Dog Nutrition Breakdown
Dog Nutrition Breakdown
If you’re getting nutritional advice for your dog from cousin Eddie, you need to stop. In the Christmas classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”, Snots (the dog) is under the table and Clark asks Eddie, “What’s wrong with the dog?” Eddie nonchalantly responds, “Oh, he’s just yakkin’ on a bone…he’s probably just been nosing through the trash.” There’s another moment in the movie when Clark and Eddie are at a local shopping. As they stroll past the pet food, Eddie tosses some canned dog food in the cart, followed by three different kinds of dry dog food and a box of dog bones. Eddie seems to have a “whatever my dog wants to eat, or I want to feed him” mentality when it comes to Snots’ nutrition. Even his great wardrobe selection and unlimited one-liners can’t cover up his lackadaisical approach to Snots’ nutritional needs.
If not Eddie, then Who?
You’ve done your research and selected a breeder and veterinarian you trust. They can and should be good resources for you when it comes to your dog’s nutrition. They’ll be able to: make diet recommendations, suggest feeding practices and times, answer questions about issues you’re encountering, etc.
Diet
If you’re unsure about the diet you’re feeding your dog or you want to research your current dietary choice, the WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee suggests when selecting pet food. 1) Does the brand employ a nutritionist? 2) Who formulates the diet? If it’s not developed by an experienced pet food formulator, a nutritionist, a veterinarian or a pet owner/breeder/trainer, they recommend you continue your search. 3) What is the quality control process for ingredients and finished products? Diets formulated to meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)guidelines should meet their nutrient profiles. 4) What kind of product research or nutrition studies have been conducted? Is it published in peer-reviewed journals? This isn’t a requirement for pet food companies, but when they do, it indicates a commitment to our pet’s health and well-being. 5) What is their nutrition adequacy statement? Does it say it provides a complete diet? Is it for a specific life stage? Does it say it’s limited for a period of time or within limited portions? Does the food match the nutritional needs of your dog set by the AAFCO? 6) How many calories per gram or serving of food? Knowing this can help prevent overfeeding and obesity in our dogs. 7) Does the company provide immediate contact information? Companies should be easily accessible and able to provide info like the average analysis for all the essential nutrients our dog needs. 8) Who makes the food? Do they or does a third party?
Dental Health
Dental health is something we can’t ignore. Brushing your dog’s teeth is the best way to keep their teeth and gums healthy, but giving our dog dental chews is the second-best thing we can do to help keep their mouth healthy. When you select a dental chew, look for the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance on the package. This means that the dental chew has been clinically tested to prove that it works. If you don’t already, add a regular oral health exam at your veterinarian to keep your dog’s teeth and gums healthy.
Recognize Life Stages
Dog food companies recognize that our dog’s nutritional needs change as they age and/or encounter different seasons of life. Many dogs develop arthritis as they age. If our dogs have joint issues (which our vets can help identify), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can do wonders. Joint supplements like Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Omega-3 fatty acids can also help slow down the effects of arthritis. If your dog still isn’t huntable or “normally mobile” after these treatments, your veterinarian might try injections of steroids, hyaluronic acid or regenerative medicine. These targeted injections can achieve a high concentration directly in the inflamed joint.
We might want to consider adding supplements to our dog’s diet during various seasons of their life/year. There are supplements for: pregnant or nursing dogs, puppies as they transition to hard food, guiding and/or highly active dogs, older dogs that are dealing with and/or likely to encounter joint issues and dogs that are battling gut health. When choosing supplements use the same kind of evaluation and study as you do (or should be doing) when you choose your dog’s food.
Water
Dr. Quest, the Principal Veterinarian at BSM Partners recommends we consider these things when we think about our dog’s water intake. “Water is necessary for almost all metabolic and digestive processes in your dog’s body. A good rule of thumb for a low-activity or moderate-activity dog is they should drink about an ounce of water a day for each pound they weigh. This requirement can vary greatly depending on activity level, outside temperature and relative humidity. Just like in people, adequate water intake is important for good kidney and urinary tract health and these conditions can become more of a problem in older pets. So, even if your old bird dog isn’t as active as he used to be make sure and monitor his water intake.”
By Kyle Dana
March 2025
