What You Should Feed Your Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier’s love – love- love to eat. My boston is constantly giving me those pathetic looks every time I take a bite out of food. And if she hears a bag crinkling she runs across the house within seconds! Boston’s could care less about nutrition or eating what’s “good” for them. We as responsible pet owners need to make sure our furry little friends are getting the proper nutrition. Dogs are meat-eating animals. Their diet should be based in animal protein. Make sure to review the ingredients and food labels before choosing a dog food. This can be overwhelming since there are so many different choices available! Here’s What You Need to Know Dry Food Dry dog food helps keep your dog’s teeth healthy by reducing tartar buildup. This promotes healthier teeth and gums, and results in less doggy breath! Dry dog food has less odor and doesn’t attract flies like canned (once it’s opened) tends to. Canned Food Canned food can be a good for underweight dogs, those who have a medical need for the higher water content (for example, kidney disease), or those recovering from an illness. It also keeps longer (until the can is opened), and may have fewer preservatives since the canning process acts as a preservative. Some dogs just prefer canned food, and some owners like to give their dogs a mix of canned and dry food. Semi-Moist Semi-moist food is a bit more expensive yet. These foods have a moisture content of 25-35%, which falls between that of dry food (3-11% water) and canned food (60-78% water). They are convenient and usually come in a plastic pouch. Some semi-moist dog foods have higher levels of preservatives than other dog foods. Since semi-moist foods don’t have the benefit of the preservative effect of the canning process or the low moisture content of dry food which prevents decay, semi-moist foods may require higher levels of preservatives to keep them from spoiling. Specialty Dog Foods The main categories of specialty foods are: • Age related (puppy food, adult food, senior food) • Lifestyle related (active dogs, sedentary dogs) • Allergy related canine nutrition options – designed to avoid food allergies. • Medical related – designed for specific medical conditions • Niche canine nutrition – designed for specific ages, breeds and dietary approaches Table Scraps I’m sure you’re familiar with this one! Dogs like a lot of the same foods we do, but don’t give in to them. Table scraps usually don’t provide a nutritionally balanced meal for a dog. And, you need to be careful because some foods that are common for people to eat (like chocolate and onions) can be TOXIC to dogs. Treats Treats are ok in small amounts. They should never be the staple in your pets diet, but only used an occasional reward. How Much To Feed Your Pup This usually depends on the age and activity level of your Boston Terrier. Read what the manufacturer recommends on the product package. You can then increase or decrease the amount based on your Boston’s needs, and whether he is gaining or losing weight. Puppies Since puppies are growing they have different nutrition needs than adult Boston Terriers. Puppies need extra protein. They need about 25-35% more than adults. They also should have ample calcium and minerals to support a growing and developing puppy. Puppies have a very high metabolic rate and small tummies! Feeding them several small meals a day is usually the best way to give them the nutrition that they need. Here are some suggestions: • 3 months of age or less: four to five meals per day. • 3 to 5 months of age: three to four meals per day. • 6 to 10 months: two to three meals per day. • 10 months and older: two meals per day. Adjust based on your Boston’s needs and whether his weight is increasing or decreasing.

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