How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a true gentleman. Small in size, this pooch is exceptionally loving and affectionate, eagerly displaying friendliness to all it meets. This breed’s innate social nature is often expressed through its soulful eyes and constantly wagging tail.
A true lap dog, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel easily gains weight if overfed. Its puppy dog eyes often lead its owners to overindulge it, a problem that easily leads to obesity. For this reason, this dog breed should never be free fed, and treats should be limited. All food should be carefully measured and intake monitored to maintain a healthy weight.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a breed that likes to stay close to its people. They bond very deeply to their family and do not thrive if left alone for long periods of time.
The breed is highly intelligent and enjoys learning new skills. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does not require a lot of activity to remain in good physical condition. However, a daily walk is still recommended.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is typically very healthy. The largest concern most owners face is keeping this breed at a healthy weight.
The best dog foods for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel contain a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel requires a well-balanced diet that is comprised of exceptional quality ingredients. The best dog foods for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels list suggested serving sizes on their packaging. Owners can use these guidelines to help them determine how much food to give to their dogs at each meal. Adjustments can be made, using the dog’s weight, age, activity level, and appetite as guides until the correct portion is found.
Free feeding this breed is strongly discouraged since weight gain can occur quite easily. All food should be measured and daily intake monitored to prevent obesity since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a master at manipulating its owner into freely dispensing an abundance of treats.
Dietary Requirements for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Foods
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, as with all other breeds, is a carnivore. The best dog foods for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel list a moderate amount of lean meat as their primary ingredient. Whole meats or meat meals are the most beneficial.
By-products are taken from inferior parts of the animal. They can be difficult for most dogs to digest and are typically low in nutritional value. The plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat are common allergens for many dogs and are also hard for most dogs to process well. These items should all be avoided.
Items such as artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, chemicals, additives and fillers contribute nothing of value to a dog’s diet. Experts agree that foods containing these items are best left on the shelf.
From the carbohydrate content found in a diet, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel gains support for optimal digestion and a strong immune system. These carbohydrates can be derived from fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. The main priority of any carbohydrate included in a diet for this breed is its abundance of antioxidants and fiber.
Healthy fats play an important role in the diet for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, providing the dog with support for coat and skin health as well as fuelling strong reserves of energy. These are best found in such foods as oily fish and chicken fat. Plant-based oils such as safflower, canola, and coconut are also excellent sources for the essential fatty acids that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels need to enjoy optimal health and wellness.
Foods that contain supplements offer additional health benefits to dogs. The ideal supplements to look for in a food for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best food for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
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Lean meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel requires a diet with meat as its foundation. Whole meats or meat meals provide the best options. By-products, soy, corn, and wheat should all be avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, fillers, artificial flavorings and colorings, and mystery ingredients provide no nutritional benefit to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Diets which include any of these items should be left on the shelf.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements help a food to work its most effectively. The ideal supplements to look for in a diet for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
All foods appropriate for the Boxer puppy should bear the AAFCO seal of approval, indicating it meets the standards for a complete and balanced food.