Dogs need a certain amount of energy to sustain the normal activities of their daily lives.
Growth, pregnancy, lactation, and exercise all increase these normal energy requirements.
Generally measured in terms of calories, energy comes from three major dietary components: carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
Omnivorous animals get some of their energy from carbohydrates, which include sugars, starches, and dietary fibers.
The major sources of carbohydrates in commercial dog foods are cereals, legumes, and other plant foodstuffs.
So-called absorbable carbohydrates, including glucose and fructose, can be directly absorbed and do not need to be digested by enzymes.
Digestible carbohydrates are readily broken down by intestinal tract enzymes.
Fermentable carbohydrates include certain starches and dietary fibers that pass undigested through the small intestine to the colon, where they are fermented by microbes into short-chain fatty acids and gases.
Some studies suggest that fermentable fibers may aid in the regulation of blood glucose concentrations and enhance immune function.
Non-fermentable fibers, such as cellulose and wheat bran, contribute little in terms of energy or nutrition and are primarily used to decrease caloric intake of the overweight animal.
Today more and more dog owners are turning to dog nutritional supplements realizing that most commercial dog foods do not meet the energy needs of their growing and active dog.
ENERGY NEEDS OF GROWING PUPPIES The growing puppy starts out needing about twice as many calories per pound of body weight as an adult dog of the same breed.
Owners should start feeding puppies food at approximately 4 weeks after birth, because mother's milk is no longer sufficient.
Food is best offered to puppies in multiple, well-spaced meals.
As the puppy grows their diet should be supplemented with dog nutritional supplements under the advisement of your family vet.
ENERGY NEEDS OF OLDER DOGS Because of decreased physical activity and slowed metabolism, older dogs need 20% fewer total calories than do middle-aged adult dogs.
As dogs age, they tend to become overweight.
It may take obese dogs longer for their blood glucose concentrations to return to normal.
This disrupted carbohydrate metabolism can lead to diabetes.
Consult with you family vet to determine if dog nutritional supplements would be beneficial for your older dog.
ENERGY NEEDS OF LACTATING DOGS New mothers generally suckle their puppies for at least 6 weeks.
The mother's need for calories increase with the number of puppies and the week of lactation, up to 4 weeks.
Giant breeds (like Great Danes) have proportionately smaller digestive tracts and may not be able to eat enough to sustain themselves during lactation.
Owners of such dogs may need to start feeding puppies supplemental food at an early age.
Growth, pregnancy, lactation, and exercise all increase these normal energy requirements.
Generally measured in terms of calories, energy comes from three major dietary components: carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
Omnivorous animals get some of their energy from carbohydrates, which include sugars, starches, and dietary fibers.
The major sources of carbohydrates in commercial dog foods are cereals, legumes, and other plant foodstuffs.
So-called absorbable carbohydrates, including glucose and fructose, can be directly absorbed and do not need to be digested by enzymes.
Digestible carbohydrates are readily broken down by intestinal tract enzymes.
Fermentable carbohydrates include certain starches and dietary fibers that pass undigested through the small intestine to the colon, where they are fermented by microbes into short-chain fatty acids and gases.
Some studies suggest that fermentable fibers may aid in the regulation of blood glucose concentrations and enhance immune function.
Non-fermentable fibers, such as cellulose and wheat bran, contribute little in terms of energy or nutrition and are primarily used to decrease caloric intake of the overweight animal.
Today more and more dog owners are turning to dog nutritional supplements realizing that most commercial dog foods do not meet the energy needs of their growing and active dog.
ENERGY NEEDS OF GROWING PUPPIES The growing puppy starts out needing about twice as many calories per pound of body weight as an adult dog of the same breed.
Owners should start feeding puppies food at approximately 4 weeks after birth, because mother's milk is no longer sufficient.
Food is best offered to puppies in multiple, well-spaced meals.
As the puppy grows their diet should be supplemented with dog nutritional supplements under the advisement of your family vet.
ENERGY NEEDS OF OLDER DOGS Because of decreased physical activity and slowed metabolism, older dogs need 20% fewer total calories than do middle-aged adult dogs.
As dogs age, they tend to become overweight.
It may take obese dogs longer for their blood glucose concentrations to return to normal.
This disrupted carbohydrate metabolism can lead to diabetes.
Consult with you family vet to determine if dog nutritional supplements would be beneficial for your older dog.
ENERGY NEEDS OF LACTATING DOGS New mothers generally suckle their puppies for at least 6 weeks.
The mother's need for calories increase with the number of puppies and the week of lactation, up to 4 weeks.
Giant breeds (like Great Danes) have proportionately smaller digestive tracts and may not be able to eat enough to sustain themselves during lactation.
Owners of such dogs may need to start feeding puppies supplemental food at an early age.