336- Animal Management

Nutrition and Feeding
Feed requirements:
The feed requirement of a dog depends on the size, age, body weight, growth, exercise levels, metabolic rate and any specific injuries or illnesses.

Size: depending on whether it is a large or small dog the amount of feed required will differ. Larger dogs may need a high calorific diet but may have a slow metabolism rate making them more susceptible to gaining weight. The feed should contain high mineral content for the development of their bones. Smaller dogs tend to need a more nutritionally rich food but in a lower density due to their smaller stomachs.

Age: the age of a dog changes their diet significantly, the older the dog getting the slower their body parts work. Therefor the nutritional requirements for an older dog are fewer calories but richer proteins to maintain a healthy body. Younger dogs nutritional needs are completely different, they need milk from their mothers in the first few weeks of being born then they need to be steadily put onto regular food. The calorie requirements for a puppy are a lot higher than older dogs.

Body weight: if a dog is over-weight they will need a lower calorie diet but without substituting the nutritional requirements such as protein and calcium. On the other hand if the dog is under-weight they will need a high calorific diet and food supplements may be given to increase the nutrients the dog is receiving.  

Growth: as a puppy grows into a dog their nutritional and calorific requirements change, the older they get the less calories they need. However the nutritional requirement should never be sacrificed for the amount of calories needed.

Exercise levels: depending on how active the dog is should reflect on their diet. The more active dogs will need more calories and more nutrition to replace what they are burning. The less active the dog the lower calories needed. Much the same as a human, if the human consumes more calories than what they are burning they will gain...