[nittynat]

Hi,

I brought my new basset hound home on Friday. He is adorable.

Just a question about feeding.

My breeder said to feed him 3 times a day:

1-1 1/2 cup dry food
2 tablespoon beef mince (raw)
2 tablespoon canned food

which i am doing. I also give him the occasional biscuit and some baby rice crackers.

Is this all I should feed him, every day or can I add other things in. I am very new to this and want the best for my little man. Any advice welcome.

Can they eat fruit? Any fruit? how do I serve it. Also same with vegies.

Thanks

Nat

 

[Mikey T]

Can they eat fruit? Any fruit? how do I serve it. Also same with vegies.

Yes but keep in mind canine nutrition is very much different than human they are carnivores and actual have not need for carbs so fruits and vegitable are not the be all end all they are in human nutrition. Dogs short digestive tract reallt can not handle raw vegitable the either need to be pureeed or cooked well for the dog to get anything out of them other fiber. which can acrew thing up as much as help

In order to not unbalance the dog food diet you want to keep gookies. fruit. vegiatable and other treates to less than 10% of the diet total. You can use kibble as treats as well which allows you to give the dog treat or use as a training aid without messing up the balanced diet. Also geep in mind a puppy has a very limitied digestive capacity feed too much adjucts treat etc limit the amout of dog food they can eat.

If not doing so I recommend a Large breed puppy food for basset it is lower uin calories than regular food so there is less chance of develomental orthopeadic problem from growing too fast wich is quite common in large breeds also there is a lowwer calcium level and calcium to phosphorus ration. Puppy do not regulate calcium in the blood well like adults many a large breed developmental orthopeadic problems are the result of too much calcium Never never add calcium or a suppliment containing calcium to a puppies diet.

see
The growth of Large and Giant breed puppies

Feeding Large Breed Puppies

Optimal feeding of large breed puppies

Above all, remember to feed a large breed growth formula in sufficient quantities to maintain a lean body condition, and avoid additional supplements.

1-1 1/2 cup dry food

Feeding a set amount does not work whether the recommended amount on the bag or a breeders guidelines they are only that guidelines to get you started you are going to have to adjust the amount fed based on the puppies body condition. ie under weght or over weight. But you need to keep in mind with a larger breed puppy you want then slightly underweight when comapred to the body condition of an adult and never overweight. ASlso most people interanl picture of the typical basset is that of an over weight dog, zIn a puppy you should be able to see the ribs and parts of the spine an hips if not the dog is over weight see

Dog Diet Do's and Don’t's

According to Dr. Tony Buffington, Professor of Clinical Nutrition, Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, your puppy can be fed a regimen of specific caloric intake compared to his body condition score (BCS), using a simple one to five scale, from overly thin to obese. Using manufacturer feeding recommendations as an initial starting point, feed your puppy to a score of two and maintain this weight until he's fully grown. Feed whatever amount is necessary to maintain a BCS of two during the growth period, realizing that dogs have varying growth rates and activity levels. Once his adult stature is achieved, you may allow him to reach a score of three.​

Feeding during growth & develop habits: Timing and training, watch the dog not the dish!

...

1=

Emaciated - ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all body prominences evident from a distance. No discernible body fat. Obvious absence of muscle mass.

2 = Thin - Ribs easily palpated and may be visible with no palpable fat. Tops of lumbar vertebrae visible. Pelvic bones less prominent. Obvious waist and abdominal tuck.

3 = Moderate - Ribs palpable without excess fat covering. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from side.​

 

[Herzo]

I would not give the raw with the kibble or canned. Raw and cooked digest at different rates so they should be given at least 12 hours apart.

I do not feed mine very many fruits or veggies. However Maddie has taken to getting a green apple out of the tub I have them in on the floor every night for desert after supper. Silly old girl.

 

[Pricey]

Amount wise I always go off how my dog looks and adjust to suit. I am currently giving Hector puppy/junior large breed food.

 

[dreamons]

No chocolate, grapes, macadamia nuts, or onions. Various reasons for these but best just not to give to dogs.

 

[nittynat]

Thanks for your replies.

Mikey T, you are a wealth of information, thank you.