Free Feeding Havanese

Story Time:
​Recently a friend went to the vet with his puppy and the vet advised against free feeding – keeping dog food out all the time – and give the puppy a nutritional supplement daily instead because Havanese have problems with hypoglycemia-low blood sugar.   Put the puppy on a feeding schedule.  This is one of the few instances where living with Havanese and choosing  your care givers wisely comes into play.  ​

Textbook:    
Yes, Havanese like many of the TOY class of dogs have a high energy  level and hypoglycemia can come into play.     

Experience:  
Unless a puppy is struggling with a health issue or played with too   much,  a daily dose of a nutritional supplement is unnecessary. 

Why:             
Havanese are nibblers,  grazers, too busy,  etc.  In some ways this dog should be a poster child for ADD-Squirrel! (ADD is my family before  anyone gets out of kilter).  Seriously, my experience is that the dogs will eat when they are hungry.  It is more likely, in my opinion, a puppy/dog  would experience hypoglycemia if they cannot eat when their  bodies tell them.  We as pet owners do not regulate every moment of  their playful lives, hence,  we do not monitor their sugar levels unless necessary.    These dogs can and do take care of themselves as far as their sugar levels and weight control in my experience.  They eat a little throughout the day.  Weight is not an issue.   Running like greyhounds and resting when they are tired is Havanese.  Table food is awful for these dogs – no, no! 

Kicker:        
​If you have a good dog food (more than 29% protein/16% fat) the     quality of the dog food will provide all your dog needs with meat being          the first ingredient.  My dogs do better on grain free.  We have allergies.  

Opinion:    
In a healthy puppy good food and environmental well-being  will keep the blood sugar level. 

• Supplementing can raise the sugar level temporarily.                         
  
  • Additional nutrients will just double what is in a good dog food.             
• Limiting when Havanese eat would not support a steady blood sugar level through the day. 
  
  • Your schedule becomes their schedule. 
• Havanese are very thirsty dogs so they need water at their will and food available when they are hungry or just want to nibble.
• Shop your veterinarian.   

Caution:  
All dogs, especially puppies, need consideration at times.  Puppies need  to follow a rest/play ratio of about 3:1 allowing them all the rest they can manage.  Illness and over stimulation without rest are just two things that can result in hypoglycemia. 

Lethargy can be a sign of many issues.   Very serious.  Call a vet ASAP.  It is extremely discretionary to give the puppy  a nutritional supplement or corn syrup around the gums if it becomes lethargic because problems in a puppy can move very quickly into requiring IV therapy, etc./a vet’s care.  

If the pets have inadequate water support in  the heat of the summer, this can cause problems.  There are important  and valid reasons for supplemental support products but the term 'supplemental’ does not mean ‘replacement’.   

I would also consider the long term effects for any supplemental product in regard to overall benefits, cost and if any damage comes from long time use.  A good dog food and water available when a Havanese wants it is usually all a puppy and dog need if they have no other health concerns in their diet.  They also benefit from some pumpkin and look for egg product in the dog food or occasional treat.