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Low-cost food might be better for your wallet, but it can be a raw deal for your dog, because he may not get the nutrition he needs. Premium foods, such as IAMS™ ProActive Health™ Smart Puppy Original , make sense both nutritionally (because of consistent, high-quality ingredients) and economically because they provide:
The investment in a premium food might initially cost more per bag, but because these high-quality formulas are high in nutrient density, your dog may need less food, which can offset the higher cost per unit of weight. On a cost-per-feeding basis, look at how much you feed each day as opposed to how much the bag costs, because nutrient and energy density will generally be lower for a low-cost food compared with premium foods.
With budget-priced formulas, the emphasis is on production and ingredient costs. Two bags of the same least-cost formulated food can have different ingredients and/or levels of ingredients. Plus, those ingredients may vary significantly in digestibility. This means, simply, that you may need to feed more just to equal the nutrition offered by a smaller amount of a premium dog food formula.
High-quality, complete, and balanced premium dog foods such as the IAMS brands are specifically designed to provide your dog with a food that has:
To determine how much food to give your dog, check the daily feeding recommendations set by the pet food manufacturer and read the label. To calculate portion sizes, divide the total daily recommended amount by the number of times (usually two for adult dogs) you plan to feed your dog.
To tell if your dog is at a healthy weight, move your hands along his sides. If you can feel his ribs, he's about right. Or, look down at him when you're directly above him. You should be able to see a waistline.
If he's gaining or losing a lot of weight, slightly decrease or increase his daily intake and weigh him in another week. If you have specific concerns about your dog's weight, talk to your veterinarian. He or she can assess your dog's needs and make a feeding recommendation.
Once you've decided on a premium formula, you have another choice to make: dry or moist. And what about biscuits?
Premium dry dog food gives you the best value and convenience, while fortifying your dog with high-quality nutrition. Premium dry foods come in a number of bag sizes and formulas suited to size, life stage, and activity level. Dry food also helps keep teeth clean, and it stays fresh for a long time if you store it properly.
Wet foods from IAMS provide 100% complete nutrition. IAMS ProActive Health Puppy Biscuits make great treats and rewards and can add taste variety to your new dog's diet.
Golden Retrievers are energetic and full of stamina, so daily exercise is a must. Adult Goldens need at least an hour’s exercise every day. Like the pug, this breed is highly prone to obesity, so they will quickly put on weight without proper physical activity like running, swimming (they just love water), and playing fetch.
Caring for Golden Retrievers is a moderate issue. Golden Retrievers have two shedding seasons (spring, autumn) in a year where they shed pretty heavily. Otherwise shedding is not a major challenge. You need to brush your Golden 3-4 times per week and bathe them once a month.
Because they tend to gain weight quickly, we recommend that you monitor their caloric intake daily. This is why Goldens need complete and balanced meals that are tailor-made to meet their unique needs. We recommend giving them premium Golden Retriever food like IAMS™ Proactive Health™Adult Golden Retriever that contains L-Carnitine to support healthy weight management, Glucosamine and Chondroitin to support healthy joints, and Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids to support skin and coat health. It is best to split their daily allowance into two meals.
Recommended Golden Retrievers food intake-
| SIZE OF GOLDEN RETRIEVER | RECOMMENDED DAILY FEEDING (G) |
|---|---|
| 20-30 kg | 255-345 |
| 30-40 kg | 345-430 |
| 40-50 kg | 430-505 |
| 50-60 kg | 505-580 |
Golden Retrievers are prone to moderate levels of health issues. Common ones include cancer and blood disorders, hip and elbow dysplasia, dislocated kneecaps, skin conditions, hypothyroidism, cataracts, and ear infections.
An ideal world for a Golden Retriever is to live in a home with a medium or large-sized yard. While they do well in apartments, they need a great deal of outdoor exercise to stay fit. So if you can manage that, Golden Retrievers can do well as indoor and outdoor pets.
So, is caring for a Golden Retriever the right choice for you? Goldens are high-energy pets and are one of the friendliest breeds out there. Their friendly nature and comfort around little kids make them an ideal choice for many first-time owners.
