fish, do not heat treat it, remove it from the bones, and cut it into small pieces. You can even give it to adult Spitz dogs whole and with bones. If the fish is river, it must be boiled (otherwise there is a risk of getting helminthiasis - worms), cooled and served according to the same scheme.
The number of meals per week should be approximately 1-2, always instead of meat, but the portion should be twice as large - in fish it is not so large the nutritional value like meat.

3 eggs- a source of protein and choline, which is very useful for the brain, vitamins and minerals - A, B2, B6, B12, E, D, iodine, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, selenium, phosphorus, etc.

Eggs should be given boiled or fried in the form of an omelet; you can only give the raw yolk, for example, by mixing it with something. Raw eggs are not absorbed by the body, and the substance they contain destroys biotin, which is very healthy vitamin, which is a regulator of protein and fat metabolism. The number of eggs per week is 1-2.

4. Fermented milk products(cottage cheese with a fat content of up to 10%, kefir, yogurt) is a source of high-value protein and calcium. “Sour milk” is very useful at any age, especially during puppyhood, because it has a positive effect on the development of the skeleton, making it strong. Small pieces of cheese can be used in training.
Milk does not need to be included in the diet, because it is not absorbed by the dog’s body, disrupting the proper and proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

5. Porridges from different cereals(buckwheat, rice, rolled oats) should make up about 10% of the daily diet.

6. Vegetables, fruits, raw greens : mashed raw with butter/sour cream or lightly stewed in corn/sunflower oil for better absorption of zucchini, cabbage, pumpkin, carrots, tomatoes or cucumbers. Green onions, dill or parsley are very rich in vitamins.

Fruits - apples, pears, plums, apricots, bananas, watermelons, etc., as well as dried fruits (dried apricots, prunes) are very useful in small quantities as a treat.

7. Small portions of crackers from rye or gray bread good for teeth.

List of foods that need to be excluded from a dog's diet when feeding natural products to ensure good health wide enough:

• flour products - pasta, butter bread, buns, etc.;
• potatoes - they are very poorly absorbed by the dog’s body;
• legumes - peas, beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc. (they are very poorly digested and reduce the absorption of B vitamins);
• sweets - sugar, candy, chocolate, marshmallows, etc.;
• millet (poorly digested in the stomach);
• pearl barley (not digestible, has no nutritional value);
• semolina (promotes weight gain in the dog);
• salty;
• smoked;
• pickled;
• fat;
• spicy;
• sausages - sausages, frankfurters;
• small tubular bones (they clog the intestines and can cause various injuries);
• pork;
• spices and seasonings - allspice and bitter pepper, bay leaf, etc.

It is not advisable to give puppies raw beets because they cause bloating.

During training and accustoming to various procedures, give pieces of boiled meat, cheese, commercial industrial delicacies. But don’t use treats to teach food that your dog won’t eat—just remove it before next appointment food.

Here is an approximate scheme for feeding puppies with natural foods:

Feeding No. 1: you can give boiled fish with porridge (rice or buckwheat), add vegetables, a little vegetable oil.

Feeding No. 2: give something fermented milk - cottage cheese or kefir.

Feeding No. 3: you can give a piece of boiled chicken or turkey.

Feeding No. 4: vegetables - e.g. grated carrots with an apple or a teaspoon of vegetable oil.

Feeding No. 5: raw beef meat - pour boiling water over it, give it in finely chopped pieces with a side dish of vegetable stew. This meal should be taken as close to bedtime as possible.

When feeding a puppy with natural products 2/3 of the diet should consist of protein(this could be cottage cheese, lean meat, eggs) and 1/3 - from porridge and vegetables(stewed carrots, turnips or pumpkin). Be sure to consult with a specialist about the need/unnecessity of including supplements; perhaps the doses of supplements will be very small so as not to harm the proper development of the puppy’s muscles.

3. Combined (mixed) feeding

Combined feeding is the alternate use of high-quality natural products and dry food. For example, in the morning they are fed natural food - meat, fish, porridge, cottage cheese or vegetables, and in the evening - dry food; or vice versa. It is strictly forbidden to mix natural and dry food in one feeding!

A mixed type of feeding is permissible only if it does not cause digestive problems - you need to monitor the Spitz's stool and how well the mixed food is absorbed. If the stool is loose, it means the food is poorly digested - try reducing the amount of food.

