How and what to feed the Jack Russell Terrier?

To keep your dog healthy and active, it is worth choosing the right food for it. If we consider the Jack Russell Terrier, then it is worth considering its temperament, tendency to allergic manifestations, as well as to diseases. How and what to feed the representatives of this breed of dogs, and what products it is better to refuse, we will tell in this article.

The Jack Russell Terrier is a rather popular breed of dog, since it does not require specific care or special conditions of keeping, but the choice of food for it should be taken with full responsibility so that your pet feels good. So, you should pay attention to the following factors that should be considered when choosing a diet:

• balance;
• high quality;
• the health status of the dog.

Quite often, Jack Russell Terrier owners cannot choose what is best for their pet - natural products or dry food. It is impossible to highlight one thing. But it should be noted that when choosing natural food, special attention should be paid to balanceso that the pet gets the required amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

If you choose a balanced diet, then natural food can be called the best option. It is excellent for the normal development and growth of the dog. If your choice is focused on healthy, natural food, then the following rules should be taken into account:

• feeding the pet should be carried out at a certain time;
• depending on age, the number of meals changes - initially puppies eat up to 7 times a day, from about 6 months the puppy already switches to three meals a day, and after a year it is worth giving food to the dog only twice a day;
• Jack Russell Terrier puppies are not prone to overeating, but you should stick to the "golden mean" so as not to feed them;
• for a puppy, the daily feeding rate should be from 10% of its weight, and for an adult dog - from 3-5% - so there will be enough food for the dog to be active;
• for puppies it is recommended to soften food with a blender or grate, over time they will get used to solid food.

You need to feed the Jack Russell Terrier with the following foods:

• soups, for example, beef broth, but low-fat;
• meat should be combined with porridge, you can include barley, rice, buckwheat in the diet;
• Vegetable Salad, but it is absolutely worth giving up any kind of spices and salt in them;
• dairy products - sour cream, low fat cottage cheese;
• vegetables - cabbage, beets, carrots, zucchini;
• fruits - apples and pears.

It is strictly forbidden to feed a dog of any breed with salty, spicy, sweet, fatty, smoked or fried food... Even a single case can lead to very serious consequences - contraindicated food will affect the functioning of the liver, stomach and intestines.

If natural food is chosen for feeding, then you should be prepared that the menu will have to be diversified, so your pet can get the maximum benefit.

Dry food is an excellent substitute for natural food. Many people prefer ready-made dry food, since they do not need to be cooked, and pets are well fed up with them. If you don't want to think every day how to pamper your pet, then ready-made food is ideal. If you decide to feed the Jack Russell Terrier dry food, you should take into account the following recommendations from experts.

• It is necessary to calculate the portion of food depending on the weight of your pet. Usually, the manufacturer has already indicated on the packaging how many grams of food should be given to the dog, depending on its size.
• The dog also needs natural food. Of course, dry food is balanced, but the animal needs vegetables and fruits, so veterinarians advise alternating dry food with natural food, and also do not forget about liquid food.
• It is forbidden to give both natural and dry food at the same time, since mixing them will only harm the dog.
• When choosing dry food, it is worth considering the age and health of the dog. For example, puppies are more comfortable chewing on large pellets, while allergic dogs need special options if they have sensitive digestive tracts.
• The dog should always have access to clean water so that it can quench its thirst at any time.
• You should not buy low-quality feed, which is sold by weight, since they contain quite a lot of salt, and soy also acts as a substitute for meat. Such nutrition will negatively affect the condition of the musculoskeletal system and the genitourinary system of the animal.
• It is forbidden to frequently replace one feed with another. The replacement of the manufacturer should occur exclusively when necessary, for example, if the dog has an allergy or completely refuses to feed.
• Since today a wide range of products from various manufacturers is presented to the buyer's choice, one should focus on the feed that the breeder or club advises. The best are premium and super premium foods such as Royal Canin or Acana.

It is imperative that all owners of the Jack Russell Terrier breed should familiarize themselves with the following list of foods prohibited for dogs:

• sausage, sausages and pork lead to diseases of the pancreas;
• fried, salted and smoked foods negatively affect the state of the blood;
• grapes and raisins can overload the kidneys;
• long bones can damage the stomach;
• chocolate has a bad effect on the work of the heart and the nervous system in general, it can provoke a heart attack, internal bleeding and even an epileptic seizure;
• onions can cause anemia;
• strawberries, citrus fruits and millet are strong allergens, so they should be discarded;
• corn, legumes, garlic, mushrooms, broccoli, potatoes and raw eggs lead to dry skin, dull hair, anemia and gastrointestinal overload;
• Freshwater fish contains a large number of small bones that can damage the larynx and stomach.

