IAMS SG
Common Questions about Feeding Your Dog
Common Questions about Feeding Your Dog

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Common Questions About Feeding Dogs

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  1. How do I decide what to feed my dog?

When deciding which pet food is right for your pet, consider these three factors:

  • Your dog’s life stage (Whether your dog is a puppy, an adult, or a senior)
  • Lifestyle (How active your dog is)
  • Condition (Overall health and body weight of your dog)
  1. How many times should I feed a dog?

Puppies should be fed three times a day from weaning (3 to 6 weeks) to 4 months of age. After 4 months, they should be fed twice a day. Most dogs should continue to be fed twice a day throughout their life, although some pets do well with one feeding.

  1. How much should I feed my dog?

The answer to this question depends on your dog’s age, size, and activity level. Feeding guidelines, which list the daily-recommended portion, are included on all IAMS™ packages. Start feeding your dog with this amount and adjust according to its needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day.

  1. How much should I feed a puppy?

The amount you need to feed your puppy depends on 3 main factors — breed, weight, and age. However, you can take a look at this general guideline that we recommend for puppies: 

 

Puppy

Adult Target Weight (KG)

Recommended Daily Feeding (g/day)

                                                <3 months         3-6 months      6-9 months      9-12 months        12-18 months

Toy breed

1-3

15-72

32-83

37-83

   
 

3-5

33-106

72-121

83-121

   
 

Small breed (25-50)

5-8

48-151

106-172

111-172

111-170

Transition to IAMSTMPROACTIVE HEALTHTM ADULT DOG

 

8-10

69-178

151-204

170-204

170-201

 
 

Medium breed

10-20

82-299

178-343

201-343

201-339

 
 

20-25

137-346

339-404

339-404

339-404

 
 

Large breed

25-40

136-492

346-575

404-575

396-575

396-563

 

40-50

191-509

493-675

575-681

563-681

553-676

This diet contains 390 kilocalories of metabolizable energy (ME) per 100 gms. Remember to have clean, fresh water available for your dog at all times.

  1. When should I switch puppy to adult dog food diet?

You should not change your puppy’s food to adult abruptly. Giving your pet time to acclimatise to the new taste of adult food is very important. Also, if you suddenly switch your pup’s food, it can cause digestive problems. Go through this schedule that will help you understand how much to feed your dog and transition your dog’s diet from puppy food to adult food:

  • Day 1 – Add 75% puppy food and mix 25% adult food in your dog’s plate. 
  • Day 2 – Add both foods in equal quantities i.e. 50% puppy food and 50% adult food.
  • Day 3 – Increase the quantity of adult food to 75% and bring down the quantity of puppy food to 25%.
  • Day 4 – Fully transition to adult dog food.

If you are wondering how much to feed your puppy by weight and age, check out the weight and age-wise breakdown on when to transition your puppy’s diet to adult food:

Weight range

Age to begin transition

Small breeds that weigh < 9.07 kgs 

9 and 12 months of age

Medium breeds that weigh between 9.07 and 22.6 kgs

12 to 14months of age

Large breeds that weigh more than 22.6 kgs

12 to 24 months of age

  1. When should I switch my dog to senior food?

While transitioning from adult dog food to senior dog food, it is important to factor in your dog’s weight. Take a look at this weight table to know when to transition your dog’s food from adult to senior: 

Weight Range

Age to Begin Transition

More than 90 lbs

5 years

51 to 90 lbs

6 years

21 to 50 lbs

7 years

Up to 20 lbs

7 years

  1. What is the best way to introduce a new diet to my dog?

When changing your dog’s diet, it’s important to slowly introduce new food. Start by offering your dog’s daily portion in a ratio of 25% new food to 75% current food. During the next three days, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of the old food.

  1. What to feed my dog if they are overweight?

If your dog has gained unhealthy weight, make sure to cut down on fats along with increasing regular exercise. We recommend you browse through IAMS™ products and choose dog foods that are low on fat. How much food to feed your dog if they are overweight, is another major concern. You can consult your vet to understand the right amount of food your furry friend needs for each meal.

  1. What should I feed my pregnant or nursing dog?

It’s important to understand that your dog’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and ensure you feed her nutrition-rich food. For pregnant dogs, we recommend IAMS™ Puppy food as it’s full of proteins that can help your pregnant dog during the gestation period and improve the quality of milk to nourish her puppies post-delivery.

