A Feeding Guide for Pharaoh Hounds

The Pharaoh Hound is a very special dog and one that has been around for centuries. There are records of these elegant looking canines that go back as far as Ancient Egypt when they were a favourite dog of the Pharaohs and although the breed may originate from the land of the pyramids, it was in Malta that these dogs were developed and where they are known as Kelb tal Fenek dogs which translated means Rabbit Dogs.

The Right Diet Can Make All the Difference

Like a few other breeds, the Pharaoh Hound does a lot better and are healthier dogs all round when they are fed the right type of diet. All dogs need to be fed good quality food that contains the right levels of the following:

• The right sort of nutrients the breed can easily digest and which are therefore more suitable for their particular glandular and digestive systems
• The correct balance of meat proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids to suit the amount of exercise they get and their ages

Pharaoh Hounds do a lot better when they are fed fresh diets where only the best quality ingredients are used and where no preservatives or colourings as well as fillers are included in their food. It can be a little more time consuming when choosing to prepare a dog's food rather than buying in commercially produced pet food, but at the same time it can prove a lot less expensive too. As long as the food contains the right nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals a Pharaoh Hound would not only be a much healthier dog, but you may find you only have to feed them smaller portions without compromising your pet's nutritional needs.

Many reputable breeders and fans of the breed, recommend that Pharaoh Hounds be fed a diet that contains the right levels of the following:

• Fresh, cooked poultry
• Fresh, cooked lamb
• Fresh, cooked white
• Avocado
• Wheat
• Corn

Foods to avoid in a Pharaoh Hound's diet include the following:

• White rice
• Beef
• Soy
• Beet pulp
• Potato

Vitamins and Minerals

When it comes to vitamins and minerals, it's really important to ensure the right levels are included in a Pharaoh Hounds diet if you decide to feed your pet a fresh raw food diet. If you are unsure you should consider discussing this with your vet or better still with a professional canine nutritionist who would be able to recommend the best natural sources of vitamins and minerals that should be used in a raw food diet bearing in mind the requirements of the Pharaoh Hound breed.

The one vitamin that you need to be careful of feeding to a Pharaoh Hound is Vitamin C and this includes being extra careful of any supplements that contain ascorbic acid, calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate and ascorbal palmitate. The reason being that when given in high levels, there is some belief that Vitamin C may cause both liver and kidney damage which can ultimately cause some serious and fatal health issues.

There has been a lot of controversy where Vitamin C is concerned, but if fed a well-balance diet, you should not have to add any sort of supplement containing the vitamin to your Pharaoh Hound. The rule of thumb is when in doubt consult your vet"" before feeding any sort of supplement to your dog.

Health Issues Associated with an Unhealthy Diet

When fed an incorrect or unhealthy diet, a Pharaoh Hound may develop all sorts of nutritionally related health issues which includes the following disorders:

• Dry and flaky skin which can lead to a serious itchy irritation
• Dogs when fed an incorrect diet may be more prone to developing ""hot spots""
• They are more predisposed to suffering from ear yeast infections
• Dogs are more at risk of developing liver and kidney issues

Feeding a Freeze-Dried Raw Food Diet

A lot of owners decide to feed their dogs a freeze dried raw food diet because it offers all the benefits of feeding a raw diet, but without all the hard work and the need to keep things ultra clean when preparing a dog's food. The good news is there is a brilliant choice of different freeze dried dog food on the market made by well-known pet food manufacturers. Because the raw ingredients are freeze dried the nutritional value of the ingredients is not negatively impacted as it is when the food is heated and cooked.

Another alternative, is to feed a Pharaoh Hound a dehydrated diet that consists of raw and cooked food. The ingredients are typically air dried to take out all the moisture before the food is packaged and warm water needs to be added to it before feeding it to a dog. Allowing the food to soak for while means it has time to expand and the advantage is that storage is made that much easier because less space is required.

Conclusion

The Pharaoh Hound boasts a long and fascinating history having been the preferred dog of the Pharaohs. However, although originally from the land of the pyramids, these elegant dogs were developed in Malta where over time they became valued working and companion dogs. Like all dogs, the Pharaoh Hound needs to be fed a good quality, well-balanced diet with many canine nutritionists and owners choosing to prepare their pet's food rather than buy in commercially produced dog food. The reason being that Pharaoh Hounds do so much better when fed raw food diets that meet all their dietary needs.

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