Dog Nutrition

Starving a dog is not the only form of malnutrition - don't kill your pet with kindness!

Dogs are natural charmers and that begging look in the eyes is hard to resist.  But, just like humans, obesity is killing dogs every single day.  For humans, it is dificult to control their own urges but as a dog is under your control it is really only the owners fault if it is overweight.  Whatever you feed, measure out the correct amount each mealtime and stick to it.  The easiest way to deal with a dried food is to weigh out the recommend quantity and them find a household container that holds exactly the right amount in weight.  From there on, it is easy to scoop out the correct portion.  Good dog nutrition is easy to achieve if you follow some simple rules.

Dogs and chocolate

Before we go any further, i would like to say something about a much misunderstood issue. 

Dogs do love chocolate, unfortunately however, chocolate in sufficient doses can be lethal to your dog. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical stimulant that, together with caffeine and theophylline, belongs to the group of methylxanthine alkaloids. Dogs are unable to metabolize theobromine effectively. If they eat chocolate, the theobromine can remain in their bloodstreams for up to 20 hours, and these animals may experience fast heart rate, hallucinations, severe diarrhea, epileptic seizures, heart attacks, internal bleeding, and eventually death.  Why give it anyway?  Chocolate is fattening and dogs love other treats just as much.

A chocolate bar can be sufficient to make a small dog extremely ill or even kill it. Approximately thirty grams of baking chocolate per kilogram (1/2 ounce per pound) of body weight is enough to be poisonous. In case of accidental intake of chocolate by especially a smaller dog, contact a veterinarian or animal poison control immediately; it is commonly recommended to induce vomiting within two hours of ingestion. Large breeds are less susceptible to chocolate poisoning, but still are far less tolerant of the substance than humans are.

Treats sold in pet stores as "chocolate coated" are in fact coated in carob, this is safe for dogs to eat.

Dried or canned dog food?

I have fed my dogs on dried food for years with no ill effects.  You will read and hear all sorts of scare stories, but to my mind, none of them stand up to close scrutiny.  We give two small portions, morning and evening rather than one blow out.

Firstly, the owner has to come to terms with the simple but often overlooked fact that dogs are not human!  They do not get bored with the same food every day.  Now, if you start tempting them with hunks of steak "for a change" instead of their normal food, it's possible to produce a fussy eater.  But this is not a dogs natural way.  My previously mentioned Great Dane Sophie - pictured here at 2 years old - has been fed on a dried food since puppyhood, the same brand, day in day out for nine and a half years and she still dances around like a lunatic when it is served.  It is, to her, the most exciting meal on the planet.

This is not to say she does not have treats.  She is simply barmy about broccoli and carrots.  She adores the core from a cabbage or pieces of apple, but these are treats in addition to her meals.  If ever someone leaves a parts of a meal, yes she gets it.  But, a small reduction is made in the portion given in the next meal to compensate.

We are not believers in canned food.  The crunchy nature of a good dried food is excellent for a dogs teeth.  In addition, I know of no nutritional benefits in canned food.  Canned food is around 70% water which has to be shipped; with todays fuel prices why pay for water to be delivered to your store?  I would rather save the money and invest it in good pet insurance.

How do you know when a complete dried food is up to standard?

A great dane breeder whom I respect - he bred for health and temperament and didn't show dogs -recommended a food for my dog many years ago and fortunately she was already receiving this food from her first owner.  I have never varied from this.  In the UK it is called "Chudley's Chunks" this is the version for large breeds. You may notice thet the protein content is lower than many popular brands this has proved to be a great success as far as I am concerned and I would suggest that you seek out this product, or something with a similar analysis if you can.  I have no connection at all with the manufacturer; I just believe in it's products.

The nutrient Analysis is:-

• Protein             20%
• Oil                     9%
• Fibre               3.5%
• Ash                    6%
• vitamin A   12000iu/kg
• Vitamin D₃  1200iu/kg
• Vitamin E      250mg/kg
• Copper           15mg/kg  (As cupric sulphate)

The ingredients include - Cereals, Meat (chicken), Oils,Fats,Vegetable Protein Extracts Yeasts, Mineral & Fruit.

There a re various other versions for working dogs, small dogs etc.  It is of high quality but is not adverised to any great degree.  The company Dodson & Horrell Ltd has an enviable reputation for it's equestrian products and carries the "By Royal Appointment" logo on it's products.  If it's good enough for the Queen, it's good enough for me!

I am relating this to you to illustrate that, as in so many things, don't be taken in by the hype from the big advertisers, don't forget that ultimately you pay for all those expensive ads!  I'd rather the money was spent on top quality ingredients.