Rating of the 10 best dry food for Pug
Place | Name | Rating | Price, rub. |
1 | 1st Choice Breeders for miniature breeds with chicken (20kg) | 5.0 / 5 | 7335 |
2 | ProNature Holistic (for miniature breeds) (0.34 kg) | 5.0 / 5 | 435 |
3 | Orijen Original (6 kg) | 4.9 / 5 | 3840 |
4 | Go! Natural Holistic (holistic menu) Go & NOW Natural (690 g) | 4.9 / 5 | 424 |
5 | Ontario "Mini Weight Control" for small breed dogs, with turkey and potatoes (2.25 kg) | 4.8 / 5 | 799 |
6 | NOW FRESH salmon, duck, turkey (2.72 kg) (for miniature breeds) | 4.8 / 5 | 1569 |
7 | Acana Heritage (6 kg) (for small breeds) | 4.8 / 5 | 3404 |
8 | Wolfsblut Gray Peak Small Breed (15 kg) | 4.8 / 5 | 6342 |
9 | Grandorf (3 kg) Lamb with rice Mini | 4.7 / 5 | 1600 |
10 | Royal Canin for healthy skin and coat 2 kg (for small breeds) | 4.7 / 5 | 625 |
What should be included
Before purchasing, it is important to carefully study the ingredients listed on the package. They are listed in descending order. The first place should be the animal component in an amount of at least 30-40%, cereals - no more than 5-8%, animal fat - up to 18%.
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Unwanted Ingredients:
- Chicken and chicken eggs. Pugs are often allergic to them.
- Dehydrated animal protein, unless source specified.
- Vegetable protein. It is poorly absorbed.
- Preservatives: propyl gallate (E310), BHA. May cause severe allergic reactions.
- Artificial colors, flavors, flavor enhancers, starch.
- Wheat and corn. One of the common causes of allergies.
- Legumes. Can increase flatulence in brachycephalic breeds.
Recommended Ingredients:
- Fish, turkey, duck, pork, lamb, beef.
- Vitamin and mineral complex.
- Probiotics. Good for digestion.
- Fennel, Fucus algae, Yucca Schidigera. They normalize feed digestion and have antifungal and antibacterial properties.
- Brown rice, barley, buckwheat. Contains many useful substances.
- Various vegetables except potatoes. It contains a lot of starch, which brachycephals do not digest well.
When choosing food for a pug, it is important to take into account its age and condition. Puppy food contains increased amounts of nutrients. In an adult or elderly dog, this will cause excess weight. If your pet is obese, then specially formulated foods with reduced calorie content are recommended.
Causes and consequences
Main causes of obesity:
- Binge eating.
- Problems with the endocrine system.
- Lack of full physical activity of the dog during the day.
- Age of the dog.
Weight gain in dogs happens unnoticed, but if the pug has become less active and playful, or has shortness of breath, it is necessary to change its diet, even going on a strict diet.
It is good to take him to the veterinarian for a check-up and agree on your pet's dietary regimen.
Diseases that cause extra pounds
- Shortness of breath due to disorders of the cardiovascular system.
- Disorders of the musculoskeletal system due to increased load on the joints.
- Risk of heatstroke.
- Arthritis.
- Deformation of the ligamentous apparatus.
Many dog breeders believe that obesity in pugs is due to improper care. A proper diet with a vitamin and mineral composition and adequate physical activity will help prevent obesity in your pet.
Dog age | Number of feedings per day |
Up to 2 months | 6 |
2–4 months | 4 |
4–6 months | 3 |
6–10 months | 2 |
Over 1 year old | 2 (one-time feeding allowed) |
1st Choice Breeders for miniature breeds with chicken (20kg)
The best option among super-premium feeds. It consists of high-quality meat, vegetables, and does not contain unnecessary third-rate components and by-products. The composition does not contain taste or smell enhancers or other artificial additives.
The price per kilogram (366 rubles/kg) is budget-friendly for a product of this quality. Product, there is a huge range of food for small breeds with other tastes, hypoallergenic types that are suitable for animals with a tendency to allergies.
pros
- There is no unpleasant smell, the animal’s mouth does not smell after eating;
- The condition of the coat improves;
- Does not cause digestive upset, suitable for animals with a weak gastrointestinal tract;
- Each product in the line is balanced according to the age of the animal for which it is intended (this product for adult miniature dogs contains the required 22% protein);
- Does not cause allergies;
- Convenient packaging with a clasp, the product does not run out.
