FAQ: Food for dogs

Loose food can be cheaper, but its best-before date, batch and storage conditions are often unknown, and in an open container the fats go rancid faster. If you buy it, take a small amount and keep it sealed.

Portion the food into airtight bags or boxes, one per day, so it stays dry and feeding is easier. Take a little more than you need in case the trip runs longer.

Keep raw food in the freezer and thaw it in the fridge, not at room temperature. Use thawed food within 1–2 days, keep it apart from human food and wash bowls, knives and hands thoroughly.

Grass eating is common in dogs and usually not a sign of illness; some simply like the taste or texture. If the dog eats a lot of grass, vomits often or behaves unusually, ask a vet.

It can be habit, boredom, hunger or attention-seeking, and sometimes a sign of digestive or nutritional problems. Pick up stools straight away, make sure the dog has enough to do and ask a vet, especially if the behaviour started suddenly.

The most common cause is eating too fast, so a slow-feeder bowl and smaller portions help. If the vomiting keeps happening, the dog is lethargic, won't eat or vomits blood, see a vet.

Some dogs, especially those fed once a day, vomit bile in the morning because of the long gap between meals. A later evening meal or splitting the daily amount often helps, but if it keeps happening, ask a vet.

Suitable food usually results in brown, formed stools that are easy to pick up. A very large amount, soft or very hard stools, mucus or a particularly bad smell can mean the food doesn't suit the dog or it is getting too much.

Wind is often caused by eating too fast, a sudden change of food, legumes, dairy or human food. Slower eating and a more digestible food help, and if the wind comes with diarrhoea or weight loss, see a vet.

The more indigestible matter or fibre the food contains, the more stool there is. Highly digestible food usually produces less, because the dog absorbs more of what it eats.

Good-quality protein, enough fat, omega-3 and omega-6 acids, zinc and vitamins help keep the coat shiny and the skin healthy. After a change of food, differences in the coat usually show only after several weeks.

Dog food is made from natural ingredients whose colour and smell vary slightly, especially when no colourings are used. Small differences are normal, but a strong rancid smell, mould or damp mean the food has gone off.

BARF means feeding raw meat, bones, offal and a small amount of vegetables. It has its supporters, but it is hard to balance properly, and raw meat can carry bacteria dangerous to both dogs and people, so it is worth planning with a vet.

There is no scientific evidence that raw food is healthier than a complete commercial food, while its risks, namely bacteria, parasites and an unbalanced diet, are well known. Many veterinary organisations advise against raw feeding, especially in households with young children, elderly people or people with weakened immunity.

Yes, some makers offer frozen ready-made raw food labelled as complete. It makes balancing the diet easier, but the hygiene rules are the same as when handling raw meat.

You can, but balancing such a diet is difficult: calcium, vitamins or trace elements are often lacking. It is best to have the recipe drawn up by a vet or animal nutritionist and to use a dedicated vitamin and mineral supplement.

Freeze-drying removes the water from frozen meat or food, making it light, long-lasting and full of aroma. It often needs soaking before feeding, and if made from raw meat, the bacterial risk is similar to that of raw food.

Air-dried food is made by slowly drying meat at a low temperature, so it resembles jerky and is very concentrated. The daily portion is small, but the price per kilogram is higher than for ordinary dry food.

Cold-pressed food is pressed at a lower temperature than ordinary extruded kibble, so the pellets are denser and break up quickly when moistened. Whether it suits better depends on the individual dog, so switch gradually and watch the digestion.

Bones can chip teeth, get stuck in the throat or gut and cause constipation, and cooked bones are especially dangerous because they splinter into sharp shards. If you still want to give a bone, ask a vet and supervise the dog while it eats.