Here important rules that should be followed:

1. Meals should be at the same time, everything that was not eaten within 20 minutes should be removed;
2. “natural food” should always be fresh, thick, and at room temperature (if food is stored in the refrigerator, it must be reheated in microwave oven, but so that it is not hot);
3. the norms of dry food should be as advised on the packaging;
4. The dog should always have access to water.

Whatever feeding method you choose, you need to know the general recommendations.

You need to feed your puppy at approximately equal intervals; give him a bowl and do not change the place where it is.

For a certain age there is a required number of feedings:

• up to 2 months of age, the puppy should be fed 6 times a day;
• A 2-month-old puppy should be fed 5 times a day;
• A 3-4 month old puppy should be fed 4 times a day;
• A 4-6 month old puppy should be fed 3-4 times a day;
• A 6-8 month old puppy should be fed 2-3 times a day;
• starting from 8 months of age, it is worth feeding 1-2 times a day, at strictly established hours, preferably after a walk.

In summer, when the heat is unbearable, as well as in the absence physical activity, you can switch to feeding once a day.

A bowl of water should always be nearby; change the water if it gets dirty.

The bowl for a Spitz should be suitable for his height, that is, it should not be raised relative to the floor. There is a huge selection of dog feeders; there are also automatic ones, which can be designed for, for example, 2 or 4 feedings, and open at a given time.

Choose the optimal serving size for your dog: if after a meal the Spitz diligently licks its bowl, this indicates the need to increase the volume of food per serving, and if there is food left, reduce the serving until the dog has completely eaten its food. Monitor the condition of your pet's fat layer: it should be one that hides the ribs, but allows them to be easily felt. If the ribs protrude, increase the volume of food; if you cannot feel the ribs, reduce it.

If you notice that your pet has a poor appetite, try reducing the amount of food in each serving, but leave the number of feedings unchanged. If after 10-15 minutes the food is still in the bowl, remove it until the next meal.

If you feed your dwarf Spitz homemade food, make sure that it does not go to waste, and do not feed spoiled food, because this can have a bad effect on the animal’s health.

Remember that it is better to underfeed your Spitz than to overfeed it. follow the recommended dosage of feed! The peculiarity of oranges is that they gain excess weight very quickly, which can then be very difficult to lose and the process takes a lot of time.

In puppies, the musculoskeletal system, bones and cartilage suffer from excess weight - excess weight creates heavy load. The result of this is improper development of the skeleton and the formation of the dog’s exterior. And in adult dogs, excess weight is fraught with a slow progression of physiological processes, which means that Spitz boys lose interest in Spitz girls and become incapable of mating. Excess weight in girls increases the likelihood of a difficult birth, and in some cases the bitch will not be able to get pregnant at all.

Therefore, do not indulge your Spitz, no matter what tricks he resorts to, for example, these inventors may refuse food as a sign of protest, be capricious - do not succumb to provocation, be firm - in this case, just remove the bowl of food and give food later, no offering the Pomeranian another, more tasty, in his opinion, food.

But if the appetite does not appear for several days, this is a reason to see a doctor; perhaps the dog is sick.

If your baby has an upset stomach, refrain from feeding for 24 hours, but be sure to have water. If even after these actions the disorder does not end, you need to take the Spitz to a veterinary clinic.

Spitz dogs gain excess weight very quickly. You need to constantly remember this when pampering your pet, since a dog, once fat, is very difficult to return to its normal state. Dogs that experience little hunger and do not have an ounce of excess fat, as practice shows, are the healthiest.

The pet is like a toy, and the fur is like cotton wool.

This is an energetic dog that will never prefer the sofa to an active game, and therefore you need to keep an eye on your pet.

When a dog appears in the house, owners have a choice of what to feed their pet?

There are few answer options, as a rule, it is natural food or dry food.

However, each option is based on the principle of a balanced diet, so it does not matter which feeding method the owner follows, as long as the dog receives an equal amount of nutrients in both cases.

Natural nutrition is often referred to as natural look dog feeding, to which it would be appropriate to devote a doctoral dissertation detailing an acceptable menu, because this type is not limited to just preparing a diet.

