CANINE FEEDING & EXERCISING Small Animal Technology

TYPES OF FOOD  Individuals can mix their own rations  3 main types of commercial foods:  These differ primarily in their ingredients & the amount of moisture they contain.  1) dry-main ingredients are corn, soybean meal, wheat millings, meat, and bone meal  2) semi-moist-corn, meat by-products, soybean meal, and corn syrup  3) canned  1) ration-type-contains barley, meat by-products, wheat grain, and soy flour  2) meat-type-contains meat by-products, meat, poultry, and soy flour

PERCENTAGES IN EACH TYPE OF FOOD  Dry foods contain about 10% moisture, 23% protein, 9% fat, 6% fiber  Semi-moist foods contain 30% moisture, 25% protein, 9% fat, 4% fiber  Canned foods contain 75% moisture  Ration type: 30% protein, 16% fat, 8% fiber  Meat type: 44% protein, 32% fat, 4% fiber

TYPES OF FOOD CONTINUED… Most foods contain about the same amount of energy Dry foods have the advantage of being cheaper to purchase, are convenient to use, will not spoil, and help keep the dog’s teeth clean

FEEDING PREGNANT & LACTATING FEMALES  The amount of ration given to the pregnant female should increase as her weight increases.  Her weight normally starts to increase about the fourth week of pregnancy, and just before giving birth, she may be consuming 35 to 50% more food than before.  She should be fed 3 or 4 evenly spaced meals to avoid the discomfort that one large meal may cause.  Modern commercial food provides an adequate and balanced ration during pregnancy, and supplemental feeding should not be needed.  Following whelping, the female needs two to three times as much food as before.  This should be given in 3 or 4 meals per day.  The ration should be the same as has been provided throughout the pregnancy.

CONT. Beginning at about 3 weeks of age, the young puppies will begin to lap food from their mother’s food bowl, and the owner will need to consider weaning the pups. This can be done gradually; as the puppies begin to consume more solid food, the owner can start to decrease the amount of food given to the mother, remove her from the puppies during the day, and increase the amount of solid food given to the puppies. Weaning should be completed when the puppies are about 6 weeks of age.

FEEDING PUPPIES Milk, meat, eggs, and cottage cheese make ideal foods because they are easily digested and contain adequate proteins and nutrients. Cow’s milk can cause diarrhea. The use of commercial substitutes or evaporated milk is recommended. Evaporated milk should be diluted. The amount of feed a puppy varies depending on its level of activity and metabolism. Usually, a puppy should be fed 3 or 4 meals a day; its digestive system is not yet developed to handle one large feeding per day. Placing one’s fingers over the ribs and gently moving them forward and backward, a thin layer of fat should be felt. If one cannot feel the ribs or the edges of the ribs, the animal has an excess of fat.

FEEDING OLDER DOGS As dogs get older, their metabolism slows down and their need for calories decreases. Older dogs should receive smaller meals, which are easier to digest, several times a day. Be careful not to overfeed and cause obesity.

OTHER FEEDING SUGGESTIONS The fat in egg yolks produces a shine to the hair, but the egg white in raw form interferes with the absorption of biotin, a necessary vitamin. Eggs should be hard- boiled or cooked before serving to a dog. Bones that splinter should never be given to dogs. It’s helpful to boil large bones to destroy any harmful bacteria before giving them to dogs because older, larger dogs have powerful jaws that can easily splinter most bones.

EXERCISE Dogs are like people, some need more exercise than others. The amount of exercise varies according to the size of the animal, age, breed, and what the dog is being used for. Care must be taken when exercising young puppies; their bones may not be developed, and risk of permanent injury could result. Caution should be taken when allowing older dogs to exercise-they should not be overworked. Short and more frequent walks are more suitable for older animals.

GUIDELINES FOR EXERCISING YOUR DOG 1) Do not exercise any dog strenuously within 2 hours after it has eaten a large meal. 2) Dogs should receive a physical examination to rule out cardiac, circulatory, or skeletal and joint problems. 3) Before taking a dog out for strenuous exercise or strenuous hunting trips, the dog should be conditioned over time. Dogs are just like athletes and need proper conditioning to strengthen muscles, joints, and cardiac systems, as well as to toughen foot pads. This is especially important or obese dogs. 4) Dogs are eager to please their masters. They will not stop or give up a challenge, and one must be alert to signs of fatigue. Experience and working with the dog should allow the owner to note excessive panting, changes in color of the lips and face, vacant stares, and changes in behavior that might signal fatigue.