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How to Handle Your Adult Dog’s Shedding
How to Handle Your Adult Dog’s Shedding

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How to Handle Your Adult Dog’s Shedding

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If you own a dog, chances are, you deal with the nuisance of shedding fur. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to help keep your dog's shedding to a manageable level.

If you own a dog, chances are, you deal with the nuisance of shedding fur. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to help keep your dog's shedding to a manageable level.

 

Bred to Shed

The main factor related to how much your dog sheds is which breed you own. Certain breeds, such as Yorkshire Terriers and Poodles, hardly shed at all, and are especially well suited for people who suffer from dander-related allergies. But if one of these hypoallergenic breeds is not your dog of choice, then chances are you deal with some amount of shedding. Here are some practical tips to deal with all of that hair.

 

Bad Hair Days

Many dogs are seasonal shedders. As the temperatures begin to drop, so does the fur. Dogs shed their summer coats in the fall as their winter coats come in. The best way to deal with this is to be prepared. Brush your dog more often and vacuum more frequently. This will keep that extra hair from becoming too unmanageable.

 

Dogs also will go through their own version of spring cleaning. When the temperatures begin to rise in the spring, dogs will begin shedding that extra winter hair. Again, preparation is the key. Regular brushing and vacuuming will help you get through these “hairy” times.

 

Less Shedding Through Nutrition?

Between the millions of strands of hair constantly growing, some breeds of dogs grow up to a total of 100 feet of fur per day! But, while your dog might not boast those kinds of hair-growth numbers, constantly replacing fur still places a demand on a dog’s system. Thirty percent of a dog's protein needs go toward hair growth. If a dog is not receiving proper nutrition, the dog's body will put the protein he's receiving toward maintaining muscle mass, leaving the coat to suffer.

A healthy, shiny coat is not only a sign of proper nutrition, but it also sheds less than an unhealthy coat. Premium dog food like IAMS™ ProActive Health™ provides dogs with the nutrients they need to keep their coat healthy, which means less shedding.

 

High Time for Hygiene

Brushing doesn't have to be a necessary evil. Train your dog to enjoy brushing, offering frequent praise during the process, and maybe even a treat at the end. This is easiest done from the time your dog is a puppy, but older dogs can be taught to enjoy brushing as well. The importance of brushing cannot be overemphasized. Just look at all the hair that ends up in the brush, and realize if it weren’t in the brush, it would be on your couch, floor, and perhaps, bed.

Be sure you're using the right kind of brush for your dog's coat. Breeds with thick undercoats need a specific type of brush, while longhaired breeds need a comb.

Last but not least, make sure to give your dog an occasional bath. Aside from the obvious benefit of having a clean, good-smelling pooch, your dog's coat will also benefit. Be warned though: Bathing your dog too frequently washes away the natural oil on his skin and coat, resulting in dry skin and, you guessed it, more shedding.

 

A Little Extra Time Goes a Long Way

Committing the time to maintaining your dog's coat will help keep his shedding under control. Frequent brushing and vacuuming, and feeding your dog a balanced diet such as IAMS ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks will have you worrying less about an overabundance of hair and more time enjoying your furry friend.

  • Common Questions about Feeding Your Dog
    Common Questions about Feeding Your Dog
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    Common Questions & Tips About Feeding Dogs

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    Giving your dog the right nutrients and a complete, balanced diet does not have to be a head-scratcher. All you need to know is what can dogs eat, how much to feed your dog or puppy, how to feed dogs, how many times to feed a dog, how to handle treats and supplements, etc. And this article tries to answer commonly asked questions on dog feeding.

    1. How do I decide what to feed my dog?

          When deciding which dog food is right for your pet, consider these three factors: 

    • Your dog’s life stage (Whether your dog is a puppy, an adult, or a senior)
    • Lifestyle (How active your dog is)
    • Condition (Overall health and body weight of your dog)  

     

    1. How many times should I feed a dog?

    Puppies should be fed three times a day from weaning (3 to 6 weeks) to 4 months of age. After 4 months, they should be fed twice a day. Most dogs should continue to be fed twice a day throughout their life, although some pets do well with one feeding.

     

    1. How much should I feed my dog?

    The answer to this question depends on your dog’s age, size, and activity level. Feeding guidelines, which list the daily-recommended portion, are included on all IAMS™ packages. Start feeding your dog with this amount and adjust according to its needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day.

     

    1. How much should I feed a puppy?

    The amount of food you need to feed your puppy depends on 3 main factors — breed, weight, and age. However, you can look at this puppy feeding table that we recommend for puppies:


     

    Puppy

    Adult Target Weight (KG)

    Recommended Daily Feeding (g/day)

                                                    <3 months         3-6 months      6-9 months      9-12 months        12-18 months

    Toy breed

    1-3

    15-72

    32-83

    37-83

       
     

    3-5

    33-106

    72-121

    83-121

       
     

    Small breed (25-50)

    5-8

    48-151

    106-172

    111-172

    111-170

    Transition to IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Adult Dog Food

     

    8-10

    69-178

    151-204

    170-204

    170-201

     
     

    Medium breed

    10-20

    82-299

    178-343

    201-343

    201-339

     
     

    20-25

    137-346

    339-404

    339-404

    339-404

     
     

    Large breed

    25-40

    136-492

    346-575

    404-575

    396-575

    396-563

     

    40-50

    191-509

    493-675

    575-681

    563-681

    553-676

     

    This diet contains 390 kilocalories of metabolizable energy (ME) per 100 gms. Remember to have clean, fresh water available for your dog always.

