What to feed the Pekingese?

The appearance in the house of a little Pekingese is not only a joy, but also additional worries. First of all, they are associated with the organization of his nutrition, which must correspond to age, individual characteristics, as well as the condition of the animal.

Pekingese, despite their small size, have an excellent appetite. Their dietary intake must be monitored from an early age, since dogs of this breed are prone to obesity, which can lead to various complications.

Feeding a small puppy is different from feeding an adult Pekingese. Until the age of one month, puppies feed on mother's milk, which contains all the necessary nutrients. Usually one puppy needs 15-40 g of milk, and the frequency of feeding is determined by the puppies themselves as needed.

When the puppies reach the age of one month, the diet begins to change.With their growth, their need for food increases, and only mother's milk is no longer enough. At the same time, they begin to gradually wean from breastfeeding.

At the age of 1-1.5 months, the puppies begin to be fed. One of the feedings is replaced with liquid milk porridge, cottage cheese, minced meat of low-fat varieties.

Minced meat can be replaced with meat... To do this, peel off the top layer from raw and pre-frozen meat and heat it at room temperature. For prophylaxis against parasites, it is recommended to douse the meat with boiling water. At this age, the puppy is recommended to use cottage cheese for baby food, and liquid porridge made from rolled oats or crushed rice, diluted with milk.

At the age of two months, the diet is supplemented with minced boiled meat, lactic acid products (kefir), boiled vegetables (carrots, cauliflower, zucchini). The daily amount of food also increases: it is about 180 g. You can feed small Pekingese and canned food for puppies of small breeds.

New food is given at intervals of several days in order to control the reaction of the puppy's body to unusual food. The daily menu of two-month-old puppies can consist of the following products:

• cottage cheese diluted with milk - 80 g;
• liquid milk rice or buckwheat porridge - 150 g;
• chopped lean meat - 70 g.

At the age of three months, puppies are weaned from their mother and they change their place of residence. For the first time (about 2 weeks), new owners should not change the pet's diet, keeping the old menu. But puppies already need more variety, so new foods are gradually being added to their diets.

Puppies are added to the menu the yolk of a boiled or raw egg, as well as chicken meat. During this period, the percentage of meat increases and is approximately 50-70%. This month, the third feeding is gradually eliminated and the portions are increased by about 30 g.

For 4-month-old Pekingese, an approximate menu for the day may be as follows:

• oatmeal (80 g), milk (20 g);
• boiled chicken or turkey meat without skin (70 g);
• rice porridge, yolk boiled in water or broth;
• low-fat minced meat from boiled meat (70 g).

In the period from 4 to 6 months, the little Pekingese will form priorities for certain products. The growing puppy eats with pleasure and quite a lot. He needs a large amount of fermented milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk, natural yogurt, curdled milk), cottage cheese, lean meat in raw and boiled form, boiled offal (liver, kidneys, heart), boiled pulp (without bones) of sea white fish.

You can diversify the menu with cereals, vegetables. During this period, it is also possible to gradually transfer the animal to dry food, which is previously softened in water. In this form, it is given up to 7-8 months of age. Only after 8 months, when the change of teeth is completely over, it is possible to combine dry food and soaked in a ratio of 1: 3.

From 6 months of age, an older pet can already be given the same foods as an adult dog. Milk is left in the diet if the puppy digests it well. It is allowed to treat him with fruits, but not very sweet and juicy. At this age, the day menu may be as follows:

• first feeding - milk or kefir (40 g) and any porridge (100 g);
• second feeding - any meat cut into small pieces (100 g), porridge (70 g);
• third feeding - meat (90 g), porridge (50 g), vegetables (50 g) and fish oil (0.5 teaspoon).

In the following months, the pet is fed, adhering to the same diet, and by the 9th month it is necessary to give up one more feeding and switch to two meals a day. At this time, the daily diet may consist of:

• fermented milk products (100 g), bread and butter (1 slice), any porridge (70 g) and fish oil (0.5 tsp) - the first feeding;
• any meat (100 g), porridge (70 g), vegetables (70 g) and fish oil (0.5 teaspoon) - the second feeding.

