Obesity is an excessive accumulation of body fat that has negative effect on health and longevity. When dogs consume calories, which exceed their daily energy expenditure then a positive energy balance occurs. When positive imbalance is sustained, the excess energy is stored in adipose tissue and overweight or obese body condition develop due to excessive body fat. Adipose tissue secretes bio-active proteins substances which affecting many body systems, increase oxidative stress and cause low grade inflammation. Obesity is classified as a medical condition as it shares patterns of chronical disease. It is predisposing factor and may leads to reduced lifespan, reduced stamina, compromised immune system, decreased heat tolerance, diabetes mellitus, urinary tract disease, heart disease, liver disease, orthopaedic disorders, arthritis,…

Arthritis in dogs is chronic, progressive condition which affects movable joints which cause pain and dysfunction. It is accomplished with degeneration of articular cartilage and loss of proteoglycan and collagen, proliferation of new bone and various inflammatory responses. In the UK, it is the most commonly observed no traumatic orthopaedic condition of dogs (Hand et al., 2011). Some breeds are more likely to develop this joint condition. For example, large breed dogs like German Shepherds, Saint Bernard's, Golden and Labrador Retriever, Old English Sheepdogs, Rottweilers, Boxers and others have higher prevalence (Royal Canin, 2016). Majority dogs presented with osteoarthritis are between 8 and 13 years (Royal Canin, 2016). Joint conditions are more common in large breeds, followed by medium breeds.…

Advantages of commercial prepared diets · Easy to feed · Require little or no preparation · Complete and balanced, providing all necessary ingredients · Convenient packages and easy storing Advantages of homemade prepared diets · Custom made and fulfilling the dog’s nutritional requirements · All ingredients are known and fresh · No additives and contaminants · No by-products · Possibility to use ingredients not found in commercial foods · Possibility to fulfil nutritional requirements of dog with clinical condition or with more than one clinical conditions for which there is no commercial food diet · Possibility to avoid some adverse reactions of food in some dogs · Bonding owners with their dogs as they prepare their food personally · Could…

Commercial pet foods could be classified into dry, moist/wet, semi moist varieties, frozen, freeze-dried. Dry foods have low moisture content (between 6 - 12%). They include extruded foods (shaped pellets or kibbles), flake foods (flaked cereals) and biscuits/mixers. These are usually packed in bags. Dry foods could contain fresh or dry ingredients. Dry foods may be offered dry or water to be added according manufacturer’s instructions. Wet foods have high moisture content (between 70 – 80%). They are usually cooked at high temperatures to sterilize them and are then sealed under pressure (although not always). These could be packed in cans, foil trays and pouches and the content include chunks in gravy, chunks in jelly and meatloaf formats. Semi-moist foods…

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…

Dog’s digestive system is different from human’s. That’s why you should feed your dog accordingly. Your dog’s teeth are designed to bite off and chew large amounts of food because they used to feed quickly in the wild. This protect them from losing their food to a rival dog that might try to steal their food. Dogs jaws are hinged and they have larger teeth than humans. This helps them to ingest larger chunks of meat, flesh and bones. Dogs digestive system is designed to regurgitate any undigested food. This is natural instinct which protects your dog if it eats something which is difficult to handle or there is too much food to break down. In attempt to process this…

A homemade diet which hasn’t been formulated by Vet: 1. Excessive protein (meat) content but deficient in calories, calcium, vitamins and micro minerals and excessive in phosphorus.2. Choosing unbalanced meat and carbohydrate ''leftovers’’ – such as fat trimmings, bones, vegetable skins, crust and condiments.3. Feeding unbalanced homemade diet according to current popular human nutrition guidelines such as avoiding fat, cholesterol and sodium.4. Feeding unbalance homemade diet by eliminating the vitamin-mineral supplement because it is from non-organic origin. Request an analysis of your current home made dog food.

1. All ingredients are fresh, wild-grown, organic or natural. 2. Avoiding all additives that are present in most commercial dog foods. 3. Avoiding possible contamination that could be present in commercial foods. 4. Avoiding added chemicals present in some commercial foods. 5. Avoiding by-products present in many commercial foods. 6. You are able to add ingredients which are not found in commercial foods. 7. You are able to provide a variety of foods. 8. Providing exceptional palatability and maintaining an adequate food intake even in a finicky dog. 9. Preventing possible development of some diseases associating with wrong nutrition. 10. Providing a balanced diet to a dog addicted to table food or a single grocery item. 11. Constructing a nutritional…