Part of good poodle care is managing your pet's nutritional needs.
To keep its thick, curly coat looking lustrous, a poodle must
have a carefully balanced diet.
Number of Feedings
A puppy has a small stomach and will probably require three or
four small feedings daily at first. A mature dog is usually fed
twice a day, morning and afternoon. Fresh water should be available
to your poodle at all times.
Types of Commercial Food
Most high quality commercial dog foods contain all the nutrients
a poodle needs. Ask your breeder and your vet to recommend the
brands of food they use.
Dry dog food is probably the most commonly used type of commercial
food. It tends to be less expensive than canned or semi-moist
foods. In addition, dry food is good for the dog's teeth as it
helps to break up plaque. Some dogs, however, may get tired of
nothing but dry food.
Canned food tends to taste better to poodles (though it smells
hideous to humans). Usually rich in nutrients, it is an excellent
choice to help an underweight poodle gain a few pounds. Canned
foods, however, may prove to rich for some poodles who will develop
diarrhea or vomiting after eating them. A good poodle care compromise
is to mix a spoonful or two of canned food into your dog's dry
food.
Semi-moist foods should be avoided by poodle owners as they are
often high in sugars. Although the poodle might enjoy the taste,
the sugars could make it ill.
What about Special Treats?
There are any number of special treats for dogs on the market.
Again, seek the advice of your breeder or vet before deciding
which ones to purchase. Treats should be used in special situations
only, such as when you are training your pet. Don't over-feed
treats or they will lose their reward value.
Foods to Avoid
No dog can beg more prettily than a poodle, but don't give into
the temptation to feed your pet table scraps. This is not good
poodle care. Much of the food that humans consume can be harmful
or even deadly to a dog.
Especially avoid the following foods, which are poisonous to
poodles: chocolate, artificial sweeteners, processed sugars, grapes,
raisins, and onions. Poodles also do not do well digesting turkey
or pork.
Breaking
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