Industrial feed, in turn, is considered an easy and low-cost method of feeding, the main difficulty of which is the ability to choose the best option.

Among the owners there are many supporters of the opinion that natural food has no worthy alternatives, but this does not explain the reason for such a wide range of industrial feeds. The situation is similar with dry products: if they contain everything a pet needs, then why do a number of companies specialize exclusively in vitamin supplements? The fact is that it is rarely possible to choose food for a pet that will be limited only to dry or natural feeding.

Pros and cons of natural food

Positive sides:

• The owner knows what he feeds his pet, because the choice of food is his.
• The products chosen by the owner rarely contain artificial colors, preservatives and emulsifiers.
• When an allergic reaction occurs, it is easy to identify and eliminate the product that triggered it.
• The presence of nutrients: protein, fats, carbohydrates, fiber.

Negative:

• Large amounts of time spent preparing food.
• The owner is required to independently search and select products, create a diet and menu in order to supply the dog’s body with all the necessary microelements.
• With natural nutrition, it is recommended to introduce additional fertilizers.
• Natural food is often more expensive than industrial feed.
• Not suitable for travel. You will have to look not so much for time as for a place to prepare food.

Natural food is often accompanied by the introduction of vitamin and mineral supplements. List of companies approved by experts: Artroglycan, Polydex Brevers 8 in1, Tetravit.

List of permitted and prohibited products by category

List of main products:

• meat (veal, lamb, turkey);
• offal (stomach, heart, tongue, tripe);
• cereals (buckwheat, rice, wheat, corn porridge, oatmeal);
• vegetables (carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, beets, cabbage);
• fruits (apple, banana, persimmon, melon, pear, apricot);
• greens (dill, parsley, green onions);
• vegetable oil (sunflower, olive, flaxseed);
• fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir, natural yoghurts, curdled milk);
• fish (oceanic and sea);
• seafood (crabs, squid, seaweed, mussels);

List of unacceptable products:

• bones;
• fatty meat (lard, lamb, pork;
• semolina, millet porridge and barley.
• milk (acceptable for puppies under 3 months);
• sausage;
• garlic, onions;
• salty, hot, smoked, spicy;
• potatoes, raw cabbage;
• strawberry;
• citrus;
• sweets.

Sample menu for the week

The daily diet of oranges should include:

• meat and offal (30-60%);
• vegetables and fruits (20-50%);
• cereals (20-40%);
• fermented milk products (from 20% and more).

Day of the week	Menu
Monday	Cereals (wheat, corn porridge), meat (veal, lamb), fruits (apple, melon).
Tuesday	Fermented milk products (kefir, yogurt), offal (stomach, tripe), herbs (dill, green onions).
Wednesday	Cereals (buckwheat, rice), seafood (crabs, seaweed), meat (veal, lamb, turkey).
Thursday	Fermented milk products (cottage cheese), fish (ocean or sea), vegetables (carrots, zucchini, beets).
Friday	Fermented milk products (cottage cheese, natural yoghurts), meat (turkey), fruits (banana, persimmon, pear).
Saturday	By-products (heart, tongue), vegetables (pumpkin, cabbage), meat (lamb, turkey), herbs (dill, parsley).
Sunday	Cereals (oatmeal), fish (ocean or sea), fruits (banana, apricot).

Industrial feed

Advantages of industrial feeds:

• Ready food. The owner is freed from the need to prepare food.
• Balance. Often dry food contains all the vitamins and minerals.
• Serving volume, as well as daily norm feeding is indicated on the package, so there is no need to calculate everything yourself.
• A large assortment and variety of feeds makes it possible to choose individual nutrition.
• Industrial food is much cheaper than natural food.
• Doesn't bother you when traveling. You can buy food before leaving home and use it all the way.

Flaws:

• It is difficult to determine the quality and naturalness of the products listed in the composition.
• Trying to save money can lead to a number of problems. Cheap feeds often replace meat with soy or by-products of poor quality.
• Often, incorrect selection of feed results in the occurrence of allergic reactions at the dog.
• During production, feed is exposed to high temperatures, due to which the products lose a large share of their beneficial properties.

CAREFULLY!

Looking at the dry and wet food, it should be clarified that, unlike dry food, you cannot eat exclusively wet food.

