Before you purchase your Coton de Tulear, make sure you have done some research on what kind of diet this breed requires. It's important to note that this breed of dog has very unique nutritional requirements, and any healthy diet for your Coton should include foods that are native to its ancestral environment, and important vitamins and nutrients that it relies on for a shiny coat and overall health.
Consult your Breeder
Since it is likely that your Coton has spent its first few months of life with the breeder, make sure you ask what type of diet your Coton is on. If you find that the breeder has been feeding your Coton a general brand of commercial dog food, you should slowly change the diet when you introduce your Coton to its new home. Do this by giving your dog half of its old diet and half of a new diet, increasing the new and decreasing the old weekly until your Coton is completely used to its new diet.
Modern Diet for the Modern Pet-owner
The ancestry of the Coton de Tulear can be traced to Madagascar, and an ideal diet for this breed should include elements of brown rice, fish, and poultry, which are common foods in that region. This may seem like an odd diet for a dog, but it is the diet that defines the breed during the earlier days. Besides, what do you think Cotons ate as members of the Royal family when commercial dog food was not available? Your Coton deserves a diet of fresh food with all the necessary vitamins and nutrients so that it can be happy, healthy, and strong.
The best thing you can do to your Coton's diet is keep it fresh. You do not need much time and effort to prepare healthy and fresh meals for your Coton. Adding avocado to the diet is recommended because it keeps your Coton's beautiful cottony coat shiny and healthy.
Fresh food vs. Commercial pet food
When it comes to dog food, your first instinct is probably to purchase the recommended commercial pet food, but unless you want to spend thousands of dollars a year fixing your Coton's health problems, you should consider a fresh food diet. You've been told how "table scraps" are bad for your dog, and it's true; don't feed your dog leftover food from your meals. Carefully prepare the recommended food for your Coton, and make sure you do not use salt.
Although some commercial pet food can be less expensive than fresh dog food or even specialty foods, consider the quality of the food you're giving your dog. Most commercial pet food features low grade meats and grains that are unsuitable for human consumption, and they are definitely not the type of food you'd feed your best friend. If you find that you do not have the time to prepare fresh meals for your Coton, then the best option is probably high quality commercial dog food that is safe and nutritional. There are several brands in the market that are especially recommended, and you can ask the pet shop or the vet for advice.
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