DOG’S LIFE STAGES
Life stage diet is a feeding regime using foods designed to meet animal’s optimal nutrition needs at a specific age or at physiologic state. The concept of life stage nutrition recognises that feeding either below or above an optimal nutrient range could negatively affect biologic performance and health.
Life stage specially designed foods have an aim to maintain an optimal health, performance, longevity and to reduce diseases risk factors.
Growth
When puppies are born they are sucking from their mother’s milk. It contains not only the nutrients needed to a new born to grow and it contains substances which help puppy’s immunity and it will protect him/her from certain diseases in the first weeks of their life. At about 4 weeks of age the digestive system of puppies is mature enough to start weaning. You can request a nutrition consultation how to wean your puppy.
Till your puppy is growing it needs a lot of protein to ensure proper cell growth for teeth, bones and muscles. It also needs enough energy to keep going through the growth spurts. In another hand their gastrointestinal capacity is limited. That’s why their diet must be specially designed to contains concentration of nutrients.
Diet for a growing puppy from large and giant breed must be significantly different from a diet for a puppy from small or medium breed.
Growing dogs from large and giant breeds have to be fed with a diet which contains concentration of nutrients but with less calories because they become easily obese or they can develop Orthopaedic(Bone) Disease. Small breed and ‘’Toy’’ breed dogs require a diet which is with higher concentration of energy and nutrients. You can request here a nutrition consultation for your growing puppy.
Adult
Adulthood of dog begins after 1 year of age and it is the time to change your dog's diet. Your dog’s diet should include:
high quality proteins to maintain teeth, bone and muscle health
fibre to maintain digestive health
carbohydrates to provide an energy
vitamins and minerals to support the immune system and to prevent your dog from diseases
fats such as Omega-3 oil to maintain healthy skin and coat
water to maintain body processes
When your dog is pregnant or nursing the nutrition requirements are changing and you have to adjust their diet to this stage of their life.
Senior Dogs
It is considered, dogs as senior is in their last third of life and geriatric in their last forth of life. This depends breed, life style and dog's diet.
Senior dog’s diet should nutrient balanced and should provide adequate calories. It is also very important diet to supports and protects the dental health. Request a nutrition consultation for your mature or senior dog.