  1. Is it necessary to feed both wet and dry food?

Wet food is an excellent treat that can be fed alone or mixed with dry food. Although IAMS wet dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, it is not necessary to offer wet food at every feeding. Our dry foods are formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken, lamb or fish, and contain all the essential nutrients pets need. The crunchy texture of dry food also promotes healthy teeth and gums, and aids in overall good oral hygiene. In addition, some of our dry dog foods contain a dental enhancement to help block tartar buildup on teeth during and after meals.

 

Dog

  1. Will my dog be bored eating the same food all the time?

No. Unlike humans, dogs have fewer taste receptors. Hence, they won’t feel the urge to eat something different every day. In fact, if you find something that suits your dog’s overall health and preferences, stick to that food.

  1. Is it all right to moisten dry food?

Soaking dry food will ease up the initial job of the digestive enzymes. While water will not change its nutritional value, the food should be eaten relatively soon. Moreover, ensure that the leftover portion is discarded to avoid spoilage. We recommend providing your dog with IAMS™ dry food because it is beneficial to your dog’s dental health as well..

  1. Can dogs eat cat food?

No. Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements. Moreover, cat foods are made with higher fat levels, which can be harmful to a dog. While it is okay for dogs and cats to sniff and lick some food from each other’s bowl, you shouldn’t let dogs eat cat food.

  1. How many biscuits can I feed my dog each day?

We recommend feeding your dog approximately two to four small biscuits per cup of food. Keep in mind that when you add biscuits to your dog’s daily diet, this increases its daily calorie intake, so you should reduce the amount of food you feed. Check the calorie content of the biscuit since biscuits vary in size and formulation.

  1. Can I supplement my dog foods with vitamins, minerals, oils, etc.?

Since IAMS™ dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, adding more vitamins, minerals or oils can disrupt the balance our dog food provides. The reason why you provide your dog with a high-quality product is that it has been developed to offer nourishment in proper ratios and ensure optimal nutrition. Hence, nothing needs to be added

  1. Why does my dog need to eat protein?

Protein is one of the essential elements that should be a part of your dog’s diet. Including protein in your dog’s diet will strengthen its muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. A protein-rich food also brings about a healthy shine to your dog’s coat!

  1. Why should one maintain a feeding schedule for dogs?

It is important to maintain a feeding schedule for dogs so that they are conditioned to expect food at that time and avoid irregular snacking in between.

  1. What are the things a dog cannot eat? 

You should never feed your dog home-baked goods, candy, gum, chocolate, limes, onion, and grapes. They can harm your dog’s digestive tract and cause infections as well. 

  1. Why should you feed IAMS™ dog food over homecooked food? 

IAMS™ dog food is full of key nutrients that your dog needs for its healthy growth. The basic ingredients in our food include chicken, fish oil, beet pulp, wholesome grains, and natural prebiotic.

  1. How can I learn more about pet nutrition?

Follow our blogs to know more about pet nutrition and dog food diet. Feel free to contact us here in case of any queries.

  • Understanding Puppy Food Nutrition Labels
    Understanding Puppy Food Nutrition Labels

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    Understanding Puppy Food Nutrition Labels

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    How much do you know about the food you’re buying for your puppy? When shopping for puppy food, pay attention to these three sections of a dog food label.

     

    1. The Ingredient Panel

    This section lists all the ingredients that make up the product. The ingredients are listed in descending order according to weight before cooking. In dry food, look for a source of high-quality animal-based protein: chicken or lamb, for example. Dogs thrive on animal proteins.
     

    Manufacturers who use large amounts of vegetable proteins might be saving money by providing basic — but not optimal — nutrition. You should also avoid artificial colors and flavors, which offer no nutritional benefits.

     

    2. The Guaranteed Analysis

    Near the ingredient panel should be a chart of percentages called the 'guaranteed analysis.' These figures reveal the basic nutrient makeup of the dog food's formula and protein content. The minimum percentages of protein and fat and the maximum percentages of fiber and moisture (water) should be listed.

     

    3. The Manufacturer’s Name and Address

    This information must be included on the label by law. A toll-free number or web address for the manufacturer may also be listed. Manufacturers who list a phone number, such as IAMS™, generally have a high-quality product and welcome consumer calls and questions. If you would like information about IAMS products, visit our website or call us toll-free at 800-525-4267.

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