Dog Feeding as per Stage and Lifestyle

DOG FEEDING AS PER STAGE AND LIFE STYLE

The digestibility of most common ingredients is based on the digestibility of egg white, which is used as bench mark. The other protein ingredients are then compared to egg white, for their digestibility.

This table is to indicate that if maize is fed then only 54 % will be digested whereas, the egg whit will be completely digested. Meaning there by that 46 % of the maize will be excreted, the excreta will be more.

     

CALORIES REQUIRED BY DOGS

 

As a rule following is the calorie requirement of dogs.

 

Puppies                   200 Calories/kg/day

Adults                     120 Calories/kg/day

Geriatric (Old)        60 Calories/kg/day

 

These figures are for less active dogs, environment, pregnancy, and lactation will certainly increase the demand. Pregnant bitches requires just 10 % extra calories. Whereas, lactating bitches depending on number of pups and stage of lactation, needs 100 to 200 % more calories of their body weight requirement.

An example of home made dog food is given below.

 

Chicken                   75 g

Liver                        25 g

Rice                         140 g

Bone meal               10 g

Salt Iodised             pinchs

Refined oil               2 g 

 

Cook rice and then add chicken and liver and other ingredients and cook on mild heat for 10 minutes. Serve at body temperature.  This feed contains about 800 calories and is enough to feed 10 to 12 Kg mordantly active dog. The dry matter basis energy of this feed will be 17%, 31% and 53% from protein, fat and carbohydrate respectively. In this home made food liver supplement for iron and Vit B complex, salt provides iodine and calcium and phosphorus are from bone meal. These are rough estimates of 10 to 12 kg, non active dogs, this can be increased or decreased with weight of the dog. However, for small, medium and large breeds at different ages and life style the diet will differ. Accordingly a good commercial feed as recommended, by manufacturer, be given. It is not practically possible to make home diet for a large breed whelped bitch. However, small breed whelp bitch can be kept on home made feed .

Vegetables can be added to dog feed. Cooked potatoes and raw or boiled cabbage, carrots are valuable. Fruits if  dog likes, can be given. But citrus are of no use, as dogs can synthesise their own vitamin C. The old dogs (dogs over ten years of age) require less energy and be given feed according to veterinarians advise  In old dogs vitamin supplementation and addition of pro biotic in feeds will be necessary.

                     

In hot climate, during summers, when environmental temperature is  above the body temperature . Dogs do not eat. So, they should be given food during night; when it is cool.