ADVANCE Pet Nutrition

Feeding the growing puppy

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:08:00 GMT

Ideally, our pups should come to their new homes at about 7-8 weeks of age. This is the best time for social development, and they will have had their first injection as well.

I recommend splitting the feeding up to four times a day when less than 16 weeks of age as it is difficult for them to eat enough in one feed to get all the energy they need for the day. By 6 months reduce the frequency to twice a day and then by 12 months into adulthood, once or twice a day.

At this puppy time, their energy needs/kg, can be up to double that of the adult dog of the same breed. Puppies need more protein than adults to provide sufficient amino acids for growth and extra minerals for healthy bones and teeth. A minimum of 20% of their energy needs should come from a high quality protein at this stage.

“Puppyhood” can last 6-9 months for toy breeds (e.g. Maltese) and up to 24 months in the giant breeds (e.g. Great Dane). It is also very important that the correct calcium : phosphorus ratio (1.2 : 1) is provided.

It is very difficult to properly balance a homemade diet at this age, so all my puppies have been fed a prepared commercial super premium puppy food.

It is OK to give treats at this stage, but make sure that your dog is rewarded only for doing something good, and ignore the bad behaviour. I like to use very small pieces of dried liver or puppy treats as a positive reward. A small amount, such as a baby fingernail size, is all that is required.

And last of all – love your puppy, because they deserve the very best.

For further information about caring for your puppy, visit the ADVANCE Learn About… section.

The benefits of owning a pet

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:40:00 GMT

I was recently asked to give a series of talks in the US at a major veterinary conference. Some very interesting facts came from this that I thought I would share with you about the changing attitudes of us as pet owners.

When asked if they could take their dog to the workplace:

11% would take a 10% pay reduction
32% would take a 5% pay reduction
49% would change jobs for the privilege
66% would be willing to work longer hours
70% believed a pet-friendly workplace is better¹

In fact, in a study done by the Waltham Centre in the UK:

99% of us talk to our pets
86% talk to our pets as if they were human
65% buy our pets a Christmas present
60% let pets sleep on or near the bed
56% have a nickname for their pet
25% celebrate pet birthdays
16% have a pet picture in the wallet

So it is true that statistics don’t lie – we really do love our pets!

1. www.dogster.com

Feeding the adult dog

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:31:00 GMT

By far the most common problem I see with the feeding of dogs that come into one of my hospitals is to do with overfeeding. In fact, over 40% of people and their pets are overweight! We are obviously too good at feeding our dogs.

As a rule of thumb, you should be able to easily feel your dog’s last four ribs. If not, you are being too generous with the volume of food. So a great idea would be to design a programme for weight loss for both our dogs and ourselves!

A simple way to calculate your dog’s energy needs is to use the formula:

- 110 x body weight 0.75

You can check the energy content on the side of the can or bag of dog food. Remember, though, that this is only a guide, as your pet may be very active or a couch potato. Energy needs can also be increased in cold weather (twice at -18oC).

I only feed my Labrador and Golden Retriever ADVANCE, so I can accurately measure their needs and monitor any weight gain.

For further information about caring for your adult dog, visit the ADVANCE Learn About… section.

Tips on travelling with your pet

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:40:00 GMT

We all love going on holidays, and so do our pets. But every year I see cases where pets have been injured during the trip. By following a few simple rules you can help ensure you all arrive safely to enjoy your well-earned break.

1.   Properly restrain your pet in the car. This may mean a special car harness buckled into the seat belt for dogs, or a roomy well-ventilated cage for your cat.

2.   Stop / Revive / Survive. Let your pets stretch their legs also every 2 hours, making sure it is a safe area that is fenced off.

3.   Supply water during the trip if appropriate and food as needed.

4.   Have your pet micro-chipped and put a collar and name tag on your pet with your mobile phone number on the tag.

5.   If car sickness is an issue, simply try ¼ ginger tablet 45 mins before travel. If this doesn’t work, chat to your local vet beforehand.

6.   NEVER leave your pet in the car unattended. Apart from heat stroke, I have seen injuries from falling off the seats, to one enterprising beagle, who chewed the tops off all the door knobs!

7.   Check with a local vet in the area to which you are going as you may need tick or heartworm protection, etc.

For further helpful advice and information , visit the ADVANCE Learn About… section.

Dog and cat nutrition

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:37:00 GMT

Pet nutrition can be confusing, so here is a brief outline as it applies to our pets. Food is made up of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. All have very different but important roles. It is essential that the food you feed your pet is properly balanced and completely satisfies their specific needs at their specific life stage.

Protein
Not only is the quantity important, but also the quality. Quality is due to the specific amino acids that make it up and also how digestible it is (this can vary from 50-95%). Plant proteins are less digestible than animal and over-processing of the food can lower digestibility as well. A lack of protein can cause poor growth, lack of appetite, loss of coat condition and an impaired immune function.

Carbohydrates
These are complex chains of sugars joined in different groups that provide energy to your pet. Surprisingly, they are not essential as they are in people, because the energy your pet needs can be supplied from protein or fat. Plant carbohydrates that resist digestion are called “fibre”. If the carbohydrate source is of poor quality, or excessive, it can lead to diarrhoea.

Fats
These can be saturated (bad guys) or unsaturated (good guys). Some fats, such as Omega-3 and Omega-6, cannot be made in the body and so are called “Essential Fatty Acids” (EFAs). They are a concentrated energy source, providing 2½ times more energy than carbohydrates or protein. They also increase the palatability of foods (i.e. for me, a salad vs a meat pie!).

For further information about pet nutrition, visit the ADVANCE Learn About… section.

How to choose the ideal pet

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:49:00 GMT

Time and time again I am asked questions about how to solve problem behaviours in dogs. The basic cause is often as simple as they have chosen the wrong sort of dog for the wrong sort of situation. In fact, many dogs are surrendered to shelters because of a mismatch between what owners are looking for in a dog, and the breed they have actually chosen.

So ask yourself the following questions before deciding on the new four-legged addition to your family:

1. Why do I want a dog? Is it for companionship, protection, exercise, etc.?
2. Do I want to have the dog inside with me, or will it live outside, or both?
3. Have I got time for regular grooming? (A Pekinese would not be suitable if you were time poor.)
4. Are there children in the household?
5. Will I be at home with the dog most of the time?
6. Have I time to train my new dog? Now you will have thought about the likely breeds that will match your specific situation.

For more information:

Ask your local vet
Look at the ADVANCE breed profiles
Do a survey such as at www.petnet.com
Ask people in the same situation as you who own the same breed

By following a few simple steps and avoiding the impulse purchase you can help ensure a long, happy, healthy relationship for you and the lucky dog.

For further information about choosing the right pet, visit the ADVANCE Learn About… section.