Minuses
- It has the form of granules, which are much more difficult to digest when not chewed;
- Difficult to find in pet stores.
ProNature Holistic (for miniature breeds) (0.34 kg)
The best option from holisticists. The composition contains minerals, animal proteins, trace elements, vitamins. Consists of meat, fish, egg products, berries, fruits, vegetables, does not contain corn, wheat, soy, or other grains.
There are no chemical preservatives, aroma or taste enhancers. Veterinarians consider the products of this brand to be among the best for the constant feeding of miniature breed dogs.
pros
- High calorie content, the dog remains full for a long time, eating a small portion;
- The appearance of the coat improves with constant holistic nutrition;
- No problems with the gastrointestinal tract, well absorbed by the animal’s body;
- Suitable for dogs with intolerance to certain foods;
- After eating, the animal's mouth does not smell;
- The small package has a convenient clasp, the food does not run out.
- Does not cause allergies;
- Convenient packaging with a clasp, the product does not run out.
Minuses
- Not found in all pet stores.
Orijen Original (6 kg)
Super premium product, suitable for all breeds, including small ones. Includes high-quality fish and meat, the content of which reaches a record 80% among other dry food, healthy herbs (dandelion, mint, turmeric).
All these ingredients help strengthen canine immunity. Does not contain third-rate by-products, chemical preservatives, flavor enhancers, aroma, vegetable proteins, gluten, or cereals. Orijen is suitable for active miniature dogs.
pros
- Record high animal protein content;
- Does not cause allergies;
- The composition contains several types of fish.
Minuses
- There is no fastener on the packaging so that the food does not dry out; it will have to be poured into a closed container;
- Strong odor and noticeable but short-lived odor from the animal's mouth;
- Rarely, problems with the gastrointestinal tract are possible.
What to feed a pug: all the secrets of a healthy diet
The second feeding is cottage cheese diluted with kefir or milk. The third feeding is cottage cheese with kefir or milk. The fourth feeding is buckwheat, rice, oatmeal milk porridge except semolina.
Pugs are energetic, courageous, jealous, mistrustful animals, but they are good-natured, treat other dogs and cats well, love children, and nothing can make them happier than the feeling that they are part of a family. The lifespan of pugs is from 12 to 15 years.
The fifth feeding is any milk porridge. The sixth feeding is raw meat. Nutrition from 3 to 7 months This is the period of your dog's most rapid growth. Nutrition from 7 months to a year After seven months of age, your pug will need to eat two meals a day. Food for adult dogs After about eight months or about a year, the puppy can already be switched to full adult food.
Natural food for pugs It is believed that natural food is much healthier, since it contains all the microelements and vitamins that a pug needs. To understand what foods should be present in a pug’s diet, knowing the daily requirement for minerals for a puppy and an adult pug will help you: 1 g of the substance per 1 kg of weight: carbohydrates - 10 and 6 g; proteins - 30 and 15 g; fats - 2.6 and 1.3 g; calcium - 0.5 g and 0.25 g; phosphorus, potassium - 0.4 g and 0.2 g; iron - 0.13 g for both puppies and adult dogs; magnesium - 0.02 g and 0.01 g.
What to give your pug from natural food: lean meat and beef by-products; boneless sea fish fillet; fruits, herbs and vegetables; milk; fermented milk products.
The best dry food for a pug
If your pet suffers from allergies, obesity, indigestion or flatulence, buy the Prescription Diet line. Most Akana foods are holistic and therapeutic diets, but they belong to the super premium class and are considered the best in Europe and America.
It is also important that the food contains antioxidants, amino acids, fatty acids and animal protein, which eliminates obesity. Fest Mate is produced in Australia, Colombia and Canada and is a super premium food.
It is important that the meat used for feed is natural and home-made, and careful quality control is carried out before sending it to stores. Note that the diet does not contain grains or cereals, so allergies are excluded. All products belong to the human grade category. One of the holistic food and super premium line is considered to be Canide, which is produced in America.
Not everyone knows what can and should be fed to a pug. Most owners are accustomed to giving the same natural food that they themselves consume. This is wrong and often causes pug illnesses. Please note that it is not recommended to give milk and meat products at the same time.
Go! Natural Holistic (holistic menu) Go & NOW Natural (690 g)
Suitable for all dog breeds, especially miniature ones. It contains only natural ingredients, calf meat, turkey, lamb, duck, fruits, berries, vegetables.
