What should I feed my Pembroke Welsh Corgi to keep him healthy?

When trying to decide what to feed your Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the most important thing you can do for your Corgi is to read the ingredient list on the dog food bag or can. Do not trust that it’s a good quality just because the bag says “Veterinarian Recommended” or because it’s sold in veterinarian clinics. Many dog food companies will use advertising strategies like this to attract consumer attention to the bag or can, but the ingredient list doesn’t lie. Since ingredients are always listed in decreasing order by weight, you should always look for the meats to be the very first ingredients.

Don’t buy a dog food that lists corn, byproducts, meat flavor, or other poor-quality ingredients within the first three items (or at all, ideally!). You should also check on the label to confirm that the food meets Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards for being complete and balanced. The dog food should also have successfully passing feeding trials.

If your Corgi has anal gland issues, or even to prevent them, increased fiber in the diet will help. Plain canned pumpkin is one of the best sources of fiber and it’s easy to supplement by adding one tablespoon with each meal for a large-breed dog. Use a teaspoon for the smaller breeds, and a couple teaspoons will be about right for a Corgi.

Most Corgis come with shedding problems, and need to be on a good-quality fish oil as well. Remember that not all fish oils are created equal! Fish oils provide omega fatty acids that are beneficial to the skin and coat in addition to other tissues inside the body, including the joints. A good fish oil for your Corgi is one that has been tested for mercury, heavy metals and other contaminants for safety. Also, it should provide at least 1000 mg of omegas per serving for efficacy. The FDA does not regulate these or other nutraceuticals, so it’s up to us to not just rely on the product advertising or the fact that it’s sold at a veterinarian’s office to assure quality.

Your Corgi may also need some joint products for management or prevention of arthritis. Glucosamine and chondroitin are the two most important ingredients for these products to contain.

It’s so important to read the labels and find the best products for our Pembroke Welsh Corgis. They depend on us to keep them healthy and happy. Corgis tend to get overweight easily, just like most people nowadays, so their diet should never include table scraps and the should get plenty of exercise.

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Tags: anal gland, Association of American Feed Control Officials, dog, Dog food, Fatty acid, Fish oil, Food and Drug Administration, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, welsh corgi