Finding the best food for poodles can be a challenge. This dog is known for their love of cheese, and other high-fat foods. Standard poodles (prone to bloat) require about twice as much food to satisfy their nutritional needs every day. Toy and mini poodles in later years require about 3 meals a day, with high protein and fatty acid contents. This increases their energy needs, which in turn leads to weight gain. Miniature poodle nutrition should be aimed at maintaining lean muscle mass and reducing fat.
Fatty acids found in many sources throughout the diet are not essential to good health, however. Auxiliary fats produced by the liver and bloodstream help to maintain a healthy circulatory system. Essential fatty acids can come from poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, wheat and cereal grains. Meat, poultry and eggs are considered to be the best source of omega 3 fatty acids for the body. The body needs these fatty acids to perform at optimum level, so it is best to choose them as a poodle’s main ingredient.
Carbohydrates are another important part of a well-balanced diet for dogs. Dogs have relatively low levels of carbohydrates compared to humans, who typically consume twice as many carbohydrates as dogs. However, dog owners should limit the amount of rice and pasta they feed their poodle because these foods are highly processed. In addition, some dogs, especially small poodles, do not digest wheat and corn well, so it is not recommended to give them these foods.
Most quality dog food for poodles contain beneficial ingredients such as probiotics and enzymes, which are good bacteria that promote a sense of well being. However, many brands use a number of harmful ingredients that destroy these helpful bacteria. In addition, many commercial products use by-products and corn or soy flour in place of probiotics and enzymes. It is important that you check the label of your dog food for these ingredients.
The best food for poodles will have minimal calories per day and should be low in fat. It should also be high in fiber and protein, with low to moderate sodium and fat. Your dog’s manufacturer should be able to provide you with this information.
A quality protein meal for your poodle should include chicken meal, turkey meal, bison meal, brown rice, beet pulp, pumpkin meal, wheat, oats, fish meal and turkey meal. You can find these meals at most pet food stores. There are two kinds of protein meal: dry and wet. Choose the type of protein meal that is the most complete.
Low calorie dog foods are available, but your poodle would not enjoy them very much. Instead, opt for high quality canned dog foods, homemade dog biscuits, and dry dog food. High quality canned dog foods typically have 80{6ab6e213dc40d028e196915d0fb7d62dbcf41befafa31926e017f15913de6641} fewer calories than the average low-calorie dog food. If your dog eats dry dog food for every meal, he will consume fewer calories than if you feed him canned food twice a day.
To prevent bladder stones in dogs, the best food for poodles is a water-based Aloe formula. This Aloe brand contains Vitamins A, C and E, fatty acids, choline, niacin, magnesium, potassium and taurine. Also look for a dog food that contains a laxative. If your dog has frequent accidents at home because of his digestive system, you might consider using a medicated dog food like pills, digestible enzymes or a powder. These are very helpful in helping to maintain proper digestion.
Although it is not recommended, mixed poodles should not be fed table scraps because their digestive systems may not be as strong as their purebred counterparts. The best diet for poodles with hip dysplasia is a high fiber diet that includes chicory or root vegetables, canned vegetables, chicken or beef, brown rice and unsweetened dried dog food. This diet is also recommended for poodles with diabetes or other kidney problems. Another supplement to add to the diet is a formulation designed for the immune system. This formula contains L-glutamine and can help guard against the affects of free radicals.
Since poodles have floppy ears, it is not advisable to give them wet food. Rather, they need to dry food and poodle puppies can eat dry food up to six weeks old. If your poodle puppies have excessive flatulence, it may be caused by the over-feeding. So monitor how much he eats and remove what he doesn’t need.
A lot of commercial dog foods contain what’s called “meat meal” which is basically by-products. Many puppy owners do not realize that the first five ingredients in dog food are usually meat, vegetables, fruits and grains. Although this sounds good, many of these products are unhealthy and can actually promote long-term health problems, such as cancer, immune system breakdown, allergies, etc. So look for first 5 ingredients before purchasing any food for poodles.