FOOD FOR YOUR
PAPILLON
__________________________________________________________________
One of the most frequently asked questions of new Papillon owners is: What do I feed it? First, don't feed Papillons or any other small dog
just once a day! Papillons will eat only what they need if it is available to them. You should have their
food available to them all day long.
Just like humans, the stomach is only so big and needs to be filled
on a regular basis, throughout the day. Could you do well only eating lunch everyday, no breakfast or
dinner? How much harder would it be for a Papillon, whose energy needs
are VERY high, because of all the growth and development going on in it's body!
If you are not going to leave food out all day then, offer a Papillon
their food at least 4 times a day until they reach one year of age. Then offer them food 3 times a day
until they are 2 years old. After that, feed a Papillon a MINIUMUM of 2 times a day for the rest of it's
life. Better yet, just leave their food out and let them eat when they want to. Remember, they will
only eat what they really need.
Hypoglycemia is the result of a puppy not getting enough food at
times of stress or high energy use. If a puppy is fed only once a day this can contribute to this easily
avvoided condition.
Young Papillon puppies who are only fed once a day may also have
digestive upsets, because, after being hungry all day, tney try to eat a much as they can at one time. A lack
of available food can make them restless and they will search for something to eat or chew, which, in turn, can
lead to chewed furniture. It can also cause them not to sleep well at night. Hunger can and will affect
the temperaent of a growing Papillon puppy.
Dy food does not have all the nutrients needed for good health, in
spite of all the claims. It may contain too much sodium as a preservative which would cause excessive
thirst. This, in turn, would be the need for more potty trips. And, if your Papillon is
still only a puppy there will be big messes all over the place. If you want to use dry food ask your vet as
to what he/she recommends. Feeding only hard food does NOT keep the teeth clean and avoid the need for dental
care.
The processing required for dry food kills many beneficial enzymes
needed for good health and a long life.
Give your Papillon the best nutrition possible. Mix at least
1/2 can wet high quality dog food with the dry. Mix a little extra fat (grease drained from hamburger and
such) or oil with the food. A dog does not digest the same as humans and the fat is necessary for good coat
and skin as well as extra energy. Soup bones cooked in a pressure cooker give calcium and do help clean the
teeth.
Warm broth over the dry dog food is a welcome meal in the
winter. Still, to prevent an unbalanced diet, do feed a good quality dry food to your Papillons.
Mix the dry with the meat paste daily as well as just leaving plain dry out if they want something to crunch.
Even give milk to the pregnant and nursing Papillon females to help insure proper nutrition to the
puppies.
DO NOT USE, OR GIVE, RAW MEATS to you Papillon as the chance for
bacterial problems exist in raw meat and environmental contamination may become a problem.
Cook some liver, chicken and hamburger to add extra fresh protein to
their diet. Cook the chicken, (the same that you would buy at your local grocer), and use a
food processor to make a paste of the whole thing. Skin, bones and
meat give your Papillon nutrition. Be careful of bones! Ensure they were cut up all the way and blended
properly!
Bits of fresh vegetables are welcome. Broccoli, cauliflower,
carrots and avocados are especially good sources of vitamins for both adult and puppy Papillons. Some
Papillons enjoy bits of fresh fruit like apples and/or oranges. Fresh fruit replaces the enzymes lost in the
processing of regular dog food.
If your Papillon refuses to eat certain foods just remember: as
humans, we have our own personal food likes and dislikes. Papillon dogs and puppies are no
different.
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