Feeding Your Adult Dog

Adult dogs require sufficient nutrients to meet energy needs and to maintain and repair body tissues. The amount you feed your adult dog should be based on his or her size and energy output. Activity levels vary dramatically between pets, and will play an important role in determining caloric intake.

As a responsible dog owner, one of the most common pitfalls you'll have to watch out for is overfeeding. Attempts to shower our dogs with love by means of big meals and tons of tasty treats are sweet, but misguided. In dogs, as with humans, extra weight can lead to health problems. Be sure to indulge your four-legged friend with affection, not food—and read the following tips for more helpful advice from our ASPCA pet nutrition experts:

1. Lassie Versus Lazy
   House pets vary widely in their activity levels. An animal with a "normal" activity level should receive what we call "maintenance" energy. A pampered lap dog may require 10 percent below maintenance, while an active pet who exercises regularly outdoors may require maintenance plus 20 to 40 percent.
   
   
2. Working Dogs: Earning Their Dinner
   The dietary needs of working canines, such as police dogs, guide dogs and cattle dogs, will depend on their occupations. Energy needs will increase with the work level and/or stress level. A dog with a moderate work load may require an energy increase of 40 percent compared to maintenance, whereas a dog with a high work load may require an extra 50 to 70 percent.
   
   
3. Do You Have the Hardest Working Pup in Show Business?
   Show dogs must be fed a balanced diet with the correct amount of energy, because deficiencies may be reflected in coat quality. While on the show circuit, the pet's energy requirement may increase by 20 percent or more. The dog should be fed maintenance amounts when not on the show circuit.
   
   
4. Get Well Soon
   An animal recovering from surgery or suffering from a disease may have an increased nutritional requirement for repair, healing and fighting infection.
   
   
5. Whatever the Weather
   Environment influences energy needs, and extreme hot or cold weather can increase a dog's energy needs. Both keeping warm and keeping cool require extra energy expenditure, so you may wish to talk to your pet's vet about what to do when the mercury dips and/or soars.
   
   
6. How, What, When
   Dogs may be fed successfully in a number of ways that meet both the owner's and the animal's needs and circumstances. These methods include portion-control feeding, free-choice feeding and timed feeding.
   - The portion-control feeding entails measuring your pet's food and offering it as a meal, thereby controlling the amount of food that can be consumed. This method is used for weight control programs and for animals that might overeat if fed free-choice. Food can be provided in one or more meals daily.
   - Free-choice feeding is also known as "ad lib" feeding or "free feeding." Food is available at all times, as much as the pet wants, whenever the pet wants. Most nursing mothers are fed by the free-choice method. This method is most appropriate when feeding dry food, which will not spoil if left out.
   - The timed feeding method involves making a portion of food available for the pet to eat for a specified period of time. For example, the food can be placed in the dog's bowl for thirty minutes. After that time, if the pet has not consumed the food, it is removed.
   
   
7. Two Square Meals a Day
   We recommend all dogs be fed twice daily. Simply divide the amount suggested on the label of your pet's food into two meals, spaced eight to twelve hours apart. You may need to adjust portions as you learn your dog's ideal daily "maintenance" amount.
   
   
8. What's Up, Doc?
   Pet owners should always consult with their dog's veterinarian to determine the best feeding schedule and types of foods for their pets.
   
   
9. A Growing Problem
   Some dogs will overeat when fed free-choice method, which can result in obesity. If your pet eats free-choice and has put on too much weight, you will need to switch to portion-control feeding.
   
   
10. Take Five (Or Less)
    We all love to give our dogs treats. However, treats should be given in moderation and should represent five percent or less of the dog's daily food intake. The rest should come from a nutritionally complete dog food. When using treats frequently, such as during training exercises, try to use the smallest pieces you can.

What Is Blindness?

Blindness is a partial or total loss of vision that can be present from birth or happen suddenly due to injury or illness, or gradually due to old age or progressive diseases such as cataracts, retinal degeneration and glaucoma.

How Can I Tell If My Dog's Vision Is Failing?

Gradual loss of vision can be hard to detect, but here are a few signs:

• Misjudging heights and bumping into walls, furniture or other objects
• Confusion in new surroundings
• Reluctance to move from one spot
• Not being able to find food and water bowls
• General clumsiness and disorientation
• Easily startled
• Eye rubbing or squinting
• Cloudy, discolored, inflamed or tearing eyes and a large pupil

What Causes Blindness In Dogs?

Though blindness can be a congenital condition or part of the aging process, the following conditions can also lead to vision loss in dogs:

• Progressive retinal atrophy
• Suddenly acquired retinal degeneration syndrome
• Collie eye anomaly
• Retinal dysplasia and detachment
• Diabetes mellitus
• Stroke
• Untreated eye infections
• Glaucoma
• Dry eye syndrome
• Retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy
• Cataracts
• Uveodermatologic syndrome

How Is Blindness Diagnosed?

Your vet can give your dog a preliminary exam and, if necessary, recommend a veterinary ophthalmologist who will perform a complete exam, during which he'll look closely at a dog's retina and the outer parts of his eye.

Which Dogs Are Prone To Blindness?

Elderly dogs of all breeds can suffer from vision loss. Progressive retinal atrophy is most common in cocker spaniels, collies, Irish setters, Norwegian elkhounds, schnauzers and poodles, but can affect any breed. Collie eye anomaly usually affects collie breeds and retinal dysplasia is commonly seen in beagles and Labrador retrievers. Breeds that are predisposed to glaucoma include American cocker spaniels, basset hounds, Chow Chows and Labrador retrievers.

How Can I Create a Safe, Fulfilling Environment for My Blind Dog?

You can help your dog feel secure in his surroundings by providing a stable, accident-free environment.

• Give extra attention and TLC, especially for elderly pets.
• Avoid moving the furniture.
• Don't leave boxes, toys or other objects in walking paths.
• Cover sharp corners and objects with soft insulation.
• Speak to your dog when you enter the room and before petting or touching him.
• Let him smell visitors' hands before they touch him.
• Mark different rooms with different scents so that your dog can use his sense of smell to recognize where he is.
• Mark the tops and bottoms of staircases with a bit of perfume.
• Use rugs to texture rooms, allowing your dog to use his sense of touch to get his bearings.
• Carry or lead your dog up and down stairs and block access to them when you're not using them.
• Place barriers around hot tubs, pools and other dangerous and off-limits areas.
• Make sure she has her own safe place she can get to easily.
• Buy toys with sound and scent.
• Keep food and water bowls in the same place.
• Be very vocal and be aware of your different tones.
• Don't baby or pity your dog—simply help him adjust.

How Can Blindness Be Prevented?

Pet parents should not let eye infections go untreated and any signs of diabetes should be investigated. Cataracts should also be monitored by a veterinarian.

Can Blind Dogs Ever Get Their Vision Back?

Loss of vision in dogs can be reversible, depending on the cause. Cataracts, which cause mild to total vision loss, can be removed by surgery. Veterinary ophthalmologists commonly perform cataract removals and are able to restore vision in their canine patients.

When Is It Time To See The Vet?

Immediately! If you even have a small suspicion your dog's eyesight might be failing, see your vet right away. Very often, one eye will fail first and the other will compensate, which makes it difficult to tell there is any loss of vision. If you see any changes in your dog's orientation or ability to locate places and objects, go for a check-up.