FAQs For Dogs
Find a range of articles and FAQs to help you feed the right amount to your dog. Great taste means minimum waste and maximum value. Our combination of high grade poultry oil and fish oil provides outstanding taste, The range of flavours including ocean fish, chicken and lamb means there is a Gelert Country Choice for even the fussiest dog. High quality protein means a little goes a long way towards keeping your dog in optimum nutritional health.
What is the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?
Just as humans suffer from allergies and food intolerances, so too can dogs. An allergic reaction takes place when the body's immune system (designed to protect from e.g. infections), mistakes something harmless such as a flea bite, for a potential threat and reacts against it. The substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Common allergens that may affect dogs include, house dust, pollen and certain foods such as wheat. Allergic reactions can occur at any stage of a dog's life. Allergic reactions can manifest as e.g. itchy skin, intense itching, ear infections, diarrhoea or vomiting.
Though the symptoms of food intolerances are often similar to those caused by allergens they are not triggered by the immune system. Rather food intolerance is an exaggerated or abnormal physical reaction to a food or food additive. This may be caused by a chemical deficiency in the body.
If you suspect your dog has either an allergy or an intolerance, your first stop should be the vet. He or she can test for specific allergens. The most common food allergen is wheat but the only way to find out exactly what provokes a reaction in your dog is to use an elimination diet. You should do this with the guidance of your vet. It usually takes up to 12 weeks to reach any useful conclusions.
Many owners who have intermittent problems with any of the above symptoms opt for hypoallergenic dog food to reduce the chance of introducing common allergens such as wheat, into their dog's diet. Whilst this is no substitute for thorough investigation by your vet, a hypoallergenic dog food is particularly popular with owners of working and sporting dogs as the food tends to be generally more easily digestible which, is ideal for delivering the high levels of protein and energy, active dogs need.
Gelert Country Choice Premium range contains no wheat or soya and is rice based - an easily digestible carbohydrate.
How palatable is Gelert? Do dogs like it?
Gelert was formulated with superb palatability in mind. After all, for the food to be of benefit to your pet they have to eat it in the first place. With each kibble having been coated in the finest grade chicken oil we have made Gelert so appealing that rejection is extremely rare.
I've had trouble with variable batches. How is Gelert Manufactured?
We work closely with a select number of suppliers and lay down stringent parameters relating to product quality, if a consignment does not meet the laid down parameters, then we simply do not accept it. In addition, our raw materials never vary. Our commitment to producing consistent quality products dictates continual investment in our manufacturing facility.
These are the basic tenets that we work to. This adherence to strictly fixed formulas is the only way we can truly guarantee that your dog eats the same high quality products every time.
How much will I need to feed and how much will it cost?
Because Gelert is so highly digestible - you feed 20-25% less than some other foods, so it costs less to feed. Studies have shown that dogs were required to eat 3-4 times as much of an economy brand than a premium food to provide proper nutrition.
The following table gives a rough guide for feeding adult working & sporting dogs.
| Feeding Guidelines for Dogs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build of Dog | Weight of Dog | Daily Feed |
| Small | 5-15kg | 100 - 225 grams |
| Small - medium | 15-25kg | 225 - 375 grams |
| Medium - large | 25-35kg | 375 - 525 grams |
| Large | 35-45kg | 525 - 675 grams |
| Giant | More than 45kg | 675 grams |
Exact food requirements vary depending on climate, breed of dog, age, emotional state and excercise/activity levels. The above is a suggested amount, based on the needs of a moderately active dog - feed an amount that allows your dog to maintain his ideal weight.
Obviously, a dog which is extremely active will need more than the above recommended amount. The exact feed should be dictated by your dogs needs and appearance, feed to maintain a lean active condition.
Introduce by mixing with your dog's usual food and increasing the amount of Gelert over several days. A sudden change in food source may be a shock to your dog's digestive system. If you notice loose stools, reduce the amount of the new food until your dog adjusts.
Why do I need a dog food specially formulated for working & sporting dogs? Why can't I just feed more of a standard dog food?
When you compare the daily activity of a working or sporting dog to that of an urban pet dog who is walked once daily, it's obvious that the energy requirements for working and sporting dogs are much higher. Not just energy but protein requirements are higher too. So the energy density and digestibility of the food needs to be higher than in dog foods designed for pets. If you just feed more of a basic maintenance food, it can lead to overfeeding, poor digestibility, fading work performance and loss of condition. Gelert Country Choice is specially formulated with higher levels of quality protein, easily digestible rice and essential trace elements and minerals to provide optimum levels of nutrition. By following the feeding guidelines (printed on the back of each bag), you can avoid over or under feeding and maintain maximum performance.
Feeding sporting dogs. How many meals a day should I offer?
Opinion varies on whether to feed once or twice a day. Some dog breeders like to give a small meal in the morning followed by a main meal late afternoon. The main thing to remember with active breeds is that meals need to be scheduled to allow for a quiet period for digestion after the meal, particularly if your dogs are prone to bolting their food. Any training sessions should take place at least 45 minutes after the main meal. Most dogs with a full stomach will naturally want to sleep straight after eating and this is best for optimum digestion. The highly digestible nature of Gelerts Country Choice is particularly good for dogs such as Labradors who tend to bolt their food.
What type of food should I feed my puppy?
Canned foods are typically higher in calories and fat and are usually 80 to 83% water. Therefore on a dry matter basis it makes canned food very expensive. Being a dry food, Gelert Puppy is only 9% water and is made of high quality ingredients. It is therefore more economical, easier to use, and in the opinion of many veterinarians and specialist pet nutritionists, better for your dog.
