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How to properly feed your Alaskan
Malamute
Alaskan Malamute puppies purchased from a breeder have no doubt already
developed a feeding routine and got used to a certain type of food. The
breeder should inform you about your Alaskan Malamute puppy’s diet and
suggest which foods would be best for it, as well as how often it should
be fed. As a puppy, the Alaskan Malamute will have a different feeding
frequency, compared to the adult Malamute. Your breeder will be able to
explain to you how it is best to feed your pet throughout its
lifecycles.
When the puppy first arrives into your home, it is recommended to follow
the breeder’s guidelines, at least until the Alaskan Malamute puppy gets
used to the new surroundings. Sudden changes to a dog’s feeding pattern
and food type can be very harsh to a puppy’s digestive system and can
cause gastric problems, such as diarrhea, to your poor pet. Once your
Malamute adapts to its new home, you can slowly change its diet
according to your schedule and preferences.
An Alaskan Malamute dog can be either free-fed or fed on a strict
schedule, depending on the owner’s preference. Your Malamute puppy
should be fed at least three times per day, if you don’t have time to
split the ration in several smaller meals, or you can try free-feeding.
Like other large breeds, the Alaskan Mal matures slowly, meaning the
puppy is not fully mature until the age of 18 months, which is why it’s
important for your Alaskan Malamute puppy to meet all its nutritional
requirements, in order to develop properly.
What a dog eats should obviously be proportionate to the dog’s level of
activity, which means free-feeding is not a good choice for everybody
out there. Like other dogs, a Malamute will immediately eat any food you
put in front of it. With time, this excessive behavior in dogs with low
activity levels will lead to severe health problems such as obesity and
bloating.
It is important to note that the feeding formula you choose for your dog
can have some repercussions on your dog’s health, if it’s not properly
selected. There are studies that suggest feeding puppy food to your
Alaskan Malamute for too long might increase the occurrence of hip
dysplasia in dogs that are predisposed to this health problem. For this
reason, there are breeders who begin feeding their puppies adult food
fairly soon.
Despite the fact an Alaskan Malamute is not fully mature until the age
of 18 months, the majority of people progressively change to an adult
dog food formula during the 8th to10th month time period. Should you
feel the need, please discuss this issue with your vet and your breeder
to insure your Alaskan Malamute is fed properly.
The brand of the food you are going to serve your Alaskan Malamute is up
to you, as any dependable dog food manufactured formula should provide
your dog with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. The advantage
premium brands have over the standard ones is that less amount of food
is still plenty nutritionally rich. Less ingested food also means your
Alaskan Malamute’s stool size will usually be reduced. Finding the right
feeding pattern might be challenging but it is up to you to find out
what works best for you and your dog, according to your preferences and
your Alaskan Malamute’s needs.
No matter what you pick, make sure you stick to this routine, but don’t
forget to adjust it when your dog’s activity levels change. For example,
a working Malamute should be fed a Performance formula, whereas a Mal
that only goes for walks should be fed a Maintenance formula. If you’re
still not sure about how to properly feed your dog or have additional
questions, make sure you discuss them with your vet or the dog breeder
who sold you your Alaskan Malamute.
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