What Can Miniature Pinschers Eat?

The miniature pinscher (mini pin) is a toy breed of dog that so closely resembles the larger doberman pinscher many people think they are from the same family, when in actuality the miniature pinscher is older than the doberman pinscher. Mini pins are loyal and courageous for their size and make excellent companion dogs; however, this toy breed does have a high level of energy that requires a wholesome, complete diet.

  1. Commerical Dog Food

    • Food labels on commercial dog foods list the most abundunt ingredient first.

      Commercial dry and canned dog food appeals to many dog owners because of bright packages or the convenience of an "all-in-one" food. However, mini pins are just as sensitive to what is not in their diet as to what is in their diet. Foods that list fillers and by-products at the top of the list include grains and non-muscle based meats in place of whole grains and meats. When feeding commercially prepared diet, feed foods that list real ingredients such as rice, chicken and lamb.

    Organic and Raw Foods

    • Organic dog food diets are made from human-grade meats that follow USDA requirements for organic foods. By these standards the product is guaranteed to be free from growth hormones and pesticides. Organic dog foods come in a variety of forms from canned to dry kibble for easy feeding. You can also feed your mini pin a raw-food diet. However, feed and store raw foods as directed to prevent waste, spoilage and food poisoning.

    Treats and Snacks

    • Treats and snacks help give mini pins the extra boost in nutrients they need to replenish play-time energy reserves. However, when selecting treats and snacks choose foods that are low in fat and occupy the mini pin's energy and focus. Some treats that are okay are nibbles of a favorite organic meat, dried pig ears purchased from a pet supply store and interactive toys that hold treats such as peanut-butter flavored biscuits.

    Considerations

    • Foods and treats that mini pins do not do well on are filler-based foods because they do not supply nutrients needed for growth and sustained energy levels.As a result, mini pins can and will chew, become destructive or temperamental if they are not eating a well balanced diet because even though they are "eating" they are still starving for nutrients. Also, be cautious of overweight mini pins that are fat on fillers and still hungry for nutrients. Read dog food labels and feed real food ingredients to maintain your miniature pinscher's healthy weight and energy levels.