Feeding Notes

• Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the right food for your Japanese Spitz
• Protein helps in muscle development and promotes immunity in dogs. Foods like fresh meat, chicken, fish, and lamb provide adequate protein.
• Brown rice, oats, barley, ragi, and sweet potatoes provide enough carbohydrates to cater to the energy needs for daily activities. Make sure it is fed in an adequate amount to avoid obesity in dogs.
• Along with proteins and carbohydrates, dogs also need additional minerals and fiber. Vegetables like celery, carrots, beans, cabbages, spinach, etc, promote gut health and smooth digestive function.
• Fruits like apples, bananas, pears, strawberries, blueberries, etc provide antioxidants without any added sugar.
• Keeping your dog hydrated is also very crucial. Provide enough water to them, as this helps in maintaining body temperature and helps in smooth internal organ functioning.
• In the above section, you got a detailed idea about all the food items that constitute good food for your dog. But as a pet parent, you should also be aware of the human foods that can cause serious damage to your dog’s health.
• Food items that can be toxic to your Japanese Spitz
• Coffee / Tea
• Steer clear of human foods like chocolates, onion, garlic, alcohol, raisins, grapes, avocados, cinnamons, etc. These food items can cause serious damage to their digestive system and can be fatal at times.
• Check for the label of commercial dog food and verify that they don’t contain excessive fats, artificial preservatives, colors, or odors. This can have severe adverse effects on their gut health when fed over a long period.
• Check with your veterinarian to know any kind of allergies in your dog. Avoid those foods that can cause a reaction when fed.
• Avoid those food items that have high fat content or are over-processed like fried food or mutton. This leads to indigestion in dogs.
• Foods with excessive amounts of salt or sugar should be avoided. This can cause fluctuation in the blood pressure and diabetes in the long term.
• These dogs are very active breeds and need to be fed a balanced food to cater to all their energy requirements. Here are a few essential tips that you should know before designing the diet.
• These dogs are to be fed high-quality food that meets all the AAFCO guidelines. Look for the label while purchasing to know the content.
• While designing a diet for your dog, keep in mind factors like their age, size, energy level, activity level, whether they are spayed/neutered, and any kind of health conditions.
• Their food should contain proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and fibers in an adequate quantity to promote development and overall well-being.
• Maintain regular timings while feeding, and make sure not to overfeed. This can cause weight gain, leading to diabetes and other related health issues.
• It is also important to consult your veterinarian before coming up with any diet or change in the product that you feed. Some dogs can be allergic to certain elements; hence, take the vet’s opinion to know of any allergies or health conditions before you start a diet.
• Now that we have an overall idea about the necessary nutrients that need to be included in your dog’s diet, going further, we shall explore in detail all the food items that can be fed to your Japanese Spitz.

Grooming Routine

• Japanese Spitz dogs are considered a low-maintenance breed for most times of the year, however, they shed excessively twice a year where they lose their undercoat. That is when there will be high-maintenance for them. Here are a few effective tips that will help you to groom your dog.
• Regular hair brushing helps to maintain the coat's health and keeps the cat shiny. Use smooth brushes made of silicon, this helps to prevent skin irritation.
• Japanese Spitz need to be bathed only once every few months. While bathing them, make sure you use mild shampoo and cleansers to avoid any kind of skin irritation. Blow their coat dry after the bath to prevent residual moisture in their coat.
• Ear cleaning should be done regularly to avoid the accumulation of any kind of dust or debris. This can cause an ear infection if neglected. Use vet-recommended ear-cleaning solutions to clean their ears.
• As you have already read, Japanese Spitz are prone to dental issues. Hence, regularly brush their teeth with specialized toothpaste for dogs and don’t use human toothpaste as that can be poisonous for them.
• Nail trimming is also an important grooming need for your dogs. Trim them regularly as and when you find overgrowth as that can cause discomfort in walking.