Nutrition-Requirements and Related Diseases
In regards to management practices feeding is one of the most important practices of the pet owner. Vet’s believe that feeding is an integral part of both preventative health care and many treatment protocols for medical and surgical patients. The simplest method of meeting the nutritional requirements of dogs is to feed a fixed formula, complete and balanced commercial diet designed and appropriately tested for dogs. For more information on such commercial products visit this link, on this page we have listed some helpful websites, with information on products we recommend. However, having said that we and many other breeders and dog owners have shown that dogs can thrive well eating a variety of commercial and home foods, which may include vegetables and synthetic supplements, take the BARF diet for example.
Our Blue Eyed Beauty Freda, 3 months old
Dogs are biologically diverse species, rangning from 4-80Kg in body mass. The normal birth weight for puppies depends on the breed and ranges from 120-550g. Puppies grow rapidly, particularly in the first 5 months of life, and pups gain on average 2-4g/day/Kg of their anticipated adult weight. The growth rate slows after 6months, and growth may be completed by 9-12 months of age in small breeds and by 12-18 months of age in large breeds.
Body Condition Scoring:
Body condtion scoring can be used to provide a rough guide of the nutritional adequacy of the diet and the level of food intake of a dog. Dogs should be weighed and a score of 1-5 assigned as follows
- Emaciated: Ribs, back bone, pelvic bones, and all body prominences evident from a distance. No body fat apparent.
- Thin: Ribs easily palpitated and may be visible with no palpable fat. Obvious absence of body muscle. Top of back bone visible.
- Moderate: Ribs palpabl without excess fat covering. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from side.
- Stout: General fleshy appearance. Ribs palpable with difficulty. Noticeable fat depositsover lumbar spine and tail base. Abdominal tuck up may be absent.
- Obese: Large fat deposits over chest, spine, and tail base. Waist and abdominal tuck absent. Fat deposits on neck and limbs. Abdomen hanging low.
Diseases related to Diet:
Diversity is the key! Dietary related diseases are more commonly seen in a single item diets, these are not nutritionally satisfactory. For example, feeding only meat or rice, can induce calcium deficiency and thyroid disorders. Feeding liver can induce vitamin A toxicity. Many home made diets have been found to be excessive in protein, phosphorus, and deficient in calories, calcium, vitamins, and microminerals. Commonly used meat and carbohydrate ingredients contain more phosphorus than calcium, and these diets can have an inverse (opposite) calcium to phosphorus ratio as high as 1:10.
Therefore it is very important to feed your dog some commercial formula, such as Supercoat etc. Such products have undergone extensive tests to ensure they are suitable for your dog, and his life stage. Nutritional requirements vary throughout the life of your canine, just as our human dietary needs also change as we move through different stages of our lives.