Healthy Canine Nutrition Flashcards
What kind a food is ideal for puppies?
Specific purpose food for growth (+/- gestation/lactation)
**a food that has passed a feeding trial or test for growth
How long should puppies be fed growth specific food?
Until they are about 80% of adult size, then transition to adult food
What are the key nutritional factors for puppies?
Energy density protein fat calcium and phosphorus Soluble carbohydrate digestibility (about 80%)
What is the ideal Ca to P ratio for growing puppies?
Ca:P
1.1-1.8 : 1
Can dogs digest starch?
YES
making them different than obligate carnivores
What are the pros of food-limiting feeding puppies?
maybe be helpful for house training
Decreases risk factor for obesity
*divide food dose into 3-4 small meals per day - decrease risk of hypoglycemia
What is a condition commonly seen in small breed puppies that is associated with their food or feeding method?
puppy hypoglycemia
At what age is the digestive tract of a dog mature?
Around 4 months
What nutrient(s) need(s) to be higher for puppy development vs in the adult?
trace minerals
ex - copper and zinc
What risk factors go up when large breed or giant puppies have excessive food or nutrient intake?
Obesity
developmental orthopedic dz
What food should you recommend to an owner with a large or giant breed puppy?
Specific purpose food for growth (+/- gestation/lactation)
- *a food that has passed a feeding trial or test for growth
- need to feed for specific DER**
Do not want to overfeed FAT and CALCIUM
Hypercalcitoninism will ____ osteoclast activity and _______ osteoblast activity
Decrease
increase
How often should a puppies DER be calculated?
At every puppy visit - so every 3 to 4 weeks
At what age do dogs tend to become overweight to obese?
Middle age
What are the non-dietary risk factors of obese prone adult dogs?
Breed/genetics Gender and reproductive status Age - energy requirements go down with age Sedentary life style *if they are already overweight
What metabolic health issues are seen in obese dogs?
Hyperlipidemia
hyperinsulinemia
glucose tolerance
What functional health issues are seen in obese dogs?
Joint stress
dyspnea
hypertension
What disease risks are common with overweight dogs?
Diabetes mellitus
Dermatopathy
Immune dysfunction
Tumors
T/F: The most important nutrient that working dogs need more of, is protein
FALSE
Working dogs need calories and that is best taken from increased fat
What are the most important nutrient factors in the diet of a working dog?
Energy density
Protein
FAT
Antioxidants (it is believed that working dogs will produce more free radicals so this is necessary)
What is the performance limiting nutrient in the working dog diet?
FAT
What should you look for on a petfood label if you want to feed a pregnant dog?
growth/lactation/gestation or all feeding stages of life
puppy food works
When should pregnant bitches be on a specific lactation/gestation diet?
Within the last trimester
*want a higher fat content
Bitches should enter and exit the gestation and lactation phases of life in _____ body condition
IDEAL
You should start feeding puppies a growth/lactation food at _____ weeks of age.
Puppies should be weaned at _____ weeks of age
3 weeks
6-7 weeks
Ideally, what should be performed prior to recommending a diet to a senior dog?
Blood work, UA, fecal
get a baseline
What are important nutritional factors of senior dogs?
Energy density protein fat fiber *food texture Ca:P / NaCl Antioxidants
What are common health problems in older dogs that need to be considered when choosing a diet for an old patient?
Obesity
musculoskeletal dz
chronic kidney dz
decreased cognitive function
What should be avoided when feeding old dogs?
nutrient excesses
