DIET
Appetite is largely governed by energy intake and gut fill but
can be significantly affected by individual animal tendencies and how
tasty the food being offered is. Each animal has a maintenance requirement
which is the energy necessary for all the resting bodily functions such
as the beating of a heart and the constant action of nerve and muscle
fibres. Above this is the requirement for voluntary activity such as running
and playing. Every animal has its own rate and efficiency of use for these
activities which makes it impossible to create a reliable formula for
food requirement. Dogs (and cats to a lesser extent) will eat excessively
simply because the food tastes good, a phenomena which gave rise to pet
food advertising with statements like "eight out of ten cats prefer
it" and the counter advertisement by hills science diet which states
below a large photograph of sweets and ice cream that "eight out
of ten children may prefer it".
Types of food vary enormously but can be broken down into those
which which are 'complete', or those which form only a part of a diet
such as 'mixer' biscuits. Complete feeds provide all the necessary nutrients
discussed below and do not require any additional food provision. Food
may also be dry or moist. Traditional feeding was typically based on a
canned moist food with mixer biscuits. Many of the earlier dry feeds were
poorly balanced and particularly in cats, predisposed them to kidney failure
and other problems.
Dry foods are now much improved and many reputable manufacturers provide
dry or moist equivalents of the same food brand, the only difference being
the moisture content. It is always very important when giving a dry diet
to provide adequate fresh water as the requirement is not present in feed.
Cystitis can be a problem even in the best balanced dry food if water
intake is inadequate.
Dry or crunchy foods also have a significant benefit on cleaning a pets
teeth and indeed specific diets such as Hills 'T/d' are available for
this purpose.
Feeding Regime
The feeding regime is how much and how often our pets are fed. There is
an established pattern to feed dogs and cats once daily, but there is
little good reason to follow this and indeed twice daily feeding has many
benefits. More regular salivation improves dental hygiene, smaller meals
are easier to digest, and more frequent feeding reduces boredom and begging
problems. Of significant importance in deep chested and large breed of
dog is the prevention of gastric bloat and torsion which can be induced
by large meals, particularly if followed by exercise. Gastric bloat and
torsion is a life threatening emergency requiring immediate veterinary
intervention.
Bones and chews.
Vets will almost always advise that bones and often chews are avoided
due to frequent problems when large fragments are swallowed. These can
obstruct and even perforate the bowel. However, there are benefits with
these, particularly to dental health, and some dogs can tolerate large
bones very well. Chews such as Rasks,
Royal Canin's Mini Oral Bar and CET
chews are a much safer option.
Always consult your own veterinary surgeon before giving bones to a pet.
Never give poultry bones, as these often produce sharp
fragments when chewed.
Carbohydrates
All food has an energy value. Carbohydrates are essentially sugars and
provide a rich source of energy. Simple sugars such as glucose and dextrose
are readily available 'instant-energy'. Starches are readily digested
into simple sugars and are derived from potatoes, rice, pasta and other
common plant and cereal sources. Starches form a major constituent of
many diets as they provide a ready energy source that is more sustained
and filling than the simple sugars. Non- digestible carbohydrates form
fibre and allow your pet to form a bulky faecal stool. Fibre is generally
not broken down by simple stomached animals like dogs or cats, but allows
digestion of the other nutrients and formation of a regular, firm, healthy
stool. Insufficient dietary fibre can often result in diarrhoea and anal
gland problems.
The requirement for carbohydrates is governed by the weight and activity
of our pets. Active animals have a greater need, obese animals and often
older animals have much less. Specific diets are formulated to meet these
needs, such as Royal Canin's 'Obesity' and various geriatric diets. Animals
with poor digestion can be helped by a higher fibre, slower digested diet
such as Hills i/d. Diabetic animals also are unable to cope well with
simple sugars and require a higher fibre food such as Royal Canin's Diabetic
diet, or Hills r/d.
Protein
Protein provides animals with essential building blocks, the amino acids,
which go to make up muscles but are present in almost all body tissues.
Certain amino acids can be synthesised by the animal itself, others cannot
and are termed 'essential amino acids'. These must be provided in the
diet. Sources of protein are traditionally meat but alternatives are available
and dogs can have a balanced meat-free diet. Cereals, chicken, fish and
soya are common sources of protein.
The protein that our pets eat is largely digested in the bowel and absorbed
as the constituent amino acids, which are then broken down and assimilated
in the liver and other body tissues. The result is the correct balance
of amino acids for the individuals needs, coupled with waste nitrogen
products - many of which are excreted through the kidneys.
Kidney failure results in the nitrogen waste products failing to be excreted
into the urine. Urea is measured in blood to evaluate kidney failure,
which affects about 75% of older cats. These cats still have protein requirement
to maintain tissue bulk, often high requirements, but it is essential
that only the most readily utilized protein is provided through their
diet. Diets such as hills k/d utilize specific ingredients to achieve
the correctly balanced diet.
Growing dogs and active sporting dogs will also have greater requirement
provided by life stage diets, available from many manufacturers.
Fat
It is essential that diets contain a small amount of fat. Fat provides
a more concentrated but less available source of energy than the carbohydrates.
This means that a high fat diet can increase obesity but a balanced diet
containing fat will satisfy the appetite better than a low fat, high carbohydrate
diet.
