Canine Nutrition
In recent years there has been much interest in nutrition and fitness. The number of pet foods on the market has increased dramatically in the last decade to include every imaginable flavor and formulation. With all these choices, the big questions still remain - what do I feed my pet, how often, and how much?
Pet Foods come in 3 main types; dry/kibble, semi-moist, and canned. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks:
Dry food is nutritionally complete, economical, very convenient to store, and easy to feed. Companies have small and large size kibbles to suit your dog's size. An added benefit to serving dry food is that the chewing action will help keep teeth clean.
Canned foods are the most palatable; they are generally higher in fat, meat products, and water. They require refrigeration after opening, and do nothing to help keep your pet's teeth clean. Often times canned food is intended to be added to dry food please read labels thoroughly if you will be feeding a canned food exclusive diet. Canned food can persuade a finicky eater to consume a meal.
Semi-moist food is convenient to store, and while being nutritionally complete it can usually have added sugar and fat, and so they would probably not suit diabetics, or dogs that tend to be overweight. This type of food can encourage fussy eaters, but read the labels carefully to ensure your pet receives a balanced diet.
Once you have chosen the type of food, you must then decide on a brand name. This can be a daunting experience. We suggest that you ask your veterinarian for advice, as well as reading and comparing ingredients for yourself. Also, a good manufacturer will gladly receive questions from customers who have questions about their products.
Things to look for amount of fat per serving, amount of protein and type of protein, amount and type of carbohydrate. A ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids within 5:1 and 10:1 is ideal. Look for a moderately fermentable fiber source such as beet pulp.
Make sure the food you choose for your dog has been tested in animal feeding tests using the Association of American Feed Control Officials procedures. The tests performed prove that the food is nutritionally complete for a particular period of life.
It is in your pet's best interest to steer away from bargain/generic brands of food. Although they contain the guaranteed percentage of protein, carbohydrates, fats, etc., the quality is cheaper, and often poorly digestible by your pet. For instance, both a hamburger and a rawhide bone are 100% beef - which one can the dog digest better?
At Hickory Veterinary Hospital we feed and recommend IAMS/Eukanuba Brand Pet Food. For pets that need diets for special requirements we also recommend Hill's Prescription Diets, CNM, IVD and Eukanuba Veterinary Diets. These premium diets are nutritionally complete, and each has a wide selection to choose from.
The next step is to pick the formulation that best suits your dog. Diets are available for every life stage of your dog. If you have a house pet whose exercise is a few times around the block, adult maintenance is fine. If you hunt with your dog, run several miles routinely, or have a shoe dog under a lot of stress, the high protein formulas are best. Puppies should, of course get puppy food. Premium diets are available for small, medium and large breed dogs. Older dogs who are becoming overweight should be fed one of the senior diets. If you have a senior dog who is still active and in good condition, keep him/ her on their regular diet. Ideally, your dog should have a thin layer of fat beneath which you can feel the ribs. If this were not the case, a less active diet would best suit your dog.
How often should I feed my pet? That is a common question. Young puppies should be fed three times a day. At some point after three months of age, puppies will no longer be eating all three meals well. This is the time to decrease the number of feedings to twice a day. Be sure to use your own judgement, as some puppies will eat anything placed in front of them no matter how old they are. Adult dogs (greater than one year of age) may be fed once or twice a day: splitting the feedings into two meals is almost always healthier, but is often inconvenient for the owner. The timing of the meal depends purely on your own individual preference and housebreaking schedule.
One of the most difficult things to decide is how much to feed your dog. Most of the time the recommendations on the dog food labels are somewhat exaggerated. Each individual dog will have a different food intake requirement based on its age, activity level, and state of health. Basically, your goal is to feed the proper amount to maintain your dog at their proper weight. To determine this, rub your hands along their chest wall; you should feel the ribs beneath a thin layer of fat. Once you determine the correct weight for your dog, monitor it every few months, and adjust meal sizes as needed.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT NUTRITION & DIET
Nutritional Supplements:
Many companies offer pet vitamins and mineral supplements. If a healthy dog is getting a name brand food; he or she does not need supplements. Vitamins are rarely needed if dog food is the major portion of your dog's diet. If your dog is on a homemade diet is extremely finicky, or ill, pet vitamins may be in order. There may also be situations where supplements will be prescribed by your pet's veterinarian, for example, pregnant or nursing bitches, dogs with poor coats, or other medical conditions. It is important to remember that the balance of nutrients is just as important as receiving them in the first place. Therefore anything you add to your pet's diet has potential for upsetting the nutritional balance of the diet as a whole. Always check with your veterinarian before adding anything to your dog's diet.
What is Bloat?
Some breeds of dogs are predisposed to a dangerous condition called bloat. These are large, deep-chested breeds like German Shepherds, Retrievers, Great Danes, and even Dachshunds. In this condition, the stomach, often full of a large meal or large amount of water, can swing around inside the dog and twist. These dogs will often have bloated stomachs and retch repeatedly with nothing but foam coming up. This is a life threatening condition and the veterinarian should be called immediately. Researchers believe a combination of anatomical conformation and exercising with a full stomach predisposes to bloat. Deep-chested dogs should not exercise after meals and their kibble should be soaked prior to feeding so it does not expand within the stomach.
Switching Food:
If you decide to change your pet's food, or need to be because of a life stage, change it slowly. Start off with 75% of the previous diet to 25% new diet. Gradually add more of the new diet and less of the previous diet over a week to a week and a half. Switching to a different diet too quickly can produce gastrointestinal upset. If during the process of switching diets you notice vomiting or diarrhea; please call your pet's veterinarian.