Things to think about when feeding your dog

• SPECIFIC™ dog food is complete and balanced.  That means this food will give them all the nutrients they need for a healthy and active life without needing anything else

• When you are working out how much to feed your dog start with the feeding guidelines on the pack.  When you put the food out make sure you measure it out – that makes it easier to adjust up or down later.  The guidelines are just that – guidelines – and the food needs will vary from dog to dog so what you need to do is watch your dog’s weight and adjust if needed.  If they are gaining weight reduce the amount slightly, if losing weight then increase the amount of food. Of course your vet will always be happy to advise you if you’re worried. How to assess your dog's weight without using scales

• The daily amount of food should be divided into two or more meals

• Scraps from the table are usually too fatty and salty for dogs and, despite good intentions, may contribute to weight gain and other health problems. For the sake of your dog’s health, please try to avoid this

• Your dog should always have fresh, clean water available

• Keep an eye on your dog’s condition and well-being in general

• Have your dog weighed regularly and adjust the daily feeding amount if your dog loses or gains weight

• Talk to your vet or vet nurse if you think adjustment in your dog’s food is needed

You should contact your vet if your dog gains or loses weight unexpectedly, they vomit, have diarrhoea or have trouble passing stools. You should also seek advice if they refuse to eat for more than 48 hours.

Dry or wet food - what's the difference?

Most of the SPECIFIC™ food is available both in dry food “kibbles” and wet food pâtés. Generally a dry food is more economical and provides more natural chewing for the dog. The wet food pâtés are tasty alternatives packed in handy trays.  You can feed the pâtés as your dog's daily diet, as a weekend treat, or mixed in with their dry food. The wet food pâtés can be stored for several days in the fridge after opening, but remember to serve it at room temperature which makes it taste better to your pet.

Introduce your dog to SPECIFIC™

SPECIFIC™ food is very tasty and quickly accepted by most dogs. However, some dogs are creatures of habit and may not easily accept a new food in its bowl. Here are some tips and tricks for making the introduction of new food easier:

• Mix more and more of the new food into the current food over a period of 7-10 days
• SPECIFIC™ dry food can be served as it is, or mixed with water at body temperature
• Wet food pâtés can be warmed and served at body temperature