The product is perfectly balanced, the necessary animal proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, microelements, acids are present, there are no harmful soybeans, preservatives, odor and taste enhancers, or low-quality by-products. All components retain their properties thanks to gentle processing.
pros
- Convenient sealed packaging with a zipper: the food does not expire and does not lose its properties;
- The amount of excrement is significantly reduced, and its smell becomes less pronounced;
- High calorie content, the dog remains full for a long time;
- The coat becomes more shiny and smooth in appearance with prolonged constant feeding;
- Does not cause allergies or dental problems;
- The condition of the skin and eyes improves noticeably over time;
- Can be found in every pet store;
- Does not have a pronounced odor.
Minuses
- Large granules that are difficult to digest if the dog does not chew them;
- Possible odor from the animal's mouth;
- Occasionally, problems with the gastrointestinal tract occur.
Ontario Mini Weight Control with Turkey and Potatoes (2.25 kg)
Czech super-premium product. Recommended by veterinarians due to its perfectly balanced composition. Does not contain cereals or grains. The composition includes high-quality fish, meat products, vegetables (for example, tomatoes).
There are no low-quality ingredients, chemical preservatives, or meat and bone meal. Suitable for dogs with excess weight problems.
pros
- High content of lycopenes;
- Suitable for dogs with poor health, problems with joints and immunity;
- Does not cause a bad odor from the animal's mouth;
- All useful microelements in the form of chelates are absorbed by the dog’s body 100%;
- Small granules that are easy to digest;
- Distributed in pet stores;
- Hermetically sealed packaging.
Minuses
- Pronounced smell.
How to lose weight for a dog?
The first rule for an obese pug is to monitor its diet. Under no circumstances should you give him prohibited foods.
Consult your veterinarian and put your dog on a low-calorie diet.
The second rule is that the animal must move more and lead an active lifestyle.
Walks with your pug should last at least an hour. In places with the least crowds of people, it is recommended to let the pug off the leash, giving it the opportunity to run around. It is very good to play ball or frisbee with him. A flying disc can be replaced by an ordinary stick, let him look for it and bring it.
Swimming is another method of losing weight. But here it all depends on the temperament of your pet; if he does not like to bathe, you should not insist.
The correct composition and standards of nutrition, active physical activity: this is the key to getting rid of excess weight from your pet, provided that obesity is caused by overeating.
If the cause of a dog’s obesity is a disease, then treatment must be done only under the supervision of a veterinarian.
NOW FRESH salmon, duck, turkey (2.72 kg)
Canadian quality holistic. Products of this brand do not include grain crops, by-products, chemical preservatives, aroma or taste enhancers.
High-quality meat, vegetables, and cereals maintain the required level of proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the animal’s body.
pros
- Unfastened packaging;
- Large granules may be difficult to digest if not chewed.
Minuses
- Pronounced smell.
Acana Heritage (6 kg) (for small breeds)
This Canadian product is a good choice for a miniature breed dog. It is suitable for both active animals and completely lazy ones. The food is holistic, that is, it contains only natural ingredients.
There are no cheap low-quality components in the products of this brand; feed wheat and bone meal are completely absent. Contains only meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and high quality dairy products.
pros
- High concentration of animal proteins;
- Fresh ingredients;
- There are no carbohydrates (the dog’s body does not need them);
- A variety of fruits, vegetables, tonic herbs in the composition, which strengthen the heart and improve the condition of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Reduces insulin levels, strengthens the liver;
- High quality packaging.
Minuses
- May cause allergies;
- Noticeable fishy smell;
- High fat content.
Wolfsblut Gray Peak Small Breed (15 kg)
German quality holistic specialist. The products of this brand include only those components that are easily absorbed by the dog’s body, without causing any digestive problems.
No wheat, oats, corn, starch or gluten. Meat makes up more than half of the food - cod, mackerel, haddock, pheasant, rabbit, trout, salmon, lamb.
pros
- Excellent balance of vitamins, minerals, healthy supplements;
- Complete absence of chemical ingredients (flavor and aroma enhancers and dyes);
- Moderate size granules;
- No noticeable odor;
- Elegant, high quality packaging;
- The company has an official website with a detailed description of the product and instructions;
- The condition of the coat improves.