     

    1. When should I switch puppy to adult dog food diet? 

    You should not change your puppy’s food to adult abruptly. Giving your pet time to acclimatize to the new taste of adult food is very important. Also, if you suddenly switch your pup’s food, it can cause digestive problems. Go through this schedule that will help you understand how much to feed your dog and transition your dog’s diet from puppy food to adult food:

    • Day 1 – Add 75% puppy food and mix 25% adult food in your dog’s plate. 
    • Day 2 – Add both foods in equal quantities i.e. 50% puppy food and 50% adult food.
    • Day 3 – Increase the quantity of adult food to 75% and bring down the quantity of puppy food to 25%.
    • Day 4 – Fully transition to adult dog food.  

     

    If you are wondering how much to feed your puppy by weight and age, check out the weight and age-wise breakdown on when to transition your puppy’s diet to adult food: 

     

    Weight Range

    Age to Begin Transition

    Small breeds that weigh < 9.07 kgs 

    9 and 12 months of age

    Medium breeds that weigh between 9.07 and 22.6 kgs

    12 to 14months of age

    Large breeds that weigh more than 22.6 kgs

    12 to 24 months of age

     

    1. When should I switch my dog to senior food?

    While transitioning from adult dog food to senior dog food, it is important to factor in your dog’s weight. Look at this weight table to know when to transition your dog’s food from adult to senior:

    Weight Range

    Age to Begin Transition

    More than 40.8 kgs

    5 years

    23.1 to 40.8 kgs

    6 years

    9.5 to 23.150 kgs

    7 years

    Up to 9.07 kgs

    7 years

     

      

    1. What is the best way to introduce a new diet to my dog?

    When changing your dog’s food diet, it’s important to slowly introduce new food. Start by offering your dog’s daily portion in a ratio of 25% new food to 75% current food. During the next three days, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of the old food.

     

    1. What to feed my dog if they are overweight?

    If your dog has gained unhealthy weight, make sure to cut down on fats along with increasing regular exercise. We recommend you browse through IAMS™ products and choose dog foods that are low on fat. How much food to feed your dog if they are overweight is another major concern. You can consult your vet to understand the right amount of food your furry friend needs for each meal.

     

     

    1. What should I feed my pregnant or nursing dog?

    It’s important to understand that your dog’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and ensure you feed her nutrition-rich food. For pregnant dogs, we recommend IAMS™ Puppy food as it’s full of proteins that can help your pregnant dog during the gestation period and improve the quality of milk to nourish her puppies post-delivery.

     

    1. Is it necessary to feed both wet and dry food?

    Wet food is an excellent treat that can be fed alone or mixed with dry food. Although IAMS wet dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, it is not necessary to offer wet food at every feeding. Our dry foods are formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken and contain all the essential nutrients pets need. The crunchy texture of dry food also promotes healthy teeth and gums, and aids in overall good oral hygiene. In addition, some of our dry dog foods contain a dental enhancement to help block tartar buildup on teeth during and after meals.










     

     






     

    1. Will my dog be bored eating the same food all the time?

    No. Unlike humans, dogs have fewer taste receptors. Hence, they won’t feel the urge to eat something different every day. In fact, if you find something that suits your dog’s overall health and preferences, stick to that food.

     

    1.  Is it all right to moisten dry food? 

    Soaking dry food will ease up the initial job of the digestive enzymes. While water will not change its nutritional value, the food should be eaten relatively soon. Moreover, ensure that the leftover portion is discarded to avoid spoilage. We recommend providing your dog with IAMS™ dry food because it is beneficial to your dog’s dental health as well.

     

    1. Will it hurt my dog if they eat my cat’s food? 

    No. Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements. Moreover, cat foods are made with higher fat levels, which can be harmful to a dog. While it is okay for dogs and cats to sniff and lick some food from each other’s bowl, you shouldn’t let dogs eat cat food.

     

    1. How many biscuits can I feed my dog each day? 

    We recommend feeding your dog approximately two to four small biscuits per cup of food. Keep in mind that when you add biscuits to your dog’s daily diet, this increases its daily calorie intake, so you should reduce the amount of food you feed. Check the calorie content of the biscuit since biscuits vary in size and formulation.

     

    1. Can I supplement my dog foods with vitamins, minerals, oils, etc.? 

    Since IAMS™ dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced,  adding more vitamins, minerals or oils can disrupt the balanceour dog food provides. The reason why you provide your dog with a high-quality product is that it has been developed to offer nourishment in proper ratios and ensure optimal nutrition. Hence, nothing needs to be added.

     

    1. Why does my dog need to eat protein? 

    Protein is one of the essential elements that should be a part of your dog’s diet. Including protein in your dog’s diet will strengthen its muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. A protein-rich food also brings about a healthy shine to your dog’s coat! 

     

    1. Why should one maintain a feeding schedule for dogs? 

    It is important to maintain a feeding schedule for dogs so that they are conditioned to expect food at that time and avoid irregular snacking in between.

     

    1.  What are the things a dog dannot eat? 

    You should never feed your dog home-baked goods, candy, gum, chocolate, limes, onion, and grapes. They can harm your dog’s digestive tract and cause infections as well.

     

    1. Why should you feed IAMS™ dog food over homecooked food?  

    IAMS™ dog food is full of key nutrients that your dog needs for its healthy growth. The basic ingredients in our food include chicken, fish oil, beet pulp, wholesome grains, and natural prebiotic.

     

    1. How can I learn more about pet nutrition?  

    Follow our blogs to know more about pet nutrition & and dog food diet. Feel free to contact us here in case of any queries.