13/11/2023
What do you feed your dog and why?
There are many trains of thought surrounding food and feeding our canine friends, often subject to breed, age, health conditions and so on. One of the main concerns surrounding this theory is that the canine gut is as individual to each dog as a fingerprint, the gut ecosystem is dependent on the correct food for how the dog's immune system copes with external influences at any given moment. A balanced diet is not as balanced as the packaging may lead you to think.
Many of you might recognise that your dog goes off food at various times, or changes their mind about what they want to eat? Putting the behavioural influences to one side, it's clear that dogs have a very good understanding of what food is required at various points in their lives.
A very interesting recent study (Oct 23) puts many of the functional foods in one place, to help cut through some of the confusion and/or offer some help in understanding aspects required for feeding functional foods for each individual dog.
This study looks at health-related concerns and diseases in dogs and how changes to the diet, or dietary supplements can influence the health concerns and/or conditions of the dog, from young up to geriatric and help to prolong the lives of our loved ones.
Common canine health-related concerns are included such as gastrointestinal conditions such as, IBS, or IBD. Common blood disorders such as diabetes, caused by obesity or naturally occurring, and food supplements or diets to help reduce obesity. As well as help with cognitive disorders brought on from epilepsy, or old age. Even help with cardiovascular, Distemper and arthritis to name a few.
There is much in this paper (a bit of a long read) that I'm sure will help everyone's dog even if you just look at the tables and see if there is anything relevant to your dog, and look up MCT ( often coconut oil) for all dogs.
Hope this helps
Bill ConnorsLegacy Gibson
Connors Legacy Dog-Behaviourist
The canine pet care industry is steadily growing because of increasing number of households with dogs as principal companions. Canine owners strive to…
