You are not the only one, many pet parents wonder what and how much they should feed their dog. This is one of the most common questions that pet parents ask their veterinarians. Feeding the right amount of a balanced diet is essential for the overall growth and well-being of your dog. But, understanding what and when to feed them is of paramount importance.

Sometimes parents even get confused about whether to feed home-cooked food or give wet dog food or dry Dog food to their pet. The simple answer to all these questions is, understand your pet’s needs and book an online vet consultation if required.

Raw food diets are not suitable for every dog. It is given to dogs living in a few cold countries, but for a tropical country like India, vets suggest not to give it to your dog. Raw food can easily get stale due to the warm temperature and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses that can make your pet seriously ill. It also contains fewer nutrients in comparison to freshly cooked food. When thinking about giving a pet a raw diet, there are several crucial factors involved like the quality of meat, the supplier, and the dog’s health as well. In India, our vets strongly recommend sticking to fresh home-cooked food and kibbles for your dog. 

Nothing is better than feeding your dog balanced home-cooked food. You can feed them boiled eggs, boiled chicken with chicken soup, meat, mixed steamed vegetables, cheese, yoghurt, etc. But, make sure that cooked dog food does not have spices in it. If you have to add some, dogs are tolerant to very small quantities of turmeric, ginger, or cumin in their food. Our vets don’t recommend salt in dog food.

Households where non-veg food is not eaten often feed their dogs vegetarian food as well.  Dogs are omnivorous and the nutrients in veg foods are not enough for the proper growth of a dog. If your family doesn’t cook non-vegetarian food at home, it’s strongly advised that you give your dog some quantity of meat-based kibbles. Packaged food contains meat and enough nutrients required for keeping the dog healthy and fit.

Vet-prescribed foods are based on the specific needs of dogs and their health conditions. Veterinarians recommend a dog’s diet after considering nutrition requirements, age and breed of dogs and health problems if any. It is because one size never fits all. Moreover, if your dog is diagnosed with renal issues or kidney issues, then giving vet prescribed food is necessary.

Being a dog parent, you need to understand which foods are good for your dog and what you can easily feed them. It’s always recommended to book a  vet consultation online if you need to understand the exact nutrient needs for your dog.