Poodle Nutrition

     Starting with a happy, healthy dog will make things go a lot easier. Things to look for are inbreeding which is father/daughter, mother/son, and brother/sister breeding that is up close in the genetics. Half brother/sister breeding is questionable. If this is eliminated the dog should be more intelligent, healthier with a stronger immune system and a better personality.  Feeding natural healthy foods and not over vaccinating is very important.
     I have fed a lot of different dog foods over the years and what may work on one breed may not work on another. The size of the breed and the country where the breed originated can make a difference in what you feed. The book on breed specific canine nutrition is very informative.  
     My degree in nutrition has been a great help in choosing the right feeding program. I like using a premium quality dry puppy food until they are 6 months old, and then I switch to an adult food. I also use a dry premium quality adult food with a natural probiotic and digestive enzyme added daily.  Whole foods with limited grains will help prevent tarter build-up on the teeth.  Fresh raw beef knuckle bones are excellent for gum and teeth cleaning and provide hours of fun.  Omega3 oils (Salmon oil) are very important for skin, coat, and health.  For treats I recommend fruits and vegetables in either fresh, frozen, canned or dried form in small amounts without gravies or sauces. Yogurt or cottage cheese is fed once or twice a week at the rate of 1 tablespoon per five pounds of animal. Choose the yogurt and cottage cheese without artificial sweeteners; this chemical is not good for animals. Make sure it contains the active cultures including lactobacillus acidophilus. Do not feed any onions or chocolate to dogs, as it can be very toxic. I have found a few poodles that do not do well on soybean products so I look for dog foods that don't contain this ingredient. If your pet has an ear infection in both ears there is a chance it is a food allergy - if the infection is only in one ear then it is something else.
     I also stay away from rawhide in the small dogs and dog biscuits, unless they are the low-fat biscuits fed in small amounts. These items can cause over-weight problems.  If your pet is over weight, add pureed green beans (fresh or frozen is the best with no salt added) or a can of pure pumpkin (not pie filling).   Mix 1/3 green beans or pumpkin to 2/3 dry kibble daily. Raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar (Braggs) added daily (1 teaspoon per qt. of drinking water) will give your pet live enzymes.  It can also control tear stains after 7 to 10 days of use. The best time to spay your female pet is 3 months after her first heat cycle, when the hormones are the lowest. 

 Dental care is very important; you need to brush their teeth daily with the proper pet toothbrush and toothpaste. They need to see a vet every 6 to 12 months for teeth cleaning and polishing. The shorter the nose length the more crowded the teeth can be and the tartar can build-up sooner. Tarter is a bacteria that can enter the blood stream, which can eventually cause health problems to the organs.  The raw foods (meats, dairy, fruits & vegetables) will benefit the health of the dog with no tarter build-up on its teeth.  Special dental chew toys are available to help reduce tartar build-up. I call the short nose poodle the baby-doll face.
     With new information and better products coming out all the time, I continue to learn new techniques that are helpful in breeding a healthier dog.

Critter Advocacy .org  www.critteradvocacy.org

www.doglogic.com/vaccineinfo.htm
 

Tear Staining: The Causes & Cures www.bhejei.com/tearsta.htm

www.simplyschnauzer.net/SSHNindex.html