Small Dog Carriers News-
What Should I Feed My Dog
CITE
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Dogs have evolved from carnivorous meat
eaters into omnivores capable of digesting both animal and
plant nutrients. They are no longer the same as their close
relatives, the wolves, who are strict carnivores living
on meat alone. Although they may prefer meat-based foods
dogs can survive on vegetable proteins as long as other
nutrients are added.
Good nutrition and a balanced diet are
essential for your pet’s health. People often ask
me what they should feed their dogs. Over the years, I have
made some observations on the health of dogs fed an enormous
variety of diets. It’s amazing how well they do on
such varied entrees. Here are some of my conclusions.
About Feeding Your Dog:
What and when you feed your dog early in life will shape
its preferences when it is older. This applies to time of
day, odor, texture, taste and meal temperature. Up to fifty
percent of an adult dogs diet can come from carbohydrates
such as grain. Water should be available to your pet at
all times – especially during heavy exercise to prevent
dehydration and overheating. Adult dogs do well on just
one or two feedings a day but puppies need to eat more frequently.
Canned, Dry or Homemade Food:
Recipes for homemade diets that are nutritionally balanced
are given in another article in this series. Commercial
dog foods are available in three forms: canned dry and semi
moist. I do not recommend semi-moist dog food be cause of
the large amounts of additives in it. More dry food is sold
than any other type. Dry foods contain about 90% dry matter
and 10% water. They are a blended mixture of grains, meat
and meat by-products, fats, mineral and vitamins. Canned
dog food contains 68-78% water and 22-32% dry matter.
Given their choice, most dogs prefer
canned diets. The aroma, flavor and palatability of dry
diets do not match that of canned. Which ever you buy, be
sure the label says that the diet meets the National Research
Council’s guidelines on canine nutrition and is certified
by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Over
the years I have found that dogs fed dry diets have less
tartar build up on their teeth and less gum disease surrounding
the teeth. They also have less obesity problems. With time,
gum inflammation associated with canned diets causes the
tissues surrounding the teeth to recede and the teeth to
loosen. Also with time, bacteria moving through the blood
stream from infected gums cause damage to the kidneys and
liver. Dry dog foods have greater caloric density –
that is they are richer. This is because canned food contains
about 75% water.
I never see nutritional diseases in dogs
fed commercial canned or dry dog foods. I do, however see
them in dogs fed primarily table scraps. Feeding a hamburger
and rice mixture or table foods can induce a calcium deficiency
and secondary over activity of the parathyroid glands located
in the neck region (hyperparathyroidism). Feeding a Liver-based
diet can induce vitamin A toxicity. Many homemade diets
contain excess protein and phosphorus but are deficient
in calories, calcium, vitamins and microminerals your pet
needs.
How Much To Feed Your Dog:
Individual dogs vary greatly in the amount of food necessary
for optimal weight and health. Active breeds such as Brittany
spaniels have a much higher metabolic rate than more placid
breeds. Many adult dogs I see are overweight. Overweight
dogs become flattened with fat over their loin or lumbar
region but almost never on their legs. Growing dogs and
puppies require considerably more food per pound body weight
to thrive than adults or senior pets do. Most dry dog chows
give approximate feeding amounts on their labels.
Nutrient Requirements of Dogs:
There are ten essential amino acids, the building blocks
of protein, that dogs cannot manufacture on their own. Studies
have shown that dogs can tell when their food lacks a single
amino acid and will avoid such a meal. One amino acid, taurine,
is sometimes deficient in dry dog chows. Although dogs can
synthesize taurine from cysteine or methionine diets composed
chiefly of lamb and rice seem to prevent this process. This
may be due to the action of rice bran in increasing the
body’s loss of taurine through the intestine. Dogs
lacking taurine are susceptible to a form of heart enlargement
called dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM.
Although high fiber diets are not natural
for dogs, some dietary fiber is important for gastrointestinal
motility. Diets rich in dietary fiber can also aid in weight
loss. Too much fiber can prevent the absorption of vitamins
and minerals and lead to diarrhea.
