A popular family dog with a cheerful personality, the Bichon Frise is a small-sized breed that requires a well-balanced diet that maintains a healthy weight and boosts its immune system. Below, you’ll find how best to feed your Bichon – right down to the age, the best dog food, and the Bichon Frise feeding requirements.
The amount of food you give your Bichon Frise daily depends on several factors, like weight, age, daily exercise, and the quality of food they’re eating. They’ll have different nutritional needs at different stages in their life. What they may have needed as a pup may not be the same when they’re adults.
A newly-weaned Bichon puppy requires high-quality dog food that caters to its digestive needs. Each day, feed your Bichon Frise puppy one cup of good quality puppy food, wet or dry food, split into four meals every 4-5 hours.
Between 10-12 months is when Bichons become adult dogs. Around this time, their calorie intake should be between 300-500 calories a day, and their meals can be split into two, made up of ½ to 1 cup of food daily.
A senior dog’s diet requires different nutritional needs than younger dogs. However, this doesn’t always mean a change in diet is needed. Some older dogs may just need a lighter meal to avoid weight gain as their activity level decreases.
An expectant mother should be fed a well-balanced, high-quality diet throughout her gestation, as this is crucial for the healthy growth of her pups. Nutritional supplements can help support the pregnancy and her changing needs, but always consult your vet first.
The best food is one that promotes the overall health of your dog. While commercial dog food is cheaper and has a longer shelf-life, a fresh or raw diet can provide many more benefits.
That’s not to say commercial foods like dry and canned food are necessarily bad for your dog. In fact, most use corn gluten meal as a kibble binder and a source of protein and amino acids.
Whether you prefer commercially manufactured or raw dog food, always check the food label because, ultimately, healthy food makes for a healthy dog!
Yes! Giving your pup dog-friendly treats from time to time is perfectly fine. But avoid overdoing it to keep your dog’s weight healthy.
You should avoid foods high in fat and salt, like bacon and sausages, as well as chocolate, garlic, onions, cooked bones, grapes, dairy, and certain nuts. Moreover, feeding your dog table food in large amounts can be toxic as they’re not nutritionally balanced.
Like humans, dogs have dislikes and likes with certain foods. The Bichon Frise is an especially fussy eater, but don’t be discouraged, as there are always ways to work around this.
How much water they drink depends on their activity levels, size, age, and the type of food you give them – for example, dry food can make your Bichon thirstier. Generally, small dogs require 31.25 ml of water per kg of their body weight. So, if your dog weighs 9 kg, it will need around 300 ml of water daily.
As a smaller breed, Bichons don’t need to eat much, so your dog’s food should be nutritionally complete, even in smaller amounts. Poor nutrition can lead to health problems and food allergies like obesity, skin problems, and hair loss. So, by choosing the right food for your Bichon Frise, you’ll ensure every bite counts for your furry friend!
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