Doggone Etiquette —

Food For Thought

By Bardi McLennan

A Word to the Dog:

Are you eating up a storm? Oops, that’s the wrong word to use, so put it this way: Are you eating more, or asking to be fed more, now that we’re heading into winter? Could it be just the smell of the kids’ hot chocolate or piles of warm pancakes that have you taking an interest in food? If you’re an all-weather, play-outside kind of dog, you might be eligible for a bit more in your food dish, but if you are the stay warm and cozy, curled-up by the fire variety, forget about more food. You’d only put on weight and that’s not healthy.

A Word to the Dog’s Owner:

With so many new and widely proclaimed dog foods on the market, it’s enough to leave any dog owner totally confused. A dog from a breeder probably came with a shopping list of what Rufus should (and should not) be fed for his lifetime, plus the correct amounts to feed. For a dog that was a rescue, but obviously a specific breed, you could contact someone in that breed for guidance if problems arise. Regardless of breed or mixed breeds, your veterinarian can be relied on for help with maintaining a proper diet to keep Rufus healthy. And if none of the above covers your special Rufus, survey the available dog foods yourself and read the labels!

There was a time when a dog owner fed his best friend the identical dog food day in, day out for the dog’s entire life. That theory was put to rest when people discovered dogs are keen on variety and do much better on it. The dog food manufacturers promptly complied. The crunch of dry kibble remains the basic ingredient, good for the teeth and chewing exercise, but now to be mixed with various prepared meats – chicken, beef, pork or lamb – with or without vegetables and gravy.

I don’t want to get into an argument with any of you good dog owners over this, but you should be aware that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) specifically advises against feeding raw meat, eggs, or milk to dogs and cats. And if you stop to think about it, how many people today would consider it safe to eat raw meat or eggs every day of their lives? Our companion dogs gave up fresh-killed raw wildlife many centuries ago – at about the same time we did.

But here’s the thing. We are rapidly heading into winter and our dogs’ appetites and nutritional needs are to be taken seriously. Fresh water is exactly as essential to Rufus in sub-zero weather as it is in the sweltering summer. Snow is definitely not a substitute. It could be contaminated, and ice is not good for the teeth. Fresh water is it. If you notice any indifference in the dog’s attitude toward his food, he may simply need a variety in what you’re offering. If you change from one brand to another, do it over a period of a several days, not all at once. Of course, if you have any reason to be more concerned about the dog’s appetite, make a quick trip to the veterinarian to check it out.

All this chat about a daily diet for Rufus while most of us are only thinking about that Thanksgiving turkey! Relax. Turkey is fine for Rufus, too. Just be sure there are no bones in his portion. The tiny, splintery ones cause the most damage because they can easily get caught in the dog’s throat or beyond. Most veggies are fine, but skip the onions. As for dessert, skip the pie and anything chocolate, but a bit of that ice cream topping might be a nice treat.

A special donation this year to your favorite dogs-in-need charity will go a long way toward helping other dogs, their owners, and caretakers share the holiday.

Until next time – Happy Thanksgiving!

- Bardi

Bardi McLennan bred, trained, and showed Welsh terriers for 30 years, during which time she wrote a monthly column on canine behavior in Dog Fancy Magazine. In addition to contributing to numerous dog publications, she has written 15 books on dogs; Rescue Me! received the ASPCA Humane Issues Award in 2008.