Minuses
- Rarely available in pet stores;
- In isolated cases may cause constipation
Grandorf (3 kg) Lamb with rice Mini
Suitable for a small breed dog. Veterinarians often mention this brand as the most suitable for dogs prone to allergies. The composition is completely free of chicken and grains.
In addition to meat, it contains components such as vegetables and grains. It is better to take this food for an active dog. If she is lazy, then Grandorf will make her overweight.
pros
- High meat content - >60%;
- High calorie content, the dog will be full for a long time;
- No chemical flavors or additives;
- Improves the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, restores intestinal microflora (and is even indicated for those dogs who have digestive problems);
- Improves the condition of the coat.
Minuses
- High in fat, a lazy dog will quickly gain weight.
homemade food
Not everyone knows what can and should be fed to a pug. Most owners are accustomed to giving the same natural food that they themselves consume. This is wrong and often causes pug illnesses.
Here's what's best to feed your dog:
- meat - at least 50% of the total diet. What kind of meat is best to feed? Veterinarians recommend rabbit, lamb or lean chicken. Meat is given at the rate of 20 g per 1 kg of weight;
- cereals - buckwheat, oatmeal or rice - make up at least 25% of the diet;
- dairy products make up 20% of the diet; it is better to choose cottage cheese, kefir, and yogurt. It is not recommended to give milk, as it is poorly digestible;
- vegetables and fruits, fresh or boiled. The most recommended are cabbage, cucumbers, beets and peppers;
- fish products - given only boiled or frozen, but without bones;
- fruits – they are not offered often, since pugs do not always like them;
- ready-made food or canned food - of which specialized lines or hypoallergenic ones are recommended. What food is best to feed? We recommend Royal Canin, Acana or Fresh Market.
Please note that it is not recommended to give milk and meat products at the same time. Otherwise, there is a high probability of digestive or stomach problems. It is better to mix porridge with meat or cereals with vegetables.
Feeding tips
You also need to consider not only what to feed your pug, but also what is best and how to feed it correctly.
There are special rules for this:
- do not give your pug bones, skin or cartilage;
- always submit fish and meat to heat treatment;
- It is better not to fry, but to stew or boil foods;
- Serve the meat in medium-sized pieces;
- It is better to grind porridge and vegetables into puree, but it is recommended to cook them separately;
- Give vegetables and fruits fresh to preserve their beneficial properties;
- monitor the water balance and serving dosage, usually it is about 20 g per 1 kg of weight;
- when using dry food, additionally provide wet canned food and vitamins;
- do not mix ready-made food and natural products, immediately choose the type of diet;
- You need to move from one type of nutrition to another gradually. It is better to start the process from the third month of life.
It is important to remember that for animals with allergies or flatulence, you need to replace food or certain products. To do this, monitor the animal’s reaction and consult a veterinarian.
Royal Canin for healthy skin and coat 2 kg (for small breeds)
Famous French super-premium food. It is of good quality, but lower than that of competitors (discussed in paragraphs 1-9).
Royal Canin Mini contains grains and vegetable proteins.
pros
- Does not cause allergies;
- Nutritious, but does not cause excess weight in the animal (the energy intensity of the diet and the protein content in the product are precisely calculated);
- Available at many pet stores;
- High-quality packaging;
- Moderate size granules;
- Restoring the condition of the coat;
- Contains sodium polyphosphate, which prevents the formation of plaque;
- The composition includes many useful microelements;
- Improved digestion.
Minuses
- With constant feeding of this food, it is impossible to do without additional supplements with vitamins and microelements;
- Inconvenient packaging without fastener;
- Contains poorly digestible grains and artificial additives (preservatives, dyes.);
Among these foods, the best choices for a miniature animal would be 1st Choice Breeders Miniature Breed with Chicken (20kg) and Wolfsblut Gray Peak Small Breed (15kg).
The first is the highest quality, and at the same time inexpensive, super-premium food.
The second is a natural holistic company, and the company has a detailed official website with all the information on the food and instructions.
Both products have a minimum of disadvantages, which are offset by advantages from the balance of nutrients, vitamins, microelements and the absence of harmful preservatives to convenient packaging.
How much does an adult weigh and what is considered normal?
Many dog breeders who breed this breed consider it unpretentious in care and maintenance. If your dog is fed properly, she will be active, playful, and her life will be long and fulfilling. The question of what a dog's weight should be is fundamental to its health. This is a small dog, the sizes of the male and female are practically the same. So let's look at how much should a pug weigh?