The age of the puppies directly affects the frequency of their daily feeding:

• 1-3 month old puppies are fed 5 or 6 times a day;
• at 4 months - 4 times;
• at 5-8 months of age already 3 times;
• from 9-10 months, they begin to gradually transfer to two meals a day, as in an adult dog.

A feature of Pekingese dogs is their small size. However, this does not mean that their diet should be less nutritious. Pekingese, like dogs of other breeds, require a full range of proteins and fats, carbohydrates and trace elements, as well as vitamins. Protein is required for the formation of muscle tissue, to regulate the work of the cardiovascular activity, the muscular system and to strengthen the immune system.

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy, and fats are needed to ensure the correct balance of hormones and affect the quality of the coat. Vitamins and trace elements are needed for the normal functioning of various systems and organs.

First of all, it should be noted what the Pekingese eat and love. They are happy to use such products:

• any types of meat and poultry (veal and rabbit, beef, chicken and turkey);
• boiled offal (kidney and heart, liver and lung);
• boiled sea fish;
• raw minced meat from lean meat;
• cottage cheese, milk and eggs;
• cereals (oatmeal, rice, buckwheat, millet);
• vegetables, both boiled and raw (zucchini and broccoli, cauliflower, beets and carrots);
• fruits (apples, pears, apricots, peaches) and herbs (lettuce, sprouted oats and wheat).

Pekingese are big food lovers, they will never give up on treats. It should be borne in mind that not every product can be given to them. Pekingese are prohibited from such foods.

• Any beans and potatoes, as they contribute to the increased formation of gas in the intestines.
• Fatty lamb and pork - the stomach of the animal does not digest such meat well, which can cause problems in its work. This also applies to any other fatty foods.
• Confectionery (chocolate, candy) and sweet flour products. They can be replaced with not very sweet fruits.
• Smoked meats, sausages, because they contain dyes, spices, salt, preservatives, which can cause allergies in the dog.
• Mushrooms, soy and foods containing it.
• Also, you cannot feed your pet with grapes (raisins), citrus fruits, cocoa and coffee, semolina.

It is also important to note the peculiarities of feeding an adult pet at home. They consist in the observance of these rules.

• The Pekingese is fed twice a day and preferably at the same time.
• The place where the dog eats should be constant and unchanging. The water should always be fresh and readily available to the dog.
• You cannot force the Pekingese to eat, if he does not want to, it is better to reschedule the feeding for the next time.
• Food should also always be freshly cooked and warm, not cold or hot, as such food can harm your pet's digestion.
• It is not recommended to offer thin soup to Pekingese as it is difficult for them to eat due to the physiological structure of the muzzle.
• Salting food is also undesirable, especially meat. Salting other food can only be in very small quantities.
• The main part of the diet should be meat and offal (50%), and the other half should be cereals along with vegetables.
• You can not often treat your pet with treats, otherwise the dog will get used to them and will not eat the usual food.
• Periodically, Pekingese are given special complex vitamins.
• The volume of the daily ration is determined in this way: one kilogram of the animal's weight accounts for 70 g of food. So, with a weight of 5 kg, a dog should eat 350 g of feed per day.

The diet of an adult Pekingese can be natural, dry food and mixed. Natural feeding consists of making menus every day and preparing food from a variety of natural products. It is supplemented with vitamin complexes for Pekingese.

The peculiarity of dry food is that it already contains all the necessary nutrients, including vitamins.... Mixed feeding involves alternating between natural food and dry food.

When feeding a Pekingese naturally, the following proportions of its daily diet must be observed: meat and offal - from 50 to 70%, cereals - from 15 to 40%, vegetables - from 15 to 25% of the total food.

