Does your precious pup love to eat? Count him in with most other healthy dogs! There are few other creatures on Earth that qualify for “true foodie” status at the same level as our canine best buds. Dinnertime is an exciting affair – the most excitement they’ve had since, well, last dinnertime!
Unfortunately, all of that exuberance for eating can come at a cost. Sometimes, we assume the food we eat is well-suited to our dogs because they seem to be relatively healthy and enjoy it. While those are both important, focusing on proper nutrition is also critical to your dog’s long-term health.
It isn’t just the nutritional value of what’s in your dog food that matters, either. Your dog’s specific breed is one of the most commonly overlooked factors in canine diets; as an influence, it can significantly impact what a healthy diet looks like. In the article below, you’ll discover the truth about breeds, nutrition, and how they work together so you can better care for your dog.
Size Differences Between Dog Breeds
Place two dog breeds side-by-side; they’ll almost certainly be slightly different in size. In the case of the Chihuahua and the Great Dane, that size difference is remarkable and impossible to ignore. Unless, of course, you happen to miss the Chihuahua standing behind the Great Dane!
It’s probably a little bit obvious how these two examples might have different nutritional demands. Feeding a Chihuahua the same amount and type of food you feed a Great Dane would likely result in a very, very overweight Chihuahua, even if he’s getting plenty of exercise. Likewise, feeding the Great Dane the same amount of food as you feed your teeny tiny pup wouldn’t be enough calories.
Differences in size are one of the most important motivators in breed-specific nutrition for dogs. Just as a 250-lb bodybuilder wouldn’t eat the same diet as a 10-year-old child two breeds of very different sizes shouldn’t eat the exact same meals, either. Instead, you should speak with your breeder or vet to estimate how much food your dog needs for its individual level of health, size, and condition.
Eating and Feeding Habits
Think about the last time you stopped to buy dog food; you probably recall seeing kibbles and foods in various sizes, shapes, and styles. There’s a good reason for that – some breeds chew and swallow differently than others.
Take Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers, for example. Both have powerful yet gentle jaws with a scissor-style bite; should they eat the same food? According to science, the answer may be no. The issue isn’t their bite, but that the Golden Retriever tends to get really over-excited about eating. All that excitement leads him to eat much too fast, causing indigestion and interfering with proper digestion.
Pet food companies address the issue of chewing and swallowing differences in a number of ways. First, there’s the size of the kibble; smaller kibble better suits smaller dogs. Then, there’s the shape of the kibble.
A Pug, for example, may find it easier to pull round kibble bits out of the bowl because of his flat face and large lips. Food manufacturer Royal Canin resolves this by crafting kibble in unique clover shapes. On the other hand, the food they make for Labrador Retrievers is donut-shaped; it forces the dog to slow down when eating, preventing indigestion (and possibly even vomiting, too).
Activity and Energy Levels
Let’s place two more hypothetical canine examples up for assessment. The first dog is a Vizsla, born and bred to run in competitive agility sports. The second is a Greyhound who is essentially just a family dog that spends her days lazing around with family and occasionally playing fetch. Are their nutritional needs the same?
Using logic, you might be inclined to say yes. After all, Greyhounds are bred to be active sporting dogs; so are Vizslas. Wouldn’t this naturally mean they both demand a fairly high-calorie diet?
Not necessarily, because activity level and how it impacts nutrition isn’t always so straightforward. Because the Greyhound isn’t really active, she definitely doesn’t need as many calories as the Vizsla, especially around competition time. The Vizsla will absolutely need more calories because he burns them faster training and practicing for competitions.
Canine Genetic Diversity
We know that activity changes nutritional needs. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can just default to a standard, size-based diet for the aforementioned Greyhound, either. It’s important to also factor in genetics, including basal metabolism and healthy body condition for your dog’s breed.
Greyhounds are prone to obesity, especially when they retire or live solely as pets. This is complicated further by the fact that body condition can be much different in Greyhounds than in Vizslas. In fact, what most laypersons consider to be a “healthy body appearance” for a Greyhound is very often mild obesity!
Example time! It’s perfectly normal to see a Greyhound’s well-defined ribs when he’s at a healthy weight; this is his natural, healthy body shape. Vizslas, on the other hand, should not demonstrate sharp or defined ribs; if they do, they’re likely underweight. These two breeds (and any other two breeds) may have different body shapes and healthy weights altogether, meaning adjusting food to keep them looking relatively the same isn’t necessarily the right choice.
Breed Predispositions to Disease
Let’s look at another example. This time, we’ll compare Golden Retrievers, Boxers and Doberman Pinschers. They’re all really lovely, gorgeous dogs; playful, happy, loyal, and ultimately, great companions. But their genetic health stories? They’re much, much different, and that can impact nutritional choices.
Boxers are genetically predisposed to certain cancers – especially lymphomas. They are more likely to experience lymphoma the older they get. Dobermans, on the other hand, are genetically predisposed to heart problems like Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). Golden Retrievers are more likely to experience food sensitivities and allergies, especially skin reactions.
While it isn’t a replacement for vet care, the right diet can help to prevent all three of these dogs from experiencing their genetically predisposed conditions. In the case of the Boxer, a pet owner might seek a diet rich in antioxidants, which may help to prevent cancers from forming. The Doberman’s owner seeks a heart-healthy diet low in fats and sodium, as both approaches encourage cardiac health. Lastly, the Golden Retriever’s owner may choose a single-protein, limited-ingredient formula to rule out or prevent undesired canine skin reactions.
Genetics, size, breed, activity, and even chewing: consider all of them when choosing your pup’s food. What you choose can be the difference between early health issues and living a long, healthy life by your side. Always remember that nutrition is just as much a health issue as anything else; if you aren’t sure how or what to feed your dog, ask your breeder or vet.