Dogs have specific nutritional demands for healthy growth and development, each phase of the life of our furry dogs carries with it different requirements for protein, fat, carbohydrates and other nutrients.
Pet foods for different age groups are characterized by being an increasingly developed niche with great potential in the market, however, it is necessary to take special care with the ingredients to be used in their formulation so that the nutrients are available to be absorbed and used effectively by the body of dogs.
Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, fibers, minerals and vitamins must always be present throughout their life cycle, what varies is the proportion of each one of them, let’s see what are necessary for this great friend who it has accompanied us much of our life.
If you have a pet dog or if you are a food manufacturer, this information might interest you.
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF ELDERLY DOGS.
In general, dogs that have already reached half their life expectancy are considered elderly.
Small to medium breed dogs live an average of 15 to 20 years, while large breed dogs have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.
In this phase of life, dogs need fewer caloric diets to prevent obesity as it is a recurring problem in this age group.
In the case of snacks, they should be healthy, low in fat and sodium. Older dogs also need more water, so wet or canned food may be a good option.
If our pet has specific health conditions, the dog’s diet also needs to be adequate. For example, for diabetic dogs, a low-fat, high-fiber diet is preferable.
Fibers in abundance should also be part of the diet of dogs with constipation problems.
It is also common for elderly dogs to lose muscle mass, therefore, a formulation that provides a higher protein content is preferable. It is recommended around 75 gr. of protein per 1,000 kcal. up to date.
The high-quality ingredients are those that guarantee the supply of nutrients necessary for their age.
The oils obtained from animal sources such as chicken oils, pork fat, among others, are used from fresh raw materials and are great sources of fat for dog food formulations. Being of animal origin, they have high digestibility and palatability, in addition to guaranteeing essential fatty acids for the development of the animal.
As a protein ingredient, hydrolyzed chicken protein is presented as a great option, it guarantees a process free of toxic solvents, it is also more environmentally friendly, it is also of animal origin, it has all the essential amino acids and it is a highly digestible ingredient. guaranteeing good absorption by the animal’s body, reducing the volume of feces.
Dogs possess complex organisms, therefore, their nutritional needs vary according to their age. For this, it is necessary to know their needs, guaranteeing food that allows a healthy development of the animal.
