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Feeding Your Dog
By Lisa Pallardy
 Your veterinarian only sees your dog once or twice a year. As a dog owner, however, it is important that you monitor your dog's eating so that you can be aware of any changes in appetite, which could be a sign of a serious illness or other condition.
Since you are with your dog every day, it is essential that you keep track of the amount of food he is eating so that you can be aware of appetite changes, unusual weight loss or gain, even changes in his stool. Also, if you notice any changes in the amount of water your dog is consuming, or if his coat suddenly appears dull and dry, you'll want to report this to your dog's vet immediately.
Following are some basic dog feeding tips. Be sure to check with your veterinarian for specific guidelines for your particular dog.
Most vets recommend feeding your dog twice a day. When you take your dog to the vet for his first check-up, he will provide you with specific information on the amount of food to feed your dog, depending on the breed and age of your dog.
Never leave your dog's food out all day for him to "graze." Rather, feed him at a specified time twice each day. Leave his food available for him for 15-20 minutes, then remove his bowl until the next feeding time (10-12 hours later). This is particularly important if you are attempting to potty train a new puppy!
It's a good idea to change brands or flavors of dog food every three to four months. This could help avoid problems for your dog resulting from either too much or too little of certain ingredients.
To make the transition to the new brand or flavor of dog food easier for your dog, make it a gradual change. Start with about one-fourth of the new food mixed in with three-fourths of the old food. Slowly, gradually increase the amount of the new food and decrease the amount of the old food over the course of 7-10 days until you have completely switched to the newer food. Then, three or four months later, repeat this process.
As you make the switch to the new dog food, be sure to watch for even subtle changes in your dog: his skin and coat, his appetite, his weight, his stools, even his energy level and his mood. If you notice changes in your dog that are unpleasant, switch back to the original food, and try introducing a different brand. Report persistent problems to your vet.
If you're not pleased with the quality of commercial dog foods, considering trying your hand and making your own dog food! The internet is filled with articles and recipes for all-natural, organic recipes, or check your library or bookstore. Making your own dog food is particularly effective in allowing you to control the quality of the ingredients your dog eats. If this seems too overwhelming, perhaps you can supplement your dog's regular commercial dog food feedings with homemade dog food only once or twice a week.
It cannot be emphasized enough that any changes in your dog's behavior, skin or coat, unusual stools, changes in urine, etc., need to be reported immediately to your dog's vet.
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