Amanda Teixeira
Read here what breed-specific dog nutrition can look like and how useful this type of feeding can really be for your four-legged friend.
Breed-specific food should address the special characteristics of a breed and thus provide the pedigree dog with all the nutrients it needs in the right amount. But how useful is it really to make the food dependent on the dog breed and what can breed-specific dog nutrition look like?
Do you have to feed breed-specific?
Providing the pedigree dog with tailor-made food can certainly be an optimal nutritional solution – but it is not absolutely necessary. In any case, it makes sense to pay attention to various factors in dog nutrition that can be caused by the breed.
Hereditary diseases and nutrition
It is known that certain diseases are more common in some dog breeds than others. It has also been proven that certain diseases can be alleviated or avoided with the help of an adapted diet. It is precisely for this reason that it is recommended to find out about the breed-typical diseases of your own dog and to adjust the food accordingly.
For example, Dalmatians are more prone to urate urinary stones than other dog breeds. It therefore makes sense to provide the animals with low-purine food – i.e. to avoid meat in the bowl if possible, in order to prevent urinary stones.
Nordic dog breeds such as the husky often suffer from zinc deficiency symptoms – their bodies often cannot absorb this substance sufficiently. Typical symptoms such as hair loss and reddening of the skin can be prevented with an appropriately adapted diet.
The energy requirement is different
How much and what a dog needs to eat depends on its individual energy requirements. This in turn is influenced by body mass: dogs with a lot of muscle have a higher energy consumption than dogs with a high body fat percentage. This factor can also be breed-related and thus affect what nutrients a dog really needs.
Subcutaneous fatty tissue also has an impact on energy requirements: If a dog is insulated by it, it needs less energy to maintain its body temperature – and vice versa. The same applies to dense fur – the strong Newfoundland does not cool down as quickly thanks to its dense coat and therefore has a 20% lower calorie requirement than an average dog.
This is where breed-specific food makes sense
Breed-specific feeding can also be based on the appearance: the tiny Chihuahua, for example, receives less large pieces of food than a German Shepherd due to its small jaw. Eating behavior can also play a role: A breed with particularly greedy eating behavior should be fed differently than other dogs.
If you would like to decide on a breed-typical dog diet, it is best to consult your veterinarian – he can provide you with valuable nutritional tips.