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When a dog reaches full maturity, it enters the maintenance
period. Normal healthy dogs who are not pregnant, nursing,
or hardworking have relatively low nutritional requirements
for maintaining an appropriate body condition. A good
body condition is one in which the animal is well proportioned,
with an observable waist behind the ribcage, and ribs
that can be felt with a slight fat covering over them.
With the variety of nutritionally complete and balanced
dog foods available, providing a proper diet for an
adult dog can be straightforward and simple without
the need for supplements of any kind. If supplemental
meat or table scraps are fed, they should account for
no more than 10% of the total diet. Higher levels can
dilute the nutritional value of the commercial diet,
predispose an animal to obesity and may create a finicky
eater.
For dogs with lower caloric needs and/or for dogs
that are less active, attention should be paid to the
potential for excessive weight gain. Often a dog's weight
can be reduced simply by eliminating table scraps and
treats from the diet and by avoiding high-energy dog
foods. Overweight dogs may have more health problems
and a shorter life expectancy.
Feeding recommendations for adult dogs can vary, depending
upon the breed, activity, metabolism and owner's preference.
Whether or not an animal is fed once or twice each day,
it should be fed at the same time, and fresh drinking
water should always be made available. Just as with
humans, a dog's appetite may vary from day to day. This
should not pose a problem unless the loss of appetite
persists or the dog shows signs of illness or weight
loss. In these situations, the dog should be examined
by a veterinarian.
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Reprinted with permission by Ralston Purina Canada
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