Energy Requirements For Our Omnivores
Understanding the amazing transformation our puppies go through from birth to adulthood helps ensure they get the right nutrition at each stage of development.
We know nutrition plays a key role in their health keeping their brains active and their weight maintained so...
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TAILOR THE CORRECT NUTRITION FOR ALL STAGES OF LIFE
a pizza appears to have all the ingredients... but doesn't have all the nutrition​
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Neutering
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...once a dog is neutered their metabolism changes affecting their energy levels, and as their hormonal status has changed weight gain can become a risk if feed is not reduced, assess their nutrition changes to help your de-sexed pet remain fit and healthy by adapting their diet for optimum weight.
Adult
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...80% of dogs by the time they are 3 years old will have signs of oral health issues
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Senior
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...common signs of ageing include joint stiffness, reduced appetite, lethargy and changes to weight, they require support in correct nutrition for the degeneration that comes with age.
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MAINTENANCE
Energy Requirements For Our Omnivores
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Energy intake in pets needs to be monitored closely. Our canines should only be provided with as much energy as they require, no less and no more.
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Slow, steady, long growth of this larger breed require moderate calorie content so as not to encourage excess weight gain. Incorrect feed can cause excessive amounts of protein which is converted to energy, contributing to problems with rapid growth and can damage skeletal tissue leading to malformation and degeneration of joints and can predispose them to diseases and obesity.
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Keep in mind you want your pup to be an Oldie Goldie.
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Many things affect their requirements, as your dog gets older:
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Breed, body weight, body composition, life stage eg: puppy, critical care, weight loss or gain,illness, arthritis, desexed, inactive, light, moderate and heavy work
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Consider ALL of their life changes and consult your Vets guidance or Royal Canin products for the new correct nutrition.
Why Their Diet is So Important
Human Food = Unbalanced Food
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Puppy food supports the intense growth and development they are experiencing, growing at a much faster rate then we do, but their digestive and immune systems are developing slowly. As their digestive tract is still maturing, we feed small meals frequently, decreasing the work load on their digestive system. Its takes just under the 8 weeks for their gut to develop microbiome (variety of microbes including bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract, which when well balanced contribute to protecting dogs health in the digestive process) being now sufficiently similar to their mother, so that is why a puppy diet plays a critical role in providing the vital nutrients to sustain this key phase of their life supporting muscle and bone growth. This ensures your puppy is set up for a strong and healthy start to life.
If you do choose to select another type of feed from the one we have fed the puppies, be sure to transition your puppy over approximately a 7 day period (shown in the diagram) to ease digestion and follow the feed guide table suggested on your bag of dry feed. Puppies have sensitive digestive systems as we have mentioned many times, puppy food is formulated to be highly digestible, avoidable stomach upsets making it easy to absorb nutrients.
It is preferred that 2 meals a day are fed once they have transitioned from their 3 feeds per day as a puppy, this avoids overload on the gut by rapid consumption of food. Don't allow dogs to free feed, this is the practice of making food available to your dog at all times, what goes in all day, comes out all day and can lead to obesity.
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When to switch to adult feed
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They should remain on a puppy diet until they reach adulthood then we can transition to adult feed - its not the size they are now, but the size they are expected to be as an adult, at approximately 14 months of age. See diagram.
Treats
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You wouldn't feed your kids sweet treats consistently, ending up with a tummy full of lollies every day and expect they will feel ok, so select the correct treats for dogs. Have them no bigger than the size of a M&M, not only does it allow the dog to consume it quickly but also prevents distractions when training.
Factor the treats into their daily feed allowance to avoid weight gain. (further info on treats see Exercise and Training page)
Off the Menu
While you might consider table scraps for their treats, this can cause stomach upsets and weight gain, choose options made from quality, real ingredients like chicken and fish and avoid options high in sugar, preservatives and saturated fats.
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