Feeding Your Eurasier

There are so many dog food options that it can be difficult to make an informed selection. These are the following vet-approved recommendations that I look for in a diet:

• Protein greater than or equal to 28% from animal-based sources

• Fat greater than or equal to 18%

• Carbohydrates are greater than or equal 22%

• Calcium: Phosphorus ratio of 1.2:1 to 1:1

• Omega 6:3 fatty acid ratio of 5:1 to 10:1

  
  

Do note that these percentages are for an active dog lifestyle so if you are not free feeding you may need to reduce your portions. Free feeding is the key to a healthy weight in most dogs. If the resource is always present, dogs will not overeat. Follow the portion guidelines on each bag if you are feeding at specific times daily.

Make sure you feed your Eurasier puppy food until they are at least 14 months old.

Puppy food generally has more calories and nutrients to sustain their rapid growth. These are my top dog food recommendations:

• Farmina – $95 (26.5 pounds)

• Open Farm – $86 (22 pounds)

• Fromm – $63 (26 pounds)

I do not recommend feeding a homemade diet unless specific nutritional information is available for the diet. This means that the diet has been analyzed, or the recipe used to make the diet has specific nutritional information available. Feeding raw successfully is very difficult. The best way to ensure your dog is getting the nutrients it needs is through kibble.

Additionally, Eurasiers tend to become very picky eaters when given too much of a home cooked or raw diet. They will literally go on hunger strikes.

Vets advise against feeding raw meat to puppies since they have immature immune systems that make them more susceptible to foodborne pathogens. Diets high in flax (or flax supplements) as well as diets high in peas should also be avoided because of the potential for high plant-based estrogen content.