FEEDING YOUR MASTIFF
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How to feed your
puppy? The best thing is to follow nature’s
advice. It is
very important that the puppy is suckled with the colostrum from its mother as
soon as it is born because this will enhance its defenses and will provide it
with the nutrients it needs in the first weeks of its life. The weanings will
take place when the puppy is over 2 months. If its mother dies or, for some
reason, she stops producing milk, the puppy will be stressed and will tend to
lose weight and be ill. In this case the puppy will need support and patience,
and also a solution to finish the suckling stage: either to buy bitch milk
powder or else, mix a glass of cow fat milk, a yolk of egg, a spoonful of honey
and a bit of natural grenetine. After the first month and a half we can
gradually replace the bitch powder milk or the alternative food by commercial
food for puppies. As all the puppies, ours will grow very rapidly during the first weeks: Can you imagine?, it must duplicate its weight in a little time and that is why its diet must be more concentrated and rich in nutrients. During the first weeks after the weaning you have to be very careful with its food and it must be fed at least four times a day. |
As your puppy
grows, its nutritional needs diminish in
the same proportion to the quantity of food. Hence you will have to gradually
reduce the number of meals up to one or two a day after it is over six months.
Do not give it too much food, since it is possible to become obese. It is a good
advice not to leave it the dish full of food; it is much better that you take it
away 15 minutes later. This way you prevent it from choking and getting ill. Feeding for
life: the growing stage and the adult age. As your dogs groes up it will start eating
less. It
does not mean that its diet is then unbalanced but it is altered in an important
way. At this stage it is important that your does exercise to avoid becoming
obese, strengthen its muscles and bones and develop to the top. Besides, it also
becomes sexually mature at this stage so, if it is to fulfill reproductive
functions it is extremely important to fill its nutritional requirements with
the suitable nourishment before crossing it. A well fed dog is a beautiful dog. It is important that you establish the meal timetable
well and select the quantity and quality of food in relation to the activity it
is going to carry out. To establish a meal timetable will help you anticipate
the times when it will evacuate or urinate and get the habit of cleaning the
affected area. According to most researchs and following common uses
in the handling and taking care of pets, commercial food is the most suitable
one. Special food for this stage with the necessary nutrients and with different
components for every kind of activity is also marketed. To get to a happy old
age. On reaching this stage –when your dog is over 8
years-
you must take special considerations: your pet will not be able to do the same
things, at least to the same pace. It is also possible that it starts having
trouble when taking advantage of the dairy food. Conclusion? You must vary its
diet. With lower physical activity your dog may become
obese.
It is then advisable to increase the quantity of fiber in its diet, adding more
vegetables and cereals and removing junk food and sweets. This will probably
avoid constipation. Provide your dog with softer
food, as teeth are also
much weaker at this stage.
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