Feeding Tips from Iams®
Watch your body language
Don’t give in to demands
The biggest challenge
Finicky eater?
Feeding for lifestyle or life stage
Product feeding guidelines
Portion-controlled and free-choice feeding methods
What Every Dog Needs
Tips for Successfully Changing Your Dog's Diet.
Switching your dog’s diet to a new food takes some planning. Because dogs are creatures of habit, it is not uncommon for them to prefer their current food to a new food. They, like humans, can become accustomed to a food and may not welcome a disruption in their routine.
These tips should help you successfully transition your dog to a new food:
Introduce the new food gradually
This is the most successful way to ease your dog into the change in diet. Start by mixing 25% new food with 75% old food. Slowly change the proportions over the next three days or so by gradually increasing the amount of new food and decreasing the amount of old food. At the end of this weaning process, you should be feeding 100% of the new food. You may encounter some difficulties, such as your dog choosing to eat only the old food, or not eating at all. Not to worry, a healthy dog can miss meals for a day or two with no ill effects.
Watch your body language
Bringing a new food into your home, placing it into a bowl, and declaring that your dog had better eat it might cause your dog to go on a hunger strike. This is not the time to show who is the boss. It is better to introduce the new food to the dog using a pleasant tone of voice. Gently encourage the dog to try the new food.
Don’t give in to demands
It is important not to give up too soon! During the initial two-day period, do not give your dog treats or table scraps! Dogs train us as much as we train them. Giving in to their demands only reinforces refusal behaviour and makes it more difficult to make a dietary change.
The biggest challenge
Switching diets may be more challenging when changing from a wet food to a dry food. If your dog continues to resist eating dry food, mix a little warm water with the food. You may even want to put the moistened food in the microwave for a few seconds. If you mix the food with water it is important to discard the uneaten portion after 20 minutes. This prevents spoilage. The same rule applies for canned food. After the dog has become accustomed to the moistened food, you can wean him or her onto the dry food. To do this, follow the same mixing instructions as outlined above.
Finicky eater?
Is your dog really a finicky eater, or could it be something else? There are many factors to consider when you notice that your dog does not appear to be eating as usual. If you think this is the case, take a closer look at exactly what your dog is eating during a day’s time. Does your dog eat just a few table scraps or treats?
When you feed your dog a balanced, highly nutritious diet, nothing else is needed. In fact, extra treats can drastically alter your dog’s normal intake of dog food. It is similar to the feeling you get after eating too much candy or potato chips. Are you interested in a full meal? Neither is your dog.
Feeding for lifestyle or life stage
Our dog foods are specifically formulated to meet the needs of dogs in various lifestyles and life stages. There are many nutritional choices to offer your dog including dry and canned foods, as well as options for senior or overweight pets, puppies and dogs with reduced activity levels. Consult your veterinarian or a consumer careline representative at The Iams Company to discuss the best selection for your dog.
Product feeding guidelines
Recommended feeding amounts are shown on every package. The guidelines are general suggestions for the amount of food you should feed your dog. Every dog is different and does not require the same amount of food. Your dog’s activity level and individual metabolic makeup are the determining factors. We recommend that you start with the amount given in the feeding guidelines. Then add or subtract food as you observe your dog’s eating habits and weight.
Portion-controlled and free-choice feeding methods
Portion-Controlled Feeding: divide the daily amount and feed at specific intervals. It is important to remove all remaining food after 15 to 20 minutes. This practice establishes a pattern for your dog to follow. The portion-controlled feeding method is recommended for giant and large breeds and also for overweight dogs. This is also a good method for dogs with special needs.
Free-Choice Feeding: feed the daily amount and allow your dog to eat at leisure. This method is recommended for use only with dry foods. Remember, dogs eat to meet their energy requirements. They quickly define their own daily portions when eating free choice.
What Every Dog Needs
Water: regardless of which food you choose to feed, your dog must have plenty of fresh, clean water available at all times. We suggest placing the water three to five feet from the food. This will help prevent your dog from gulping water and air in addition to food.
Routine: dogs need a routine. Feeding at the same time and place every day establishes a comfortable eating pattern.
The Veterinarian: And remember, your dog needs to visit the veterinarian regularly. Regular visits help to keep your dog happy and healthy!
