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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)
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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.
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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.
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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:
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Puppy |
Adult Target Weight (KG) |
Recommended Daily Feeding (g/day) |
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<3 months 3-6 months 6-9 months 9-12 months 12-18 months |
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Toy breed |
1-3 |
15-72 |
32-83 |
37-83 |
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3-5 |
33-106 |
72-121 |
83-121 |
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Small breed (25-50) |
5-8 |
48-151 |
106-172 |
111-172 |
111-170 |
Transition to IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Adult Dog Food |
|
8-10 |
69-178 |
151-204 |
170-204 |
170-201 |
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|
Medium breed |
10-20 |
82-299 |
178-343 |
201-343 |
201-339 |
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|
20-25 |
137-346 |
339-404 |
339-404 |
339-404 |
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|
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.
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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:
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Weight range |
Age to begin transition |
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Small breeds that weigh < 9.07 kgs |
9 and 12 months of age |
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Medium breeds that weigh between 9.07 and 22.6 kgs |
12 to 14months of age |
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Large breeds that weigh more than 22.6 kgs |
12 to 24 months of age |
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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:
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Weight Range |
Age to Begin Transition |
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More than 90 lbs |
5 years |
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51 to 90 lbs |
6 years |
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21 to 50 lbs |
7 years |
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Up to 20 lbs |
7 years |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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..
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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.
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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.
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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
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Leash training can help your puppy safely explore the world beyond your house or backyard. It can enhance your dog’s walking experience and help you bond with it better. We must remember that dogs are not born with the ability to walk on a leash, they need to be taught. As their caregivers, we need to help them learn this skill comfortably.
If you have a large breed pup, it is imperative that you train it while it is still young. Once your fur baby grows up to be heavy, you will have a tough time handling it on a leash. You do not want to be dragged along the ground or see your dog get into an easily avoidable fracas.
In case you are wondering at what age to start leash training a puppy, here’s your answer: You are start at 10 weeks of its age, however, you must know that it can be done earlier. It will help your pup grow into an obedient pawsome pal. Leash training also makes it easier for you to travel with your pet and embark on exciting adventures seamlessly! Train your puppies while they are still young as it will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
If you are facing any trouble with how to teach your puppy to walk on a leash, here are some tips to get you started:
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Pick the right collar
Picking the right collar is the first step to getting your dog used to a puppy leash. It is imperative that your fur baby feels comfortable in it. So, make sure that the collar is neither too tight nor too loose; there should be space for at least two fingers under it. While leash training your puppy, breathability and comfort is of paramount importance.
Note: If you plan on training your puppy at an early age, stay attentive during sessions. Since your little furry friend will be at a developing stage, it will outgrow its collar soon. Make sure that you keep checking the fit of the collar and change it as and when needed.
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Introducing your puppy to a leash
Your puppy will need some time to get used to the leash. For puppies, this is an alien thing, and they will need some time to adjust and accept this new accessory. You can help your pup ease into this process by trying a few tricks. It needs to resonate a leash with fun times. Let it spend some time playing with the leash. You can also make your canine companion wear it every time you are having a fun time together at home. Do not put it on when it is alone, sad, or irritated.
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Treats go a long way
As you teach your puppy how to walk on a leash, remember that rewarding it with treats will only promote good behaviour. Grab a treat in your hands and take a few steps back. This will encourage your pooch to walk towards you to devour its favourite treat. To avoid overeating, you can also reward the pup with toys, praises, or belly rubs.
Note: Do not stretch your dog’s leash training for prolonged hours. It might get exhausted and shy away from training.-
Indoor practice
Indoor practice is the best way of gauging how your canine companion fares with the concept of walking on leash. This will also help you get your puppy used to the leash without losing control of it. Choose a decent stretch of floor in your home, make sure there are no obstructions, and just start walking with your puppy on a leash. At the end of one stretch, reward it with treats. Stay attentive during these session to know when your pup is ready for the world outside your home.
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Start with short outdoor walks
Teaching your puppy how to walk on a leash is going to be full of surprises. If you think that your pet will easily walk on a leash outdoors once it has learnt to do it indoors, you are mistaken. Being curious is only natural and that is exactly what will happen once your four-legged friend realises that it is not at home anymore! Your dog will want to sniff every corner, every plant, and whatever it sets its eyes on. Hence, start with short outdoor walks!
Note: Carry some treats with you to encourage your puppy to follow you!
Remember that patience is key! And your furry friend is not the only one who needs to be patient during this process. Your puppy is going to need some time to get used to this walking style and you need to give it that time. Moreover, make sure that this transition is smooth and comfortable for your pup. Once you start putting these tips into action, you two can start taking long strolls together.
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