Canine Nutrition

Nutritional; nourishment, diet and sustenance three key words. Look around, everything requires the correct fuel to run smoothly, stoke up with debris and it just grinds to a halt.

Today’s world promotes a healthy lifestyle ‘stop snacking on rubbish’, all this sound advice should be carried forward to the canine world then we will have fit healthy dogs that are ‘Fit for Function’.

From the moment of weaning the correct diet of little but often is important. When feeding a whelping bitch (toy breed) do not give extra calcium and vit D throughout pregnancy, but when the bitch has whelped immediately after completion of birthing, then continuing in minute amounts throughout a 24 hour period. Continue each day if desired in the drinking water or milk supplement. You will never make a puppy grow in height by over feeding that was decided at birth and not a choice of ours to make.

Most top quality foods have the required supplements in their ingredients so at the end of the day it is a decision only the owner can make if they think the dog needs a helping hand in whatever direction.

One golden rule don’t do everything at once. Never think if I give a little bit more it will be a quicker result it won’t...There are literally 100’s of supplements on the market for specific needs, be careful and experiment singularly remember that results do not happen over night. It needs 4 weeks and beyond to truly gauge if things are helping.

Wet, dry food or both? I give a mixture of both but always the best quality that is palatable to the dog. Not much use if the food is advertised as the best thing since rice pudding if the dog won’t eat it. A sprinkling of grated cheese goes down a treat. Don’t chop and change the food menu from week to week this upsets the balance and the dog goes into over load syndrome with kitchen roll at the ready. Whatever the change introduce gradually. Feed your dogs separately so you know exactly what they have eaten otherwise someone might be getting a double helping. Good body, muscle, bone and teeth with a healthy coat is the quest. No thin ribs that feel like a toast rack and you can count the nobles on the backbone nor on the other end of the scale do we want an obese dog where you are hunting for the ribs that are covered in fat.

If you have a problem, then talk to your food or nutritional representative and of course take advice from your vet.

Grooming and general care must be evident again quality products reap results. A committed every day ten minute maintenance works wonders, far better than a hurried fumble the day before the show. However dogs must be dogs and enjoy life to the full. I don’t believe in boxing and penning as they need free run giving muscle tone and enlighten for a happy carefree personality.

We humans are in command of our own destiny for a healthy life plan however we must also take control of our canine’s destiny. Their healthy life style is in our hands. Quite an obligation but one of immense reward, when you get it right.

IRENE ROBB ( Gleniren / Sunshoo)


Submitted: 17 Jul, 2009 (Edited 10 May, 2010)

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