02.07.10
Feeding
Selecting the appropriate food for Boxer (or any dog for that matter) can be a challenge. What is the best one? What should I be looking for in a quality dog food? Which gives the most nutrition for the lowest cost? All of these are valid questions and you’ll probably get different answers depending on who you ask.
Step one — Identify your dogs nutritional needs. Larger dogs have different needs than toy or small dogs. Some breeds even need specific supplements. So be sure you do your research and talk with your vet about what your dog needs. Your neighbor’s Husky isn’t going to require the same food regiment as your toy poodle. Don’t forget active dogs require more calories!
Step two — read the label. Just because a food says it’s “healthy” doesn’t mean its right for your dog. Boxers must have a high-quality food. If you feed the lower grade food, many of which has fillers, you may notice some side effects — gas and your dog having to “go potty” more. Think of it this way, cheaper/lower quality food has a harder time being digested by the body, thus resulting in more “output” by your dog. So bottom line, read the label and go for foods that list a meat (chicken, lamb, bison, beef) as the first ingredient.
Step Three — if your switching foods, ease your dog into it. Be sure to mix the food and slowly switch the food over. Just switching can cause your dog’s digestive tract to become upset.
Know what your putting into your dog. You look at food labels when you buy food for your family, why not ensure you’re getting the best for the furry, four-legged members of the family too?
