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Nutrition

Proper diet is among the more important considerations in maintaining our hounds health.

Water may be considered a nutrient, as it is a component of all foods and is required by the body in a larger amount than any other nutrient. A 10% loss of total body water (dehydration) can result in serious disease, and a 15% loss results in death. Good, clean water should be available to your dog at all times. When consuming only dry dog food, usually containing less than 10% moisture, an animal will usually drink more water than when consuming all canned dog food, or soaked kibble. Dry foods and canned foods are of equal value nutritionally, and each should provide a complete and balanced diet. However, dogs consuming only dry food usually have less dental disease, because less plaque is deposited on the teeth than with canned food. The dry food acts like a cleaning agent -- much like chews or rawhide.

The functions of proteins in the diet include serving as components of enzymes, hormones, a variety of body secretions and structural components (such as muscle, hair and nails). Therefore, inadequate dietary protein can lead to weight loss and poor haircoat.

Fat is another important component of the diet. Twenty-five to fifty percent of the dietary energy of dogs can come from fat. Fats are also needed for the absorption of some vitamins and are a source of essential fatty acids. The essential fatty acids have the potential to become oxidized (rancid) if sufficient amounts of anti-oxidants are not present. Deficiencies can alter the oil film on the skin, leading to flaky skin and a lusterless coat and may also predispose to skin infections. In suspected cases of fatty acid deficiencies, they can be supplemented by adding 1 teaspoon of soy or corn oil to each cup of dry food. Capsules containing fish oils have a more profound effect on the skin and hair coat. One of the most important functions of the fat content of dog foods is to enhance palatability (taste) of the food. A well balanced diets does no good if the dog won't eat an adequate amount -- although this is seldom a problem with adequately exercised hunting dogs. Both dogs and people tend to like the taste of fatty foods. Some manufacturers of dry dog foods use a technique more commonly used with dry cat foods. A coating of fat is sprayed on the outside of the kibble after it has been dried. Other pet food companies will spray the dry food with a material called 'digest'. Digest is partially degraded animal tissue such as ground viscera of poultry, fish liver and beef lungs. Either of these techniques can enhance the palatability of pet food and does not detract from its nutritional values. However, it is a good idea not to purchase a bag of dry dog food with evidence of fat soaking through to the outside.

A number of minerals are required by the body in small amounts, but they serve a number of important functions, including muscle contraction, nerve conduction and structural integrity of bones. The proportions of different minerals, especially the calcium phosphorus ratio, is crucial to their function. Dog foods are formulated to contain the proper amounts and proportions of minerals. Indiscriminate supplementation by well-meaning owners is the main cause of mineral imbalances in dogs.

Vitamins are another class of nutrient required in small amounts -- less than 1% of the entire diet. They all serve as enzymes; substances which regulate chemical reactions in the body. These reactions include digestion of all other nutrients, nerve and muscle function as well as energy utilization. Routine vitamin supplementation is usually unnecessary when a healthy dogs is eating a quality commercial diet.

Canine nutrition is obviously very similar to human nutrition, but formulating a balanced diet for the dog by using only table foods can be difficult. Fortunately, there is a variety of good quality dog feeds available to choose from.

Puppies have higher requirements than mature dogs in several nutrient categories. More protein is required for growth of most body tissues. A higher energy requirement is usually met with an increased fat content. Calcium and phosphorus requirements are increased primarily for skeletal growth. All of these requirements can be met by feeding a good quality puppy food. Supplementation with human foods is unnecessary and, as previously mentioned, the use of mineral supplements during growth can be detrimental. Feeding in separate meals, rather than free choice, is advised. Each feeding, the puppy should eat all it wants in 15-20 minutes. If he doesn't want to eat much in one meal, it's best to pick up the food until the next scheduled meal -- when he'll probably be hungrier. Limiting the intake in this way can help prevent obesity as well as some skeletal problems, such as hip dysplasia. Small puppies can be fed 3 times a day and, at about 6 months of age, cut down to twice per day. At 10 to 12 months, once a day feeding is sufficient. An adult maintenance diet can be started at that time. The proper amount to feed an adult dog varies a lot. Label recommendations are a starting point, but monitoring the adult dog’s weight will be a good indication of when to increase or decrease the amount fed.

Pregnant bitches have an increased demand for protein and energy that can also be met by feeding a good quality puppy food. This is most important during the last 3-4 weeks of pregnancy, when intake should increase by 20-40%; and during lactation, when she may need 1 1/2 - 2 times or more of her normal amount.

Each day, a normal adult dog requires around 30-40 calories of energy in his diet for every one pound of body weight. This requirement may be increased by 20-40% for extreme physical activity, such as hunting. A good quality performance diet usually accomplishes this with a slight increase in carbohydrate content and a dramatic increase in fat content -- up to 20% or more. Hunting dogs probably do not require the high protein levels found in puppy food. Dogs that are relatively inactive during the off season should probably be fed a regular adult maintenance diet to avoid becoming overweight. You can start to change back over to the high-energy performance diet about a month before a major increase in activity, such as the start of hunting season. Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors in cold weather also have an increased energy demand, just to produce body heat. This can be met simply by increasing intake by about 25% or by adding fat, in the form of vegetable oil, at a rate of about one tablespoon for each cup of dry food.

Senior diets are usually recommended for dogs over 7-8 years. The diets reflect the older dog’s decreased need for calories, phosphorus and several minerals -- most notably sodium. A marginal amount of a high quality protein is important. Hunting dogs that remain very active as they get older may be better off staying on their performance diet longer and when they are switched over to a senior diet, it can be supplemented with vegetable oil to meet the energy demands of hunting.

Obesity is the most common nutrition-related problem of dogs and is usually unnecessary. It can increase an animal’s risk for a number of diseases including heart disease, arthritis and some cancers. Just as in humans, the number of fat cells in the body is determined at a young age, and this is one reason already mentioned for limiting a puppy’s intake. Activity level is a major factor in weight gain, and this is why most hunting dogs are not overweight. Castrated males and spayed females have a higher incidence of obesity, but this is a poor excuse for not performing these surgeries on all dogs not intended for breeding. When the activity level cannot be altered, weight loss is always accomplished by decreasing the number of calories ingested -- this can be done by simply decreasing the amount of food offered. However, for those individuals with a very slow metabolism, feeding the required low number of calories to cause weight loss may not supply adequate levels of other nutrients. Using a lower-calorie dog foods can be helpful, but it is important not to overfeed these diets. The foods that are the most severely restricted in calories usually contain a large amount of fiber as a filler. This way, the dog can eat a normal amount of food, feel satisfied, and still take in a low number of calories.

An excellent website to check out for further information is located at the 'Consumer's Guide to Pet Food'.

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None of this information is guaranteed to be accurate -- always consult your veterinarian prior to making a decision on your pet's health.