Dog food and Nutrition - what is best ?
The type of dog food or feed you provide for a hovawart is important, just as with humans, nutrition directly influences many aspects of his life. The growth of hovawart puppies, behaviour and habits, health and overall wellbeing and appearance are all connected to the food you provide.
In the same way that a wholesome well balanced diet in humans promotes good health, good quality dog food promotes healthy skin and coat, strong well developed bones, bright clear eyes, healthy bowels and bowel movements, good muscle tone, healthy teeth and gums, fewer trips to the Vet, fewer digestive problems, energy, vitality, fewer behaviour problems and over-all good health.
Conversely a poor diet may lead to an increase in cancers, weakened immune system, liver failure, sluggish or hyperactive behaviour, dull coat, susceptibility to infections, a compromised heart or kidneys, stunted growth or weakened bones, bad breath, diarrhoea, bowel disorders or disease, diabetes, cystitis, cataracts, hypertension, arthritis and so on.
Commercial dog food
Commercial dog food includes all the dog foods you find at your local supermarket, pet shop or veterinarian. Commercial dog food is available in dry, semi dry and canned forms. This sort of feed is popular amongst many dog owners, is convenient, and for the most part reasonably priced. Yet some commercial dog foods can be deficient in key nutrients and may be full of fillers (like grain) that provide little or no nutritional benefit; some may even contain toxins. Some of the ingredients hiding behind unhelpful labeling and questionable marketing tactics may include: colours and dyes, toxins, pesticides, chemicals, and harmful preservatives (BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin) and antibiotics.
Feeding basics
There is no 'magic formula' to determine the perfect type and amount of food for your Hovawart, but there are some basic principles.
- Puppies and young hovawarts consume more food, although their calorific need per kilo of body weight decreases over time. Gradually reduce the number of meals you feed from four, to three, then two.
- Follow the instructions on the label for amounts, keep in mind that volume is often overestimated, and that every hovawart is unique, so decrease the size of the meal in accordance with weight gain.
- Meat-based dog foods will contain more protein than plant-based ones. When choosing a food, study the first six ingredients on the label; those with at least three meat-based ingredients will probably be the most palatable and digestible.
- For the adolescent hovawart, use a feed that is appropriate for 'growth' or for 'all stages of life'.
- When changing to a new food, do it gradually over several days to avoid causing an intestinal upset.
- Check your hovawart's condition regularly, run your hands over his spine and ribs at least once a week.You should be able to just feel his ribs, keep him at his optimum weight by adjusting the volume of food accordingly.
Finally, consider the following when choosing a food for your Hovawart.
- Is the food complete and balanced ?
- Are the majority of the proteins animal proteins with a high biological value, such as egg, chicken, lamb or fish ?
- Do the Omega 6/3 fatty acids have the optimal ratio of 5-10:1 ?
- Is the fibre a moderately fermentable fibre, such as beet pulp ?
- Does the feed contain "fillers", or "bad" preservatives ?
- Does the food contain polyphosphates to help reduce tartar build-up on the teeth ?
- Does the brand offer a full range of foods tailored to the different stages of life, lifestyles and breed sizes ?
2 fine looking youngsters. 9 months old brother and sister.