Breeders believe that for better mating and healthy, full-fledged offspring, an adult dog should weigh within the following limits: a female approximately 8.0 - 9.0 kg , and a male - 10.0 - 12.0 kg. It is recommended to weigh puppies up to 3 weeks of age every day, and then once a week.
Between the second and fourth months, the puppy should double its weight. Starting from six months, the weight gain should be a quarter. The weight of a one-year-old dog is 8.0 - 12.0 kg. Let's look at the table below by month.
Feeding tips for miniature dogs
To maintain the health of a small dog, it is important to consider recommendations and advice on feeding and managing the animal’s diet:
- It is advisable for miniature breeds to eat dry food daily. This is due to the fact that they often experience oral diseases: inflammation of the gums, unpleasant odor from the mouth, loose teeth, and excessive deposits of tartar. Diseases develop faster than in large individuals. Preference is given to holistic feeds; they do not contain dyes, preservatives, or by-products. Dry food reduces the risk of these diseases, but is not a panacea.
- The diet should include wet food. Miniature dogs are prone to diseases of the urinary system; due to their size, the kidneys produce a small amount of urine, which contains a concentration of harmful inorganic substances. Wet food helps saturate the body with additional fluid and prevents the appearance of formations in the urinary system. It is not advisable to mix dry and wet food; it is better to offer them to the animal at different times.
- Do not choose your own nutritional supplements for the animal and do not give food from your table. The advantage of ready-made dry food is its balance. The substances your dog needs are available in the right quantities. Homemade table food contains a lot of salt, fat, spices, and other substances harmful to the animal. A dog whose diet is based on dry food does not need additional biological additives. An excess of vitamins is more harmful than their deficiency.
- Do not overfeed. Small individuals have a tendency to become obese. If you do not control the number of servings in the bowl, then over time the animal may become overweight. On packages of ready-made dry food there is a table on portion sizes and feeding frequency. Compliance with these standards will protect your dog from weight problems.
How to properly treat obesity in dogs?
To begin with, increase your walking time by one and a half or two times. Weight will begin to come off when your pug expends more calories than it consumes. If your pug has joint problems, it is better to avoid walking, as the dog may experience pain when moving. But even if everything is fine with them, do not rush to start running. This can be done no earlier than after two to three months of walking.
Most often, representatives of this breed suffer from food allergies, and the most banal product can cause it. That is why pug owners need to be vigilant and watch everything that gets into the dog’s mouth. At the initial stage of treatment, it is necessary to identify the allergen product and exclude it from the menu. Typically, this reaction can be caused by protein foods, namely chicken, as it is included in most feeds and supplements.
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine an allergen product, so the pug is put on a mono-diet: It can be rabbit or lamb meat. For three to four weeks, give your dog only rice porridge with meat. Monitor your health: as a rule, symptoms go away. If a product causes redness and itching again, it is an allergen. It must be immediately excluded from the diet. Keep adding new ingredients.
Through trial and error, you will come to a menu that will completely suit your pet. If you feed dry food, then it is more convenient to buy hypoallergenic food for sensitive dogs, which is available from almost all manufacturers. Hypoallergenic foods include lamb or fish, rice, and most importantly, the complete exclusion of cereals, preservatives, dyes or flavors.
Proper nutrition will allow your pet to heal faster. The following products are popular among pug owners: Pugs can also have diseases related to the gastrointestinal tract. The most common of them are gastritis and ulcers. Common symptoms of such diseases include diarrhea and vomiting, in particularly severe cases with blood. In order to cure a pug, its usual food should be replaced with oatmeal porridge.
You also need to give enemas to cleanse the body. After these measures, the pug should return to normal.
If symptoms persist, you should urgently consult a specialist. If your dog is worried about urolithiasis, then you need a food with a reduced protein content.
This helps reduce the formation of toxic components. Such foods allow you to slow down the process of oxalate formation and loss, unload the excretory system and alleviate your pet’s condition. The reasons why a dog loses its appetite can be explained by some psychological factors, such as:. If you follow all the recommendations, you can raise a healthy and active pug who will live for decades next to you.
Delight your dog with care and warmth - that's all he needs! The cart is empty. Search by product…. Blog Dogs What to feed a pug: all the secrets of a healthy diet. What to feed a pug: all the secrets of a healthy dog diet. Features of feeding pugs Pug is one of the most popular breeds of decorative dogs, which are characterized by compactness and proportionality.