Minerals:
There are twelve minerals that are essential for
dogs. One of these, calcium, is essential for the formation
of bone and teeth and as a signal chemical between nerve
cells. Puppies that do not receive sufficient calcium have
pinkish, translucent teeth a bow-legged stance and knobby
painful joints. Partial bone fractures in these puppies
are common. Most of these puppies were the offspring of
nutritionally deprived mothers. Others received a diet that
was primarily meat and bread. Meat is low in calcium and
high in phosphorus. High phosphorus interferes with the
absorption of the little calcium that meat contains. Older
dogs on low calcium high phosphorus diets also suffer from
tooth and bone problems. The disease caused by a low calcium
diet is called rickets.
Magnesium is important for muscle and
nerve cell activity as well as a portion of the mineral
structure of bone and teeth. Dogs deficient in magnesium
have reduced weight gain, as well as motility problems later
in life.
Dogs are remarkably adaptable to a wide
range of ingredients, texture, and form in terms of what
they will eat. Though many dogs prefer animal-based protein,
they can thrive on a supplemented vegetarian diet. Regardless
of whether the protein comes from plant or animal sources,
normal adult dogs should get about 10 percent of their total
calories from protein. Older dogs appear to require as much
as fifty percent more protein to maintain their protein
reserves.
Feeding:
Dogs eat larger, less frequent meals than cats
do. It is OK to feed your adult dog once or twice a day.
Puppies, however, need more frequent feedings. Most owners
allow their pets to eat as much as they desire. This is
fine unless the dog gains excessive weight.
Food Quality:
Dog foods differ primarily in their source of protein. Generic
dog foods use less expensive sources of protein. Because
of this, the quality of protein in generic and house brand
foods is poorer. Do not be led astray by considering only
the percent protein. Percent protein tells nothing about
the quality and digestibility of the product. Excluding
premium, niche and specialty brands sold through pet shops,
the quality of dog foods is reflected directly in the price
you pay.
Fiber:
Fiber in the diet is good for overall gastrointestinal health
and may help some dogs keep their weight down. The diet
of normal adult dogs should contain between 2.5 and 4.5
percent fiber. However, the fiber content of some "diet"
dog foods is between nine and 10 percent. This may allow
the dog to feel full without consuming too many calories
for effective weight control. Diets high in fiber also may
help in the management of blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and
the prevention of such disorders as intestinal diverticulosis
and diabetes.
Too much fiber in the diet can interfere
with the digestion of other important nutrients in the food
and result in loose stools, frequent defecation, and reduced
palatability of the dog food. Generally, foods low in starch
content, such as wheat and oat bran and barley products,
are high in fiber. Conversely, dog food ingredients high
in starch, including rice and dried potatoes, and corn have
less fiber.
Overweight Dogs:
The simplest way to reduce overweight dogs is to
feed smaller amounts on the same feeding schedule. Some
dog owners offer less tasty food or allow less time to eat.
Others feed several meals of bulky vegetables such as cooked
carrots or cabbage to their pets. Another option is to feed
one of the many low-calorie dog foods on the market. It's
also important to remember to keep your dog from sampling
another pet’s food and to refrain from feeding table
foods as treats.
About Your Pets' Energy Needs:
Normal active adult dogs that weigh about thirty-five
pounds need to eat about 1000 kilocalories a day. In most
dog foods, these calories are furnished in the form of cereals,
legumes and other plant products. Sick or injured dogs can
require double this amount of calories. Young puppies need
about twice as many calories per pound of body weight as
adult dogs of the same breed. The best time to begin feeding
a puppy dog food is at four weeks of age. Mother dogs that
are producing milk need as much as four times the calories
of non-nursing dogs. Older and lazy dogs will do fine on
twenty percent less calories.
Vitamins:
Vitamins are organic compounds that take part in a wide
range of metabolic activities. Dogs require vitamins in
their food at low concentrations. First noticed in dogs
some 75 years ago, vitamin deficiencies can lead to widely
ranging clinical abnormalities that reflect the diversity
of their metabolic roles. Some vitamins, like vitamin A,
are not only essential in small doses, but also toxic in
excess amounts. Vitamin A is important for good vision,
and skin and mucous membrane structure. A lack of sufficient
vitamin A in the dog’s diet leads to eye and skin
problems and increased susceptibility to infection. Vitamin
D is also bones or rickets. Vitamin E protects the body
against damage due to oxidation and free radials. Besides
long term aging effects, lack of vitamin E results in poor
coat condition.
