Summary

• It is critical that puppies receive proper nutrition during their formative stage of development

• Improper feeding can increase a puppy’s risk of obesity, promote excessively fast growth, growth-related skeletal problems, poor muscle and bone development and poor immune response

• The large breed puppy requires a different diet than non-large breed puppies

• A dog is considered an adult when it is between the ages of 1 and 6

• A 2010 study by the Association For Pet Obesity Prevention indicates 54% of Dogs and Cats in the United States are overweight or obese. Obesity can contribute to or aggravate lameness, diabetes, endocrine imbalances, cardiovascular disease, feline hepatic lipidosis, heat and exercise intolerance, and increased anesthetic and surgical risks

• The senior dog is at greater risk for developing health problems and probably has special digestive needs

• Poor quality or the incorrect variety of dog food can create kidney problems for some dogs

• High quality pet foods now contain antioxidants which help protect against disease. Supplements which promote healthy muscle and bone development and promote joint health and mobility can also be found in specialty high quality pet foods

Proper Nutrition for Your Furry  Friend

Just as you would not feed a newborn baby a hamburger and French fries, your dog has different nutritional needs depending upon its age, activity level and health condition.  Pet nutrition covers a broad spectrum of foods from products that provide sustenance to those that can manage health problems.  Examples of the latter are pet foods for kidney, liver, intestinal and urinary conditions, lymph node cancer and weight reduction, as well as certain others for different health problems.

Did you know that puppies have very unique nutritional needs?  In addition to all the extra medical needs of a young animal, proper nutrition is critical during this formative stage of development.  Improper feeding can increase the young animal’s risk of obesity, and, in the case of puppies, promote excessively fast growth, growth-related skeletal problems, poor muscle and bone development and poor immune response.  Large breed puppies, those that will weigh 55 pounds or more as an adult, should be fed a food with lower calcium and fat than puppies that will grow into small or medium size dogs.  The large breed puppy requires the different diet to allow its skeleton to fully develop.

A dog is considered an adult if it is between the ages of one and six years old.  At this time in their lives, they need a controlled level of phosphorous, sodium and protein.  To determine your dog’s nutritional needs, you must also consider its level of activity and breed.

A sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity.  Furthermore, the breeds with the greatest propensity to become overweight are Labrador Retrievers, Cairn Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Shetland Sheepdogs, Basset Hounds and Beagles.  Obesity is the most common nutritional disease of dogs.  It is estimated that 25-30% of dogs and cats seen by veterinarians in the United States are overweight or worse, obese.  Obesity can either contribute to or aggravate lameness, diabetes, endocrine imbalances, cardiovascular disease, feline hepatic lipidosis, heat and exercise intolerance and increased anesthetic and surgical risks.

Adult dogs can sometimes be stricken with kidney disease, the second leading cause of non-accidental death in dogs after cancer.  Dietary phosphorous, protein and salt, all in excess, may accelerate the progression of kidney damage that will ultimately lead to failure and death.  Unfortunately, poor quality or the incorrect variety of dog food can create kidney problems for some dogs.

Surprisingly, when a dog is between the ages of five (for larger dogs) and seven (for smaller dogs,) it is considered a senior or geriatric animal.  The senior dog is at greater risk for developing health problems and probably has special digestive needs.  A food lower in fat, phosphorous, protein and calories and higher in fiber is much better for the older dog.

In addition to being sensitive to proper nutrition for your pet’s entire life, be aware that high quality pet foods now contain antioxidants in the form of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene and selenium.  Antioxidants are intended to protect against disease by reducing the oxidative damage caused by free radicals in the body.  Research now indicates that pet food for large breed dogs, both in the growth and adult life stages, should contain L-carnitine to initially promote healthy muscle and bone development and, as an adult, to help convert fat to energy.  Finally, animal scientists, just as in human medicine, are beginning to think that glucosamine and chrondroitin sulfate, added to adult and senior dog foods, are beneficial in promoting joint health and mobility.

As you can see, the science of pet nutrition is more complex than just buying a generic or “grocery store” brand of dog food.  Here at Dr. Doolittle’s Animal Hospital we sell the complete line of Science Diet non-prescription and prescription dog and cat food.  These foods are designed for the various life stages of your pet, contain the supplements discussed, and, in the case of prescription foods, can be beneficial in treating certain pet diseases.  When you are in the vicinity of our hospital, which is adjacent to the Kroger grocery store in the Highland Village Town Center, stop in with your pet and let us weigh her or him.  We can show you a chart to help determine if your pet is overweight and assist you with any questions you may have about nutrition or otherwise.