Every pug is different, but there are a few general guidelines that all owners of this breed should follow: Pugs can eat anything, but you shouldn't let them. The fact is that they have a very weak gastrointestinal tract, which reacts to any food that is not suitable for the dog.
Pugs are prone to obesity.
For this reason, they need to be kept within limits - the portion size and feeding time should be determined by the owner. Every day the dog should have the same portion and the same time at which he eats it.
What vitamins are needed when feeding small breed dogs
If the dog’s diet consists of natural food, ready-made vitamin complexes will serve as an additional source of vitamins and minerals. There are many types of multivitamins and specialty vitamins on the pet market designed for small dog breeds.
The vitamin multicomplex solves the problem of vitamin deficiency in the body of an adult animal.
For example, Farmavit Active, Wolmar Winsome Pro Bio Booster Ca Mini or Galakan Champion. These nutritional supplements are developed for small breed dogs, are hypoallergenic, and do not cause side effects.
Dog diet
- A pug's diet should consist of natural products:
- White meat, preferably poultry.
- Lean fish.
- Fermented milk products.
- Vegetables.
The daily ration is reduced by 10 percent and divided into four doses. Having reduced the daily diet, you need to add a vitamin complex to your food.
If the dog is obese due to age, it should be fed once or twice a day. In the morning - vegetables, egg yolk, lean porridge. In the evening - meat or fish.
It is not recommended to give regular canned food to a dog on a diet, as they contain a lot of meat substitutes, a huge amount of bone meal and grains. Using such food can only worsen the situation and the pug will begin to gain weight. An exception may be dietary food, in which the nutrients needed by a pug are ideally selected.
How to properly feed small breed dog puppies
When a puppy is just born, its digestive system is on its way to development; a diet of the right foods is the key to health for years to come. Newborn puppies can be supplemented with milk or a specialized formula. At the age of about 1-3 months, you need to feed puppies with natural food: lean meat, eggs, fish, porridge, fermented milk.
Protein should make up at least 70% of the diet. We add healthy fats and boiled vegetables to the rest of the diet. This menu may seem boring to humans, but puppies do not need a variety of foods.
Their gastrointestinal tract is just learning how to digest food, and preference is given to simple and healthy foods. The diet should not contain fatty, fried, sweet foods; they are prohibited for puppies and cause serious health and digestive problems.
Dry food
“Dries” are made from freeze-dried foods and healthy nutritional supplements. Granules can be diluted with water or kefir.
First-class food is expensive, but is the key to a pet’s health and life expectancy.
Expert opinion
Anna Abramenko
An avid dog lover. Experience in veterinary medicine since 2009.
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The dog should always have a bowl of fresh water.
On packages of dry food, the manufacturer writes general recommendations on the amount of daily ration according to the age of the pet. It is advisable to follow the instructions, otherwise the pug may become very fat, which will have a detrimental effect on its health.
If your dog suddenly begins to lose weight, you can change the brand of food to a more nutritious one in order to increase the calorie content, but maintain the volume of food and not overload its stomach.
Comparison table of the best dry food for pugs:
Class | Name | Compound | Manufacturer | Price in rub./kg | |
1 | Economy | Pedigree | Corn, soybeans, by-products, animal meal | USA | 100-150 |
2 | Premium | Hills | Poultry, fats, vegetables, fruits | USA | 350-450 |
3 | Superpremium | FirstMate | Lamb meat, grains, herbs, vegetable oils | France | 380-480 |
4 | Holistics | Acana | Legumes, offal, sea fish fillets, chicken eggs, herbs, fruits, vegetables | Canada | 550-750 |
If your miniature dog has digestive problems due to food
A common reason for visiting a veterinarian is gastrointestinal problems. Not a single animal is safe from them.
The reasons for their appearance are usually similar: either a specific brand of ready-made dry or wet food is not suitable for the animal, or the owner decides to save money and buys cheap brands of food that have an unbalanced and even harmful composition.
The most common digestive disorders are:
- Diarrhea, constipation
- Allergies that cause a skin reaction
- Intolerance to components included in the finished feed
- Uncontrollable vomiting
- Poisoning
For each of these symptoms, the dog should be shown to a veterinarian to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Self-medication or self-diagnosis is fraught with the emergence of new diseases. If you do not review your dog’s diet, then over time, minor problems with the gastrointestinal tract will lead to the development of chronic diseases of the internal organs.
