Canine Nutrition and Your Boston Terrier
Your Boston isn't thinking about canine nutrition when he's hungry. All he cares about is, "how does it taste?". As responsible pet owners, it is up to us to make sure our Bostons get food that is nutritionally complete.
All dogs are meat-eating animals and their diet should be based in animal protein. In addition, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals are needed to round out the diet and keep your Boston healthy. You can find the best food for your Boston by reviewing the ingredients on the dog food labels.
The sheer number of available dog foods and options in canine nutrition can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of different dog foods, so where do you start?
Let's get started!
Even with all the choices, dog foods can be grouped into 7 categories:
Dry food:
This is the least expensive of all commercially available foods. Dry 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 is a more expensive canine nutrition option. It can be a good supplement 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.
Mixers:
Commercially available dry and canned dog foods often contain little or no meat (the exception is {premium dog food} brands). They may use vegetable sources to provide the protein and fat required by dogs, which is less expensive than using meat itself. Some dog owners want to add meat to their dogs diet. This can be harmful to the dog, since "complete" dog foods already have the right amount of protein and fat. Adding meat to that mix results in the dog getting too much protein and fat relative to carbohydrates.
The solution to this is "mixer" foods. These foods are similar to regular dry dog food, but are formulated to have lower levels of protein and fat. The "mixer" foods are blended (in correct proportions) with meat to provide a balanced meal.
Specialty dog foods:
Some major 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
Homemade:
Simply stated, this is food that you make and cook yourself, just like you would for you and the rest of your family.
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Benefits:
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Drawbacks:
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- It's freshly made
- You know the exact ingredients your dog is getting
- You can avoid artificial preservatives and colorings
- You can use high quality ingredients
- More food variety for your dog
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- You need to understand canine nutrition in order to make foods that are nutritionally balanced for a dog.
- It takes a LOT more time and discipline to make food than to open a can or grab a scoop of dry food.
- Unless you freeze, and then defrost a bit as needed, it has to be freshly made every day or two.
- Unless you blend the food, the dog may pick out the parts he likes (meat) and leave the rest (vegetables).
- It tends to be a more expensive canine nutrition option than commercial dog food
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Another homemade option is a {BARF diet} ("bones and raw food" or "biologically appropriate raw food"), which has recently increased in popularity. The thought behind this diet is that dogs are descendants of wolves, who are carnivores that kill and eat their prey. Nothing is cooked or added to the meal - they just eat it, bones and all.
Raw diets are controversial and not all veterinarians are in support of this diet. The advantages of a raw diet:
- You can make meals at home easily
- It promotes dental health through the chewing of bones
- There is less pet waste to pick up
- You know the ingredients your dog is eating
You can also find frozen pre-packaged raw foods designed for dogs in the freezer section at some stores and online. Not all dogs will eat a raw diet, while others may acquire a taste for it over time.
Table Scraps:
Dogs like a lot of the same foods as people do, so it's tempting to feed your dog table scraps. Table scraps don't usually provide a nutritionally balanced meal for a dog. And, some foods that are common for people to eat (like chocolate and onions) can be {toxic} to dogs.
Treats:
Treats are foods that are for use as occasional rewards. Since they aren't complete and balanced foods, they shouldn't be a staple in a dog's diet. Like giving candy to a child - it's ok in small amounts, but it shouldn't be a steady diet. We like to make healthy homemade dog treats for Shadow & Sophie.
How Much?
Once you decide on a food, how much should you feed your Boston Terrier? This will depend on the age and activity level of your Boston. To start, use the manufacturer’s recommendations 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:
Puppies have different canine nutrition needs than adults, since they are growing. Boston Terrier puppies need extra protein - about 25 to 35 percent more than adults. Nutritionally balanced puppy food should also provide plenty of calcium and minerals to support a growing and developing puppy.
Puppies have high metabolic rates and small stomachs, so feeding them several small meals each day is the best way to give them the canine nutrition 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.
Seniors:
Senior Bostons have different canine nutrition needs due to age-related processes and health problems that arise with aging. Older Bostons may gain weight as their activity levels decrease and their metabolisms slow. If your Boston Terrier begins to gain weight, you may want to switch to a dog food for seniors. Look for a senior food that contains more fiber, less fat and fewer overall calories.
Some Boston Terriers may actually lose weight as they get older. There are many reasons an older Boston may lose weight including a variety of health problems, dental issues, heart conditions or cancer. Some dogs eat well, but lose weight anyway. This may be due to an inability to absorb the nutrients in their food. For underweight Bostons, look for a food with more high-quality fats.
Protein metabolism decreases with age, so senior dogs need more protein. Most senior foods have as much protein as puppy food. This is to combat the muscle deterioration, weakness, and immune system damage that can result from reduced protein metabolism.
So, What's Next?
We happen to feed our Bostons a good quality dry dog food supplemented with homemade meals. Take your time to review the labels and understand what is in the food you are choosing for your Boston. Whatever food you decide on, feed your Boston Terrier the most nutritious food that fits your budget.
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