Essential fatty acids are so termed because like the fat soluble vitamins
A, D, and E, they cannot be synthesised by the animal but are necessary
for normal healthy skin, immune, hormone, and other body systems. Occasionally
supplementation is necessary for dry skin conditions. Reputable products
such as Efavet capsules
and viacutan
liquid have been specifically designed for use in dogs and cats. Evening
Primrose oil has also been traditionally used as a supplement in many
skin disorders If appetite is poor, flavour becomes important and it is
fat that adds the flavour to many foods, especially meats. Warming food
can also enhance flavour.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) is a disease where the
pancreas fails to secrete the enzymes amylase and lipase essential to
digest dietry fat. The result is greasy, soft, often white faeces. The
disease is especially common in German Shepherd Dogs but can be present
in other breeds too. Reducing the fat levels in the diet can help but
usually it is necessary to supplement each meal with the deficient enzymes.
Products such as Pancrex,
Lypex, or Panzym
Powder are available for this purpose.
Vitamins And Minerals
Vitamins are essential nutrients without which many normal body functions
are impossible. They are either water or fat soluble and must be be present
to meet RDA (recommended daily allowance) in any balanced diet. It is
not necessary or advisable to supplement a complete diet with vitamins
without the advice of your veterinary surgeon.
Minerals are the raw elements which are required in varying quantities
and are termed 'macro' or 'micro' minerals, dependant on the quantity
necessary for life.
Macro-minerals include calcium, necessary for development of teeth and
bones and present in the body in large quantities. Balanced supplements
are available for specific situations such as late pregnancy and suckling
young. Supplying individual minerals is not recommended, as each one affects
others and unnecessary supplementation may upset a fine natural balance.
Micro-minerals such as copper or selenium are only required in very small
amounts and again the correct balance is essential for tissue health and
development, as well as normal immune and other functions. Supplementation
of micro-minerals is only usually recommended under veterinary supervision.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplements such as SA37 for growth and during lactation
can be considered, especially in large breeds, but often it is better
to use an appropriate complete life stage diet.
Diarrhoea
There are many causes of diarrhoea; from dietary excess, indiscretion,
intolerance and allergies to parasites such as worms or protozoa and infections.
Many can be controlled by dietary changes alone, for others specific treatments
are necessary. Historically Kaolin has been used as a binding agent but
this is not well accepted by most cats or dogs. Now modern treatments
that are far more palatable such as Canikur
tablets and Canikur
granules for cats or smaller dogs are available. Pro-Kolin paste for
dogs and cats can be very effective. During recovery from many operations
ailments and digestive upsets pro-biotic can be given to help restore
the natural bacterial or yeasts present within the digestive tract, Protexin
provides a range of products suitable for cats, dogs, rabbits and horses.
While it is generally acceptable to withdraw food for 12-48 hours for
pets with diarrhoea adequate provision of fresh clean water must always
be available. Whenever diarrhoea persists beyond 1 or 2 days dehydration
can be a very serious concern and a proper evaluation should be made by
your veterinarian.
Older Animals
Geriatric pets have altered nutritional needs. Often the appetite is reduced
and activity can be less but at the same time it is important to ensure
adequate mineral vitamin and protein provision to maintain often wasting
muscle mass. In many cases specific diets to suit certain geriatric diseases
are of paramount importance, and advise in these cases should always be
sought from your veterinarian. When animals are old (cats and dogs typically
over eight years of age) it may be enough just to adopt a lifestyle diet
from one of the established manufacturers such as Hills, Iams, Royal Canin/
Walthon ( RCW ) or Purina.
Special Prescription Diets
Special Prescription Diets are so called because they are generally only
provided through a veterinary surgeon. Examples include:-
Kidney diets commonly given to cats with chronic renal failure. These
diets contain minimal salt, fat and protein, and the most digestable proteins
and carbohydrates. The idea is to minimise the waste products of digestion
which create many of the clinical signs of disease, whilst maintaining
tissue mass to prevent wasting. Most commercial diets are based on chicken
and rice, examples include Hills k/d and Royal Canin Renal diet.
Dental diets aim to maximise chewing and salivation while scaping the
surface of the teeth and penetrating the gaps between the teeth. The principal
of the diet is to provide the right shape and consistency of biscuit with
minimal sugars and deposit. Examples include Hills t/d
Diabetic diets must provide a slowly digested and absorbed carbohydrate
source to maintain level blood glucose concentration. This is generally
achieved by providing high fibre with low fat and simple sugar levels.
Examples include Hills i/d and Royal Canin Diabetic diets.
Sensitivity diets are provided for dogs with food allergies or intolerances.
Generally common allergens such as wheat glutens are avoided, there is
a high fibre inclusion, and protein and carbohydrate are provided from
novel sources. There is a great variety of products available from chicken
and rice based foods such as Hills i/d to capelin and tapioca diets and
Royal Canins Sensitivity control . Atopy, or allergic skin disease, can
also be supported by the use of many of these diets when a veterinarian
has diagnosed food allergic dermatitis.
Obesity diets are well provided to contain the minimal calories with
the maximum gut-fill. There is usually a very high fibre content, and
many have biscuits expanded with air and designed scientifically to swell
in the stomach giving a 'full' feeling. Examples include Hills r/d and
Royal Canin Obesity.
|
