Feeding Puppy
My-Dog.info > Dogs, Diet & Food
Because puppies have greater needs and limited capacity
compared to adults, puppy foods which contained greater
concentrations of protein, fat, essential fatty acids and key
amino acids were developed. This accomplished three things: 1)
the animal's needs could be met by feeding smaller amounts than
would be the case with a less dense product, 2) the animal grew
more rapidly, 3) the animal became used to eating at a frequency
roughly equivalent to that of an adult.
The concept of growth at the maximal rate for puppy has its
roots in food-producing animal nutrition where rapid growth is
desirable for commercial reasons. Since most food-producing
animals barely reach maturity, the long term consequences of
feeding for rapid growth were rarely, if ever apparent. In the
case of humans and dogs, there is no market value requirement for
such rapid growth. In fact, it has been shown that certain large
breeds, which are predisposed to hip dysplasia and fed for
maximal growth rate, may later develop crippling disorders. A
study indicated that overnutrition in early life could result in
adverse skeletal changes 6-8 years later.
Concerns about overnutrition have led some to suggest that the
appropriate scheme for feeding puppies is to not use a specially
designed puppy food but to free feed a typical maintenance dry
food.Whether the animal will grow less rapidly as a result is
debatable. The nutrient requirements of any animal are based on
the availability of certain mass of nutrient and energy during
any 24-hour period.
The concentration of nutrients in a diet is simply a means to
achieve that end. The mass of nutrients required will be obtained
by either consuming more or less of a food depending on the
nutrient density. An active young dog will eat to meet its energy
needs, and if this means several meals a day, the pup will have
no hesitation in so doing. Since energy and protein needs for
growth are met by means of increased food intake, the concept
that pups will grow less rapidly loses its appeal. A product
which contains 22% protein, as well as sufficient energy, will
perform optimally. In some cases, the animal may simply have to
eat more in order to take in a sufficient mass of nutrients to
meet its needs.
It would be tempting to say that as a food becomes more
nutrient dense, intake will automatically decline. Unfortunately,
many dogs will eat to excess if given the chance. Because of
this, if a puppy diet is fed, it will be necessary to practice
meal feeding. On the other hand, feeding a diet of lower nutrient
density allows for more latitude in feeding practice.
Is there any harm in free feeding? The answer is, generally
not. However, the animal may become habituated to eating whenever
it desires and this may make later switching to meal feeding of a
denser diet difficult. The dog may beg for food whether it is
hungry or not, simply out of boredom or habit.
For those who may wish to underfeed a dog predisposed to
dysplasia, is there any harm in free feeding a maintenance diet
which tends to be less energy dense? It is not a good idea to
depend on reduced energy and palatability to promote undereating,
especially if the food is available at all times. Experience
shows that a growing pup will simply eat frequently. If the
animal is to be slightly underfed, it must be meal fed. For
example, feeding 75-85% of the amount recommended will slow
growth enough to prevent the worst manifestation of hip
dysplasia. In this instance, the animal should be weighed
regularly to determine its growth rate. Simply using a
manufacturer's recommended feeding guide is not enough. It must
be remembered that this is only an easing measure and not a cure.
It does serve to improve the quality of life for the patient and
may result in a quasi normal lifespan. As a general principle,
all animals who suffer from skeletal weaknesses would profit from
reduced stress on the system. If the rate at which weight is
added exceeds the skeleton's ability to respond, the resulting
strain will aggravate the clinical manifestations of the
disorder.
Regardless of how a puppy is fed, it should be examined
regularly to determine if it is developing normally.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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