Petcare today bulletin - Nutritional Management & feeding techniques of the growing dog

PETCARE TODAY BULLETIN ON Nutritional Management & feeding techniques of the Growing Dogs

Feeding programs for young growing dogs are best adjusted to the dog's activity level and body condition. the actual daily food dosage is dependent on individual energy requirement divided by the energy density of food. While all nutrients may influence skeletal development, certain components play a major role in the development of skeletal abnormalities.

Rapid velocity of growth in large and giant-breed dogs increases their risk of skeletal disease. Energy alone is not a key factor, but energy as a component of the diet when fed in excess is likely to result in a more rapid rate of growth. Although energy is needed for normal development, there are differing needs based on breed, age, neuter status, and activity levels. In general, grwoth requires twice the energy needs of maintenance. This decreases as the dog grows and is orbitrarily decreased to 1.6 times maintenance energy requirements when the dog reaches 40% of adult body weight. the ultimate guide is based on the physical evaluation. The ribs should be easily palpable beneath the skin and a thin layer of subcutaneous tissue. An hourglass confirmation or waist should be present when viewed from above. Limiting intake to maintain these physical parameters will not impede the dog's progress toward its ultimate genetic potential. It will only reduce intake, fecal production, obesity and the risk of skeletal disease.

Protein has not been demonstrated to have negative consequences on calcium metabolism or skeletal development in the dog. It has been shown in the Great Dane that a protein level of 14.6% with 13% of the diatery energy coming from the protein, is marginally suboptimal. A minimum level of protein in the diet depends on digestibility, amino acid composition, proper ratios among the essential amino acids, and their bioavailability from the protein source. Energy density of the food and the physiologic state of the dog play a role as well. A growth diet should contain >28% protein of high biologic value supplying at least 16% of the dietary energy. In the normal dog, dietary protein requirements decrease with age.

The absolute level of calcium, rather than imbalance in the calcium / phosphorus ration is responsible for negtively influencing skeletal development. Young, giant-breed dogs fed a diet containing 3.3% calcium and 0.9% to 3% phosphorus have a significantly increased incidence of development bone disease. They seem to be unable to protect themselves against the negative effects of chronic excess levels. Calcium levels for a growth diet should be between 1% and 1.6%.

Feeding treats containing calcium and / or providing calcium supplements further increases daily calcium intake.

There are three basic methods of feeding the growing dog, free-choice (ad libitum), food-restricted and time-restricted. Free-choice feeding has the advantage of being relatively effortless and may reduce barking at feeding time. Frequent trips to the feed bowl help to reduce boredom, reduce competition for timid animals when they are eating, and decrease coprophagy. Frequent small meals may result in a more constant blood level of nutrients. Disadvantages of ad libitum feeding include waste of food because the animal plays with it, the procedure is limited to the dry forms of pet food, and overeating may be stimulated by competition or boredom. The most serious disadvantage is increased risk of development bone disease in the large and giant breeds. In general, free-choice feeding is contraindicated in "at risk" dogs until they have reached at least 80 to 90% of adult size and weight. There is no general health advantage to switching to free choice feeding.

Food-restricted feeding consists of a measured amount as calculated from Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER) equations or manufacturer recommendations. Rapidly growing large and giant breed dogs have a steep growth curve, and their intake requirements can change dramatically over short time periods. Frequent calculations are need if MER is used as the basis for food amount. Frequent body weights are needed if recommendations from the manufacturer are followed. Regardless, the ultimate measurement of appropriate intake is the physical condition of the puppy.

Time-restricted feeding is the feeding method of choice for most large and giant breeds. Having food available for a set period of time, two to three times per day, not only controls intake but can help in discipline and house training of the yound puppy. the owner interacts with the puppy during this time and is able to observe general condition and behaviour. This can lead to earlier detection of health problems. A routine of feeding followed by a walk outdoors can enforce house training by taking advantage of the gastrocolic reflex. Labrador puppies fed twice a day for 30 minutes consumed less food, had slightly reduced growth rates, but achieved similar adult size and lean body mass when compared to puppies on free-choice regimens. Similar studies whereby beagle puppies were fed for 15 minutes twice a day resulted in similar food intake and growth rate between the ad libitum and time-restricted groups. Time-restricted feeding in smaller breeds may require significantly less time for food consumption.

Overnutrition from overconsumption (free-choice feeding) and oversupplementation is known to enhance the frequency of developmental bone disease in large and giant-breed dogs. This is often equated with feedings of highly palatable, energy-dense growth diets, and as a result many owners switch to maintenance-type diets in an attempt to reduce developmental disorders. If fed based on energy requirements, activity level, and body condition, growth diets do not incrase the risk of development bone disease in large and giant-breed dogs. In a matched case-control study, dietary components were evaluated as potential risk factors for osteochondritis dissecans in dogs. High dietary calcium was associated with increased risk of osteochondritis dissecans. Feeding of dry dog food was associated with decreased risk. It is not only important to feed the appropriate diet, but to feed the diet appropriately!

Lyme disease is called a complex multi-organ disorder caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi. The ticks play a major role in transmission of these disease. Hence it becomes important to have a check over tick infestation regularly. the disease has been reported world-wide in people and dogs. The disease is poorly documented in cats although cats can be infected experimentally. The best way to control ticks is to dust Notix Forte powder periodically.

Clinical manifestations that have been documented primarily in dogs include fever, inappetence, lethargy, lymphadenopathy and episodic lameness related to polyarthritis. The dermatological lesion of expanding erythema around the site of a tick bite has not been well documented in affected dogs. Atrio-ventricular heart block has been found in a dog from an endemic area that was strongly seropositive for B. burgdorferi. Myocardial necrosis and endocarditis were recorded after post mortem although the organism was not cultured. Urologic manifestations caused by meningitis or encephalitis have not been well documented in either experimental or natural canine infections. There is evidence that renal glomerular lesions may develop secondry to B.burgdorferi infections in dogs.

No specific hematologic or biochemical changes have been found. Dogs with renal localization may have azotemia, proteinuria with variable hematuria, pyuria and tubular casts.

The antibiotics that are most effective for treating lymes disease are tetracyclines, ampicilin or erythromycin and its derivatives. Doxycycline is usually the drug of first choice for treatment of dogs with acute infections. NSAID'S or glucocorticosteriods may be helpful for pain relief during episodes of synovitis.