Only a properly selected menu guarantees the normal development of puppies. It is very important to consider age categories, as the nutrition for puppies of different ages is very different. It is necessary to compose a diet for a Jack Russell Terrier puppy from 1.5 months of age. It is during this period that the puppy begins to wean from the mother's milk.

Experienced veterinarians note that every 2-3 months it is necessary to enrich the puppy's menu by introducing new products. Already in six months, you can make a choice in favor of natural food or ready-made feed.

So, let's take a look at how a puppy eats at different ages.

A Jack Russell Terrier puppy gains weight pretty quickly. During this period, he needs a large amount of nutritious food, since all important tissues are formed. Food must contain the required amount of vitamins and minerals. The puppy should be fed small portions, but often. On average, one serving should be up to about 10% of the dog's weight.

A puppy in 2-3 months needs to be fed mainly with beef, veal, although chicken is not excluded. The menu should include foods such as carrots, beets, buckwheat, rice and eggs. Usually they give cereals with meat and vegetables. For a two-month-old puppy, food should be given in a grated form, and you can supplement it with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. A boiled egg can be given to the dog only 3 times a week.

From fruits, you can give a quarter of an apple every few days, and also combine it with carrots and a little sour cream. You should be quite careful with fermented milk products. Increase the portion gradually, starting with just one teaspoon.

During this period, the growth of the body, like organs, continues rapidly. During this period, wool is already forming. It is necessary to select an enhanced menu. Foods for the dog should be given the same as before, but the number of servings already needs to be reduced, and the amount of food should be increased.

You should adhere to the same proportion of a single meal in 1/10 of the dog's weight. Although everything is selected individually. If the dog cannot eat a portion that is about 10% of the dog's total weight, then it is worth reducing it.

Already from 6 months, the growth of the puppy begins to gradually slow down. During this period, it is worth reducing both the calorie content of food and its amount. This can be done easily thanks to the bulk of the cereal. The meat should be supplied in the right amount, because during this period the bones get stronger and the muscles increase. Already from 9 months in the puppy's menu, you can include bones and a scar that do not require heat treatment.

If the breeder immediately taught Jack Russell Terrier puppies to dry food, then you should adhere to this direction.But if desired, the diet can be gradually changed, it will take no more than two weeks. Changing your dog's menu dramatically can lead to serious frustration. It is worth purchasing initially the same food as the breeder. Usually, the packaging has the designation "Puppy" or "Junior", which are maximally adapted to the needs of the growing puppy.

Before feeding, dry food should be softened... For a gradual transition to natural food, the addition of wet canned meat is allowed on the fifth day. Further, it is still worth waiting 2 days to introduce 1 teaspoon of meat broth, cooked and chopped chicken or beef. In the next week, it is worth gradually adding cereals, vegetables and fruits to the puppy's menu.

An adult dog already eats only 2 times a day. The diet must be selected correctly, then the Jack Russell Terrier will be able to develop normally. It is necessary to adhere to a certain portion, do not overfeed the dog. If you are feeding your dog dry food, the serving size is indicated on the package. In the case of natural food, it is worth sticking to that 75% is allocated to meat products and only 25% is represented by plant foods.

The Jack Russell Terrier's daily diet should include the following foods:

• meat or fish - 550 g;
• dairy products - 50 g;
• porridge - 300-350 g.

After 7 years, the dog should eat food that is 80% protein, but it is better to reduce the amount of cereals and milk.

The diet of an adult Jack Russell Terrier should also be balanced. If you feed your pet "natural", it is worth combining meat with porridge, while adding vegetables. Lean beef or chicken should be given 2-3 times a week, occasionally offal.

Neutered and neutered dogs should be kept on a special diet. When compiling a diet, you must adhere to the following rules:

• the animal should not be overfed to avoid obesity;
• the easiest option is to buy a special ready-made food intended for spayed dogs;
• food should be of good quality, since treatment of the dog will cost you more if you feed him cheap food;
• it is necessary to provide physical activity to the dog.