The damage will mainly be caused to the stomach and liver, and various parts of the intestines.
To solve the problem, it is enough to change the brand of food, choosing a diet without harmful and poorly digestible components. A competent veterinarian can advise which food is best to introduce, based on the health of a particular dog. Change the food gradually; too sudden a change will cause severe digestive upset. The replacement should be made within a week, mixing the new type of food with the old one.
Puppy feeding schedule
The type of diet must be maintained at the same level for the first two weeks after purchasing a pug puppy, so you need to find out from the kennel or breeder what food was used. The daily food intake for puppies under one year of age is divided into several feedings:
- up to two months - food is given six times a day;
- from two to four months - food is given four times a day;
- from four months to six months - food is given three times a day;
- from six months to ten months - food is given twice a day.
Starting from the age of one year, it is recommended to feed your pet twice a day, but if necessary, it is possible to transfer the pug to one meal a day. The first complementary foods are introduced to the puppy starting at the age of one or one and a half months . For this purpose, you can use low-fat kefir or yogurt, as well as cottage cheese.
Then the diet is gradually supplemented with lightly stewed and salted vegetables, well-cooked rice or buckwheat porridge. If your pet is actively growing and gaining weight well, then the diet is optimal. If necessary, vitamin and mineral supplements are added to food.
Starting from about three months of age, the main emphasis in the diet should be on meat products and low-fat boiled sea fish without bones. If the owner does not have the opportunity to feed the puppy natural food, then it is necessary to select industrially produced dry or wet food that is optimal in composition and age-appropriate. It is important to remember that the transition from one type of nutrition to another must be smooth and gradual.
This is interesting! Biscuit crumbs are an ideal source of carbohydrates for your pug puppy. Such crumbs should be mixed into minced meat or fish and fed to puppies aged two to five months, which promotes the development of chewing muscles.
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Diet for a pregnant miniature dog
Pregnancy of a pet is an important moment; it is necessary to organize the correct diet for the animal. It is advisable to avoid sudden changes in diet; pregnancy is stressful for the pet and changing the diet can aggravate the pet’s condition. The main part of the menu should be animal proteins. An overweight towards fast carbohydrates and fats can cause excess weight.
It is better to choose premium dog food intended for pregnant females; they have a good composition and contain a balanced set of vitamins and minerals necessary for a pregnant animal. It is important to monitor the portions you consume. Excessive feeding can lead to excess weight gain; there is no need to feed your pet for two or three. Additional weight can weaken the dog’s labor and add increased stress to the internal organs.
In the first half of pregnancy, the animal is fed according to the usual schedule, maintaining the portion size that was before pregnancy. To avoid weight gain, small pets need to remain active, but remember - you should not overwork the animal during pregnancy. If it was decided to switch the animal to another food, then the best time for this is the first half of pregnancy. The transition is carried out smoothly, on average about 8-10 days. If the new food is not suitable for a particular pet, the return to the previous one should be gradual.
In the second half of pregnancy, active growth of puppies in the womb begins; if before this excess nutrition was spent on the pet’s excess weight, now all the excess will go to feed the fetuses. The animal’s body gives all its resources to its offspring. It is important to gradually increase the pet's diet; by the end of pregnancy, the bitch should receive about 30% more food than usual.
There are periods when the female’s appetite decreases or disappears. There is no need to force feed; when the dog feels better, it will begin to eat properly again. During this period, it is better to offer food often and in small portions. During pregnancy, the uterus puts a lot of pressure on the internal organs, and large portions of food will worsen the condition, and a lack of food will provoke the birth of weakened offspring.
Physical training
Just like a human, exercise is very important for an overweight pug, but you should be careful. Too much stress can lead to disastrous consequences, such as cardiac arrest. Gradually increase the duration of walks; for starters, 1.5 times is enough.
The most popular exercise for dogs is fetch the ball. It will keep your pet entertained and moving. After some time, you can begin to overcome obstacles, but you should not overdo it.
It is best to have a professional trainer create a training schedule. He will select the appropriate exercises and quickly get your dog in good shape.
Our article has now come to an end. Thank you all so much for reading. Remember that your pug's health depends primarily on you. Keep an eye on it so that your pet lives happily ever after. Was the material helpful? How much does your pug weigh? Write in the comments.