The ratio of protein to vegetable feed should be 2: 1. The source of protein is a variety of meats, fish, dairy products and eggs, and plant foods are represented by various cereals, vegetables and fruits, herbs and vegetable oil.

An adult Pekingese can be offered such a menu for the day: meat (veal, chicken), boiled offal (liver, heart) - 70-100 g, cottage cheese - 40 g, rice porridge or other - 50 g, vegetables - from 10 to 40 g. This daily rate is divided into 2 parts and fed 2 times a day.

Canned food can be made from natural products. Any meat (beef or poultry) must be scrolled into minced meat in a meat grinder, combined with vegetables (fresh cucumber, zucchini, carrots or pumpkin), chopped very finely, add fish oil, yeast (feed), bone meal and a vitamin complex. The mixture is divided into separate portions and placed in the freezer. If necessary, ready-made canned food is thawed, and then cereal porridges are added to them.

When composing a diet for your pet, you should also take into account the individual characteristics of his body (temperament, degree of mobility and activity), as well as the characteristics of metabolic processes, and in accordance with them, adjust the norms of his nutrition. If the dog has lost weight (and this is not associated with the disease), then the volume of the norm should be slightly increased, and if the pet is getting fat, then, on the contrary, should be reduced.

Pekingese nutrition during pregnancy and after childbirth is also important. When feeding a dog with dry food, it is not necessary to transfer it to natural feeding during gestation of puppies. You should only replace regular food with a special one for pregnant Pekingese.... However, experts advise at this time feed the dog with a small amount of natural food.

During the first half of pregnancy, the dog does not experience much change in needs. Therefore, her diet usually does not change. The intensive growth of the embryonic puppies begins from the fourth week. From now on, the volume of a single serving increases by about 15% every week.

By the end of the second half of pregnancy, the pet's daily rate increases by one and a half times. At the same time, the frequency of feeding is also increased: first 3 times, and by the end of pregnancy - 4 times a day.

With natural feeding, meat products (veal, rabbit, fresh tripe) take up a large volume in the diet and are supplemented with boiled liver, heart and other offal, which are given 2-3 times a week. It is useful to feed a pregnant dog with fruits (apples, pears), pumpkins, vegetables (zucchini, carrots).

After giving birth, the diet of the Pekingese changes. A nursing dog is given food about 7 times a day. The food must first be chopped to a gruel, mixing the meat with vegetables. It is advisable to feed her during this period with chicken, boiled liver and heart. It is not recommended to give fresh vegetables, they must be boiled beforehand.

At first, the nursing dog is fed frequently, but in small portions. Gradually, the frequency of feeding is reduced to 5 times a day, and only after a month, the dog can be transferred to the normal feeding regimen.

Pekingese usually live from 12 to 15 years. 8-year-old dogs are considered to be elderly. They need low-calorie nutrition, so the protein component in the diet is reduced. Porridge becomes the basis of the diet.

For better intestinal motility, it is necessary to add more vegetable and fruit fiber to them. Dental problems are common among older Pekingese people. In this case, natural food should be crushed, and dry food should be soaked with fermented milk products or water before feeding.

The volume of the daily ration should also be reduced, and the frequency of feeding should be increased up to 4-5 times a day.

You can feed the Pekingese not only with natural food, but also with ready-made dry food. The advantages of this type of food are as follows:

• dry food is properly balanced and contains all the necessary nutrients and vitamins;
• there is no need to prepare food and waste time;
• it does not deteriorate, it is convenient to take it with you on trips;
• there is no need to calculate the quantitative content of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and the daily allowance: it is indicated on the package.

When feeding a Pekingese dry food, you need to adhere to these rules.

• You need to feed the dog only one type of food, without mixing it with others and without changing it. A sudden change from one type of food to another can cause allergies and indigestion.
• When feeding such food, you need to take into account the breed of the dog, its age and the degree of activity.
• Puppies can only be fed with pre-soaked food. To do this, you can use kefir, fermented baked milk or just water. It is strictly forbidden to use boiling water and milk.

