We recently had a beautiful Golden Retriever named Bently visiting with us. He was our Grand-dog. What a love to our two fur-babies Rosie and Focus. It was surprising how quickly they became best friends. They all enjoyed playing and running with each other.
What do you feed your dog?
One thing you really need to watch out for with Golden Retrievers is over-feeding. Obesity in Golden Retrievers is a common problem, mostly because it’s hard to say no to a well-practiced begging routine from very skilled and beautiful looking beggar!
If you feed your Golden the correct amount twice per day, provide a few treats when training, and then feed them table scraps and leftovers, it’s very easy to provide too much food and of the wrong types. And a Golden will never say no, they just love to eat!
Choice of food for your golden retriever are:
- raw eggs/egg yolk including its shells: rick in protein.
- raw vegetables: carrots are the best.
- brown rice: it is richer in fiber; good for you and for your Retriever.
- oatmeal: also rich in fiber
- fruits: skip the grapes and raisins; give your Golden Retriever apples, peaches, or bananas, to name a few.
Avoid giving these foods to your dog:
- chocolates: it has bromine which leads to toxicity in your dog. Unsweetened, dark, and baking chocolates contain the highest amount of bromine.
- egg whites: it can cause biotin deficiency (Vitamin B) because it contains avidin, but you can give your Retriever a whole raw egg including the egg shell.
- onions and garlic.
Human Food? Maybe!
Most human foods are great for your pet dog, but there are some that aren’t and can even harm your dog. It can even be a source of skin allergies or can even cause instant death. It is always good to mix human food with your dog’s kibble. Always keep in mind, though that raw and cooked food as a complete nutritional balanced diet your dog will enjoy. Meat provides the protein that is easiest to digest. Protein provides amino acids that are vital to a dog’s health. As for carbohydrates, ground whole grains, brown rice, potato starch and oatmeal can provide carbohydrates. The amount of fat eaten should be controlled. Fats help the body to absorb oil-soluble nutrition.
Vegetable fiber sources provide vitamins and minerals and enough fiber to know the digestion tract healthy. Although beans are nutritious for dogs, beans and broccoli can cause excess gas.
Develop a Food Plan
When you want to develop a food plan for your dog, you will have to consider the amount of exercise that your dog receives. A more active dog has greater nutritional needs then a sedentary dog. Extra weight puts a strain on a dog’s body, back, hips and joints.
For a Golden Retriever to receive the best care, it must have a controlled diet that provides proper nutrition. The right Golden Retriever dog food recipes should not overfeed the dog because they can overeat if given the chance.
About the Author
Judy Helm Wright is a life educator, grief coach, and keynote speaker who has written more than 20 books, hundreds of articles and speaks internationally on relationship issues including those with our beloved pets.
Artichoke Press is not Judy’s only self-starter project. www.Animal Human Connection.com LLC is a veteran owned business and family foundation.
The symbol of the artichoke has great meaning for Judy in her teaching and writing. Working with families, she sees that frequently only the outer edges are exposed, which can be prickly and sometimes bitter to the taste. But, as you expose the artichoke and people to warmth, caring, and time, gradually the leaves begin to open and expose the real treasure–the heart.
You will enjoy Judy’s approachable manner, wonderful storytelling and common-sense solutions gleaned from working with hundreds of families and organizations