It can be anything you want: balanced, hypoallergenic and easily digestible, but not complete. It is not rich in vitamins and minerals and is often used as an additive to dry food.

• premium;
• super premium;
• Holistic

The preferred food for oranges is holistic, which is ready to provide the pet with a natural, high-quality and environmentally friendly product.

Top 7 rating

1. Orijen Adult Dog Fit & Trim Grain Free (holistic class).
2. Acana Adult Small Breed (holistic class).
3. Wellness Simple (holistic class).
4. Almo Nature Holistic Adult Dog Small – Chicken&Rice (super-premium class).
5. 1st Choice Adult Dog TOY BREEDS – Healthy Skin & Coat (super premium class).
6. Royal Canin X-Small Adult (super-premium class).
7. Hill's Ideal Balance Canine Adult Small Breed (premium class).

Orijen Adult Dog Fit & Trim is specialized for dogs that suffer from excess weight, so it is not surprising that it contains only 13% fat.

The food also has a clear distribution of ingredients, for example, 85% comes from poultry and fish, and the remaining 15% from vegetables and fruits.

Acana Adult Small Breed bypassed grains and fast carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, tapioca) and focused on animal proteins (60%), 1/3 of which is fresh meat, while the remaining 2/3 is dehydrated animal protein.

Suitable for adult small breed dogs over 1 year of age.

Wellness Simple comes in the form of rounded granules. The composition includes meat, vegetables, fruits and grains. It's also high in high-quality fats and protein, which contribute to a healthy-looking dog, from a shiny coat to muscle building.

Almo Nature Holistic Adult Dog Small is an excellent example of high-quality and balanced nutrition, which is perfect for pets with a sensitive digestive system.

A large portion of the food is lamb meat, the other part is natural antioxidants, alfalfa and green tea extract.

1st Choice Adult Dog TOY BREEDS, despite the fact that it contains ground chicken, the food consists almost entirely of plant ingredients (oats, rice, barley, chicken meal and chicken fat).

In addition, the protein and fat content is significantly lower than the average, in contrast to carbohydrates, whose content is unusually high.

Royal Canin X-Small Adult does not boast a large source of animal protein; a large share of the composition comes from grain (corn, rice).

The food compensates for the lack of vitamins and minerals with additives and beneficial prebiotics.

Hill's Ideal Balance Canine Adult Small Breed is specialized for small breeds. It has no flavors or artificial colors and is free of soy, wheat and corn. The food contains exclusively natural ingredients.

How to properly feed a puppy (1, 2, 3 months)

In matters of nutrition, it should be taken into account that their stomach is still small, so feeding should be in small portions. An equally important question is the type of food (dry or natural food).

If the owner gravitates towards dry food, then you need to choose an option specialized for the breed of dog.

It is better to give preference to super-premium food: Happy Dog, Pro Plan or Royal Canin.

Regardless of the type of feeding, the puppy’s diet should consist of 2/3 animal proteins and 1/3 cereals, vegetables and fruits. For the orange daily norm is 25 g per 1 kg of dog weight.

Sample menu for a 1-2 month old puppy:

• Several servings of dry food.
• Fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir, etc.)
• Cereals with vegetables and meat.
• Tender veal with boiled vegetables.
• Apple along with vegetable oil (1 tbsp).

Number of feedings per day:

• 1-2 months – 6 times;
• 2-3 months – 5 times.

Approximate menu for the 3rd month of a puppy’s life:

• Cereals, fish (boiled) and vegetable oil in the amount of 1 tbsp. l.
• Chicken meat (boiled).
• Fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir or fermented baked milk).
• Veal (raw) and vegetable stew.

Nutrition for an adult dog

Feeding an adult Spitz is limited to two servings per day.

As with puppies, the diet of an adult Pomeranian is divided into 3 parts, 2 of which are protein (meat, fish, eggs, cottage cheese), and the last - vegetables, fruits and cereals.

Despite the fact that each of the components is prepared separately from the others, the products can be mixed at the end.

The serving size depends on the weight of the miniature spitz. At natural feeding The serving size is limited to 15 - 20 g of meat. The serving size of industrial feeds is usually indicated on the packaging.

On average varies from 80 to 150 g per day. However, the size is also affected by the pet's lifestyle.

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