Feeding puppies with dry food also needs to be done correctly:

• strictly adhere to the norms recommended on the package;
• until the age of two months, dry food should be fed 5 or 6 times a day, from 2 to 4 months - from 3 to 4 times;
• the transition to dry food should be carried out gradually, it should be given only previously soaked;
• it is necessary to provide puppies with constant and unlimited access to fresh water.

All dry food is divided into these classes.

• Economy - This type of feed is made mainly from legumes, contains a lot of salt and does not contain vitamins. This food is of poor quality and is not recommended for Pekingese.
• Premium and super premium - these types of prepared food are of high quality and are quite suitable for Pekingese.
• Holistic - these foods are intended for dogs with various diseases.

For Pekingese, it is necessary to buy food intended for dogs of long-haired breeds. In addition, it should be remembered that this breed is prone to allergies, so it is better to purchase super premium food. They are characterized by a high content of the meat component (50-80%), vegetable, berry and herbal additives.

Among the popular types of food for Pekingese are suitable Acana, Piccolo, Belcando, Orijen, Pronature, Now Natural holistic, Golden Eagle. Among the premium feeds, the brand names are recommended. Royal canin, Hapy Dog, Hills. The assortment of dry food is very large, some of their types are universal, designed for any breed.

There are foods for spayed animals, for puppies and adults, for the elderly, for pregnant women, as well as obese dogs.

When choosing a ready-made feed, you need to pay attention to such factors.

• You need to choose only high-quality feed, excluding economy class products.
• The composition of the feed is very important. Proteins should be represented not by offal, but meat, carbohydrates - oatmeal and rice, but not potatoes or wheat. The feed must contain fiber and the required daily amount of trace elements and vitamins.
• The food must be selected in accordance with the age of the Pekingese.For puppies of different ages, there are certain types - food for puppies up to one month, from 1 to 3 months, up to 6 months.
• For pets with any diseases, you need to choose specialized feed.

The main condition for feeding dry food is providing the dog with plenty of drink at all times. In addition to dry food, there are other types of ready-made food: semi-moist - canned meat with vegetables and cereals, as well as pates; wet - various stews with pieces of meat in a sauce. They are used mainly for treats in the form of delicacies.

Veterinarians and breeders with extensive experience in breeding Pekingese provide this advice.

• During the period when the puppy's child's undercoat changes to adult wool, it is necessary to include in the diet, in addition to fish, algae and molluscs. However, it must be remembered that at an earlier age (up to 6-8 months) they should not be given.
• To provide your pet with vitamin C, it is useful to include parsley and lettuce leaves in the diet.
• Whatever the type of feeding the dog is, it must not be overfed. Excess weight will lead to disruption of the heart, affect the function of the stomach, cause shortness of breath. If you are overweight, you should reduce the serving size and include more vegetables in your food.
• Veterinarians advise not to feed the pet with buckwheat porridge too often, as this can provoke the occurrence of urolithiasis.
• It is not recommended to feed the Pekingese with pollock. It contains elements that can harm the health of the animal.
• If the Pekingese did not eat all the food, then he was full. The feeder should be removed before the next feed. This will keep your pet from overeating.
• When feeding with ready-made food, the Pekingese can be given fresh vegetables and fruits as a treat, but their volume should not exceed 20% of the total daily requirement of dry food.

The owner himself must decide what type of food to choose for the pet. The main indicator that the dog is eating properly and its diet meets all the requirements is the well-being of the Pekingese. If he is cheerful and active, his coat is shiny, then the food is organized correctly.

With an improper diet, some changes in the pet's appearance are observed: the coat loses its shine and becomes dull and even falls out, the dog walks lazily and hard, gains weight or shows signs of allergy in the form of "crying" eyes. In this case, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian and prescribe a special diet.

For the Pekingese diet, see the next video.