How Much Should I Feed My Boston Terrier?
How much should I feed my Boston Terrier? It is a common question with dog owners, especially when they have this breed. The reason being that feeding these dogs sometimes begin to feel like a guessing game. We have compiled the guide below to help you feed your canine correctly.
The amount of food that you should feed you Boston Terrier will depend on its age, size, metabolism, and activity levels. Boston Terriers have voracious appetites, and it might be challenging to monitor their feeding schedule. You should not just give them food because you feel they are hungry.
When you buy food for your pet companion, always read the back of the food bag for the brand’s feeding recommendations. However, if you get confused with how much you should feed the dog, kindly enquire from your certified veterinary doctor.
It is also important to note that the food requirements for puppies are not the same as that for adult dogs as discussed below;
How Much Should Adult Boston Terrier Eat?
A dog should hit maturity when it reaches the age of one. It is the stage in a dog’s life when the drastic transformation in their body weight and size stop. A Boston Terrier breed will remain compact even when it reaches full maturity.
It would be best to feed your Boston Terrier twice a day: one meal early in the morning and the other meal late in the evening. It should be a strict schedule that you must follow. Do not give your dog treats in between these meals.
However, if you involve the dog in many physical activities inside this meal interval, you should include giving it high calories diet.
How Much Should Boston Terrier Puppies Eat?
The nutritional requirement for puppies is higher than that of adult dogs. The reason being that they have a faster metabolism and also that they need more energy to grow.
The standard recommendation is that a puppy aged between 3 to 4 months should take 4-5 smaller portioned meals daily. A 3-5 old puppy should consume three meals daily while and a 6-10-month-old dog should take only two meals per day.
You should consult your vet on the proper feeding schedule and correct amount of food for your dog/puppy.
Easy Basic Bolton Terrier Feeding Tips
Boston Terriers are some of the most active small dog breeds. The activity level for dogs plays a massive role in the amount and type of food they consume.
It would help if you always fed your dogs with high nutrient food. For instance, if you decide to feed them on protein, it should be a real protein product and no by-products.
Another essential tip that will help you have a quality life for your dog is the eating schedule. It would help if you were disciples to have a feeding timetable for them. A proper feeding schedule will help your dog avoid grazing and encourage it to have some good mealtime behavior.
What type of food should my Bolton Terrier Eat?
As always, your dog should be your best friend. The type of food you feed it will affect its lifestyle. Providing your dog with healthy food will also reduce the number of times you visit your vet due to medical reasons. Here is a list of meals you can give your Bolton Terrier.
Homemade Diet
Feeding your dog with this kind of diet will allow you to include the best ingredients in the meal. For example, you could provide them with lean meat, bones, and organs. You could also have some vegetables and nutritional supplements.
Other inexpensive but essential ingredients for homemade meals that you could give your dog include chicken feet, gizzard, turkey neck, and beef tendons.
- Natural Ingredients
Occasionally, your Bolton Terrier may have some odorous gas emissions. The leading cause of this emission is canned food and Kibbles that contain corn and wheat. It is quite impossible to stop this from happening, but you could control it by feeding it with a diet that has natural ingredients.
If you want to control this problem significantly, you need to give your dog food like meat, potatoes, and rice. These foods contain natural ingredients.
The best source of natural ingredients is raw dog food. You can get them frozen or freeze-dried form specific dog food outlets. Alternatively, you can make the food yourself using the available ingredients.
- Hard Food
Hard foods will help your Bolton Terrier have healthy teeth. Dogs have soft foods as their main diet always suffers from bad breath and tooth decay. Giving your hard dog food will boost its appetite and help provide it optimum nutrition.
Sometimes your vet will prescribe soft food when your dog suffers from indigestion. Unless that happens, we recommend that you give it hard food.
- High Protein, Fat and Vitamin Food
It would help if you fed your Bolton Terrier with a diet that will give it a balance between a healthy weight and an energetic lifestyle. A diet with enough animal lean meat protein increases your dog’s energy levels.
Another energy-giving food for dogs if fat. It also provides the omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy skins coat; and DHA for brains and eyes.
A good dog diet should also contain vitamins that are necessary for healthy eyes and joints.
What Food Avoid for Your Bolton Terrier?
Some foods are not healthy for your dog, and you should avoid then when you can. They are;
- “People Food”
As usual, the voracious appetite of your Bolton Terrier might tempt you to give it some of your left-over meals. It is not necessary and might be risky. Small fish or chicken bones can get logged in your dogs through and cause it to chock.
Feeding your dog with anything above what is required could make it overweight and expose it to health risks. That is why you should always look for the ideal nutrient recommendations for your animal.
- Wheat and Corns
Boston Terriers have sensitive skin and are prone to irritations from allergic food reactions. It would be best to avoid diets that contain grains such as wheat and corn. Some grains may also cause digestive issues for some dogs.
How Many Calories Should My Boston Terrier Consume?
The calorie intake for this breed of dog is the same for both genders because of their diminutive size. An average Boston Terrier should weigh around 20 pounds. To help your dog maintains a healthy weight, you should feed them with about 650 calories per day.
However, this caveat in calorie intake will depend on the age and level of activity. You need to lower the calorie intake down a little if your dog is on the older side and less active.
You can use calories calculators if you are not sure of the amount calories your pet should consume. Also, seek professional guidance on this from your veterinary office.
Factors That Will Affect the Amount and Type of Food You Feed Your Bolton Terrier
There is no standard amount or type of food for dogs. Some dogs will eat more than others. Consequently, some dogs will not take some food due to some specific reasons. Below are some factors that will affect your dog’s eating habits.
- Allergies
Boston Terriers have bottomless but very sensitive stomachs. You should always check the food packaging for any ingredients that may be risky for your dog.
The standard type of allergic reaction with Boston Terriers is known as atopic dermatitis. Signs for this reaction include red, flaking skins on your dog.
- Weight of The Dog
If your dog becomes overweight, feeding them with smaller food portions will help the reach that healthy weight again. However, if it becomes underweight, then you should increase the serving size.
It is essential to seek guidance from a veterinary doctor. Some weight changes may be due to certain health complications rather than feeding programs.
- Age of The Dog
As discussed earlier in this article, Boston Terrier puppies feed more than adult dogs; they are smaller and more active. They also need more food to enhance their growth and to keep their level of activity up.
The number of times a dog that you need to feed your dog should reduce as it progresses in age. Puppies should eat between 4-5 times a day, while adult dogs should have a maximum of 2 meals a day.
- Activity Levels
People keep Boston Terriers for different reasons. Some people even keep them for canine sporting competitions. The reason being that they are easy to train and have exceptional levels of intelligence.
If you keep your dog for this purpose, you need to feed it more to reciprocate the energy lost in such activities.
Conclusion
Keeping a Boston Terrier requires dedication, especially when observing its feeding habits. You need to follow a certain standard when it comes to finding the right amount and type of foods for your dog. The guide above will take you through every detail you need to feed this breed of canine.