Dogs on dry foods typically have fewer intestinal upsets, either diarrhea or constipation, and also they have fewer problems with unwanted weight gain. Probably the most important advantage of using dry foods and feeding them dry is that the abrasive action of eating them is good for the dog's teeth and gums.
Dogs that constantly eat any of the softened foods always have more dental problems ranging from tartar and plaque build up, abscesses, tooth loss and gum disease. Any or all of which may cause bad breath.
Most dog trainers, breeders, veterinarians and pet nutritionists would recommend a dry kibble food such as Gelert - a food which has a meat protein source as one of its first two ingredients. Dry food is the only food that helps control plaque while it is being eaten. It's also the only food that helps satisfy your puppies need to chew.
In addition dry food is easy to store, less expensive than alternatives, more conveniently served, palatable and has less odour.
With dog food, like pretty much everything else in life, you get what you pay for. Economy brands are inexpensive and made of the cheapest ingredients available. As such, their energy values are lower, they use poor grade proteins with lower digestibility, which means that much of the food passes right through their system and is not absorbed.
Gelert Puppy is a premium brand and uses higher quality ingredients from sources with high biological values. Because better quality ingredients mean better digestibility, your puppy does not need to eat as much and less waste is produced.
How should I change over to Gelert Puppy Junior?
If you have just bought your new puppy and that puppy was not previously fed on Gelert it is a good idea to initially continue feeding the same type and brand of puppy food and use the same feeding schedule as the puppy was on before he came to you. Then you can slowly change the puppy's food over to Gelert.
The best way to do this is over a period of 7-10 days. Mix 25% of Gelert Puppy with 75% of the old food for several days. Then make it 50-50 for several days, and then 75% Gelert to 25% old food.
How should I wean & feed Gelert?
Your puppies feeding schedule will be somewhat dictated by your own personal schedule. It is not advisable to leave food out for the puppy so that he can eat as and when he wants. You need to be there for the feeding in order to assist the puppy in getting into a regular schedule. The best way to achieve this is to feed the puppy what it will eat at specific times on a specific schedule.
Initially introduce Gelert Puppy at about 3-4 weeks of age. Moisten Gelert Puppy with an equal volume of warm water and mix to form porridge - this will assist young pups in their transition to solid feed. Initially serve small amounts of Gelert in a porridge form six times a day then after weaning, puppies under six months should be fed three times a day; between six and twelve months old, two times daily; and once per day after twelve months of age.
Gelert Puppy should be fed in a controlled daily quantity over several meals and in accordance with the expected adult body weight and age of your puppy. The feeding chart on the package should be used as a guide only.
Gelert Puppy should be fed in a controlled daily quantity over several meals and in accordance with the expected adult body weight and age of your puppy. The feeding chart on the package should be used as a guide only.
One advantage of feeding on a set schedule as suggested above is that your puppy will then go to the toilet on a more set time and therefore make housetraining easier and faster.
It is a good idea to make it a habit to give your puppy some quiet time after the meal. Try not to let the children run about, shout, and play with it for the first 60 to 90 minutes or so after eating. This could lead to stomach upsets that can be very serious. The puppy will, however, probably need to go to the toilet.
Can you overfeed a puppy?
Many owners feel that their dog isn't putting on weight or growing as fast as they think it should. They are then tempted to somehow encourage their animal to eat more. This is not a good idea.
The growth rate and appetite of a young Puppy fed on a high quality food such as Gelert Puppy menu is primarily dictated by genetics. Don't try to make your dog grow faster than it should or into something it isn't. This will only lead to problems. Artificially accelerated growth leads to bone and joint disorders. Feed your puppy the amounts he wants and let his body dictate his needs.
Should I give cow's milk to my puppy?
Cow's milk contains the sugar lactose. Dogs do not have the enzyme lactase that is necessary to digest it. That is why they often develop diarrhea or softer stools when given milk. Most humans produce this enzyme. Those that don't are said to suffer from milk intolerance or allergies - you may have heard of people who are lactose-intolerant.
You will note that Gelert puppy contains skimmed milk powder as an ingredient - but don't worry, lactose bacteria have been used to break down the sugar into more easily digestible forms.
How much water should I give my dog or puppy?
Puppies may seem to drink large quantities of water. This is essential and they cannot be deprived. A dog or cat can starve and loose almost all of it's body fat and half of it's protein mass (muscle) and still survive. However, if the same animal looses 15% of it's body weight, it will die. Of all the nutrients, water is the most important of all.
For dogs (or cats for that matter!) of any age that eat dry food, water will be needed to re-hydrate it in their stomachs for digestion. Puppies also need more water per kg of bodyweight than adult dogs because they are growing. Growth comes through very active metabolism at cellular level.
These processes produce much wastes and by-products that are excreted into the blood. It takes plenty of water to carry these waste substances to and be flushed through the kidneys. It is OK to schedule when you puppy drinks but you must allow them to consume as much as they need - bear in mind environmental factors will also have a bearing on water requirements.
The water that is provided must be clean and fresh. Infectious agents and diseases can be transmitted through contaminated and unclean water. Providing fresh water greatly reduces the risk of disease and therefore keeps your pet happy and healthy.
Should I give my dog or puppy table scraps?
Young puppies should not be given table scraps because their digestive tracts are not fully developed and table scraps could cause diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems. Table scraps fill them up but do not provide the nutrients that their rapidly growing bodies need.
Feeding puppies from the table teaches them the bad habit of begging, and may make house training more difficult for you.
