Plus-Hex CLINICAL the welfare needs of their pet is deficient and virtual veterinary appointments are on the rise , so fewer pet owners visit veterinary practices and fewer nutritional assessments are performed in person . It is therefore more important than ever to strengthen the relationship between veterinary professionals and pet owners to foster mutual trust and rapport .
Approximately 90 % of pet owners consider their companion animals to be family members ( Cohen , 2002 ; Carlisle-Frank & Frank , 2006 ), with over half reported as giving equal or higher priority to buying healthy food for their pets than themselves ( Schleicher et al ., 2019 ). Yet confusion and misinformation exists around nutritional facts and dietary choices , which have direct consequences on the health and wellbeing of pets and their owners . It is therefore essential that the veterinary healthcare team can provide sound and fundamental nutritional advice throughout each stage of a pet ’ s life .
Feeding during growth
Multiple factors can affect an animal ’ s growth but diet is the one factor that can be controlled by owners and influenced by the veterinary healthcare team . Whether hand-reared or fed by the dam , all puppies and kittens should begin weaning at 3 – 4 weeks old . A speciesspecific complete diet , designed for growth , should be fed until full reproductive and skeletal maturity . Providing additional supplementation is unnecessary and could prove detrimental . As with any life stage , consumption of excess energy is also undesirable and can predispose animals to abnormal skeletal development , obesity and other chronic conditions . Treats should constitute a maximum of 10 % of a pet ’ s total daily calorific intake . Establishing an optimal feeding schedule and good dietary habits is fundamental at this stage . During the initial 4 months , daily food intake should be split over multiple meals to accommodate the pet ’ s limited stomach capacity . Introducing food-foraging toys and puzzles can help provide exercise and environmental enrichment .
Owners should be educated about key nutritional factors ( Table 1 ) and energy requirements ( Table 2 , overleaf ). No equation will guarantee an optimal growth rate , so appropriate modification is required to maintain a lean body condition . Regular monitoring is important during the growth period to assess growth rate , body condition , weight and dietary management . Growth charts appropriate to the species , breed and life stage of the pet should be completed at least monthly until 6 months of age , then every 3 months until adulthood , then every 3 – 6 months during adulthood .
Table 1 . Key nutritional factors of healthy cats and dogs during growth ( FEDIAF , 2021 ). Unless otherwise stated , minimum recommended nutrient levels are provided , with units expressed per 100 g dry matter .
Key nutritional factor
Cats
Early growth (< 14 weeks )
Late growth ( ≥14 weeks )
Water Daily fluid requirement can be calculated using one of these formulas : 50 – 60 ml / kg / day or 1 – 2 ml / kg / hour . Fresh water should be supplied on an ad-libitum basis , with routine monitoring of intake .
Protein 28 g 25 g 20 g Fat 9 g 8.5 g 8.5 g
Calcium ( Ca ) 1.0 g ( min )– 1.5 g ( max )
1.0 g ( min )– 1.6 g ( max )
Phosphorus ( P ) 0.84 g 0.9 g 0.7 g
Ca : P ratio 1:1 ( min )– 1.5:1 ( max )
1:1 ( min )– 1.6:1 ( max )
Potassium 0.6 g 0.44 g 0.44 g Sodium 0.16 g 0.22 g 0.22 g Chloride 0.24 g 0.33 g 0.33 g Magnesium 0.05 g 0.04 g 0.04 g
Dogs
Puppies of breeds with adult weight < 15 kg during the whole late growth phase : 0.8 g ( min )– 1.8 g ( max ) Puppies of breeds with adult weight > 15 kg during the whole late growth phase : 1.0 g ( min )– 1.6 g ( max ) After 6 months : 0.8 g ( min )
Puppies of breeds with adult weight < 15 kg during the whole late growth phase : 1:1 ( min )– 1.8:1 ( max ) Puppies of breeds with adult weight > 15 kg during the whole late growth phase : 1:1 ( min )– 1.6:1 ( max ) After 6 months : 1.8:1 ( max )
Volume 37 ( 4 ) • September 2022
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