No matter how much your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel gives you those puppy eyes, you have to stick to a diet plan portioned to your pup’s size. Like many small breed dogs, Cavaliers put on weight easily and are prone to suffering from obesity. Therefore, you cannot allow them to snack or overfeed them at dinner time.
So, what can you feed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels? In this short comprehensive guide, we’ll detail how you can keep your Cavalier at a healthy weight through each stage of its life.
Here is what you should be feeding your pup at each stage of its life to maintain its overall health:
A King Charles Spaniel, at the start of its life, needs the maximum amount of nutrients possible. It needs more protein than any other King Charles age group. So we’d recommend feeding your dog kibble puppy food that should be around 21% protein minimum. That way, your King Charles’ body can grow to a healthy size and will develop a healthy immune system. Make sure that eating meat protein (preferably lean meat or fish oil) is first on the ingredient list.
In terms of portion size, the amount you should feed them depends on their body weight. The general rule applied is 20g of food per 1kg of dog weight, split up over 4 meals.
Around the time of their first birthday, you should change your dog’s diet to meet their adult needs and reduce their daily protein intake. Adult food will be more balanced in terms of protein, calcium, and other nutrients. Look for adult kibble that features around 18% protein.
Once they reach adulthood, you could also switch your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to a raw diet or cooked foods. This should consist of healthy fats and vegetables. However, you should speak to your vet before for more information on homemade food.
Whether feeding your adult raw dog food or kibble, you should aim to feed them between 120-160g per day, split up into two meals. You could also serve this as one meal, which should equate to around 530 calories per day.
A senior’s portion sizes should get gradually smaller as they use less energy. Switch them to dog foods that contain a high quantity of chondroitin and glucosamine to help them with movement and maintain healthy bones and muscles.
When pregnant, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel diet requirements need to be increased by 10 – 15% per week, spread over their 7 daily allowances.
Both raw and commercial sources of food are healthy options for your Cavalier. Commercial dog foods are conveniently developed to provide your Cavalier with all the necessary nutrients. However, they can taste a bit bland. Should they have a taste for raw food, dog owners should make sure to check with their vet first.
Yes, but in moderation. A dog biscuit on occasion is fine, but don’t overdo it to maintain a healthy body weight!
Yes. Some Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can be especially picky when it comes to food. Although it’s not always because they don’t like the taste or texture, some suffer from gastritis, pancreatitis or food sensitivities.
For every kilogram that your Cavalier King Charles weighs, you should make sure they drink 70-100 millilitres per day.
Whether you feed your Cavalier raw food, chicken meal, fish meal, or processed dog food, the best dog foods consist of a balanced diet based on age and body weight.
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