Dog Food

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Raw food, moist food and dry food in one bowl

Dog Food is a specially to the physiological needs of dogs oriented pet food . In Germany, mostly industrially manufactured ready-to-eat food is fed; according to a study published in 2012, almost 8% of dog owners fed self-prepared rations. Depending on the water content, a distinction is made between dry feed and moist feed in finished feed .

composition

General

Different brands of dry dog ​​food

Dog food basically consists of organic and inorganic components. The feed analysis is usually carried out using the Weender analysis , the result of which must be printed on every industrially produced dog food. In Germany, feed, like food, is subject to the Food, Commodities and Feed Code .

Dog food contains nutrients in different proportions . These include carbohydrates , fats and proteins, water, minerals ( bulk elements and trace elements ) and other additives such as vitamins and antioxidants . The nutritional content is considered to be the main criterion when assessing a dog food.

Furthermore, the digestibility of the feed is of great importance, which, however, cannot be assessed using the list of ingredients , but is usually determined through feeding experiments. It determines what proportion of the food ingested is absorbed and thus available to the dog organism and what proportion is excreted with the faeces . The digestibility of a finished feed is in particular through the choice of the feed material is determined and its processing and can be influenced by race-specific anatomical differences.

The need of a dog can be derived as "the minimum amount of a nutrient whose intake is sufficient even over a longer period of time to maintain the necessary physiological functions of the animals in a population". Since it is about maintaining functions, this energy requirement is also referred to as maintenance requirement . When it is determined, a temperature of around 20 ° C is assumed and special energy consumption due to illnesses or other exceptional situations such as pregnancy or suckling is not taken into account. The National Research Council 2006 published minimum dog requirements can be used as guidelines for the composition of a feed. A feed geared towards the normal maintenance needs of a medium-sized adult dog weighing approx. 20 kg contains approx. 25% protein , 12% fat , 5 to 7% fiber , 1.1% calcium and 0.8 to 0.9 to cover the nutritional requirements % Phosphorus ; Its amount of energy is between 898.5 (lean) and 539.1 (overweight) kcal per day and is calculated based on the metabolic body weight .

Proteins

A dog essentially needs proteins for the regeneration of tissue and for the maintenance of body substance. Proteins are made up of amino acids , most of which the dog can build up himself. However, the dog cannot produce some amino acids itself; these essential amino acids must therefore be contained in sufficient quantities in the protein portion of food. The value of the protein source is calculated according to the proportions of the essential amino acids contained in the proteins: the more their ratios are similar to those in the dog's body, the higher the value of a protein source.

Protein sources can be of both animal and vegetable origin, animal protein sources generally being of higher quality than vegetable sources. Animal protein sources are meat (often beef , lamb , chicken , fish ) and animal by-products such as offal , meat meal , bone meal , fish meal , dried eggs , fish , milk and dairy products . According to EU Regulation No. 1774/2002, only Category 3 feed may be used for animal by-products .

The following vegetable protein sources are often used: corn gluten , soy products and dried brewer's yeast .

carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are energy-rich molecules that can come from vegetable ( sugar , starch ) or animal sources ( glycogen ). In principle, a distinction can be made between digestible and indigestible carbohydrates. In the dog's energy supply, digestible carbohydrates are behind fats, but still ahead of proteins and, in particular, enable the release of short-term energies. Excess carbohydrates can be stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles or converted into fat and stored as adipose tissue in the body.

The main sources of digestible carbohydrates are various preparations of corn , rice , wheat and oats - rarely barley , carrots , flaxseed , molasses , peas and potatoes .

Indigestible carbohydrates cannot be broken down by the body due to their size and chemical structure. As roughage they support the movement ( peristalsis ) of the intestine, and as fermentable fibers they influence the milieu for the intestinal flora . Are processed inter alia this beet pulp , rice, oats and wheat bran , citrus, carrots, apple and tomato pomace , peanut shells and cellulose .

From the function of the carbohydrates in digestion, it can be deduced that small amounts of feces, little gas formation and an optimal consistency of the stool are an indicator of easily digestible and well prepared sources of carbohydrates.

Fats

Fats are the main energy supplier in dog food and act as a taste enhancer. Chemically, they consist of triple esterified glycerine ( triglycerides ). Fats can be of animal or vegetable origin. It is important to have a balanced proportion of essential fatty acids , which the organism cannot produce itself and which it must therefore take in with food.

Animal fats come from the tissues of mammals , poultry and fish such as B. beef tallow , lard , poultry fat and fish oil. Vegetable fats are obtained by extracting the oil from the seed or grain of a plant. Soy, safflower (safflower), sunflower or corn oil are often used.

Additives

The additives include u. a. Preservatives (e.g. salts, acids) and antioxidants (e.g. vitamins E and C) that affect the shelf life of the feed, natural flavorings , probiotics to stabilize the intestinal flora as well as trace elements and vitamins . The list of additives approved in Germany can be viewed at the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety.

Basic principles of feeding

Appropriate feeding

Controversial principle: human food is not dog food

The house dog, like the wolf from which it is descended, belongs to the dogs and thus to the order of predators , the Carnivora . But also the carnivores among the "predators" do not feed on meat, but on prey. The wolf also eats plant material, depending on what is available, and its digestive system is able to adapt to different types of food within certain limits.

In the course of its coexistence with humans, the dog had to adapt to their food sources and thus became a functional omnivore . In a comparison of wolves and dogs, genetic studies also suggest that dogs, like humans, have adapted to starchy food in the course of domestication .

Age-appropriate feeding

Each stage of a dog's life has different requirements for dog food. A spectrum of different compositions is available on the market, from puppy food to junior and adult food to special food for older dogs (seniors).

Feeding as needed

In addition to the phase of life for dog food, it must be taken into account which requirements the dog is subject to and how high its level of activity is (breeding dog, working and sport dog, sled dog, pregnancy / lactation ). Aspects typical of the breed play a role here. The dog food can be tailored to the special needs of certain dog sizes such as dog food for small, medium and large breeds or special breeds such as Golden Retriever , Jack Russell Terrier , German Boxer , German Shepherd , which are prone to certain diseases, for example.

Disease-related feeding

Many diseases of dogs are accompanied by disorders of the metabolism of the entire organism or of individual organs, which require special feeding principles. There are also certain diseases such as obesity (obesity), the cause of which is incorrect feeding. As part of a diet , feeding should specifically contribute to weakening disease symptoms or abnormally with prophylactic intent. Diet can be z. B. Obesity, liver and kidney diseases and urinary stones . Commercial products are also increasingly being offered here. The term “diet feed ” is regulated by law in Section 2 of the Feed Ordinance in order to prevent abuse. There is also a wide range of various other dietary supplements .

Hypoallergenic feeding

Special feeding is indicated in case of a feed allergy or a feed intolerance. While a feed intolerance is an abnormal reaction to an ingested feed or a feed additive, the feed allergy has an immunological cause. An elimination diet is required here that is geared towards avoiding the triggering allergens . Several companies offer commercial products based on infrequently fed protein sources (e.g. lamb or duck ); Alternatively, a homemade ration can be put together.

Feed trends

Raw feeding

Raw feeding

A variant of dog feeding is called BARF ( Bones And Raw Food , or "bones and raw food", or adapted from the acronym : "Biologically species-appropriate raw food"). The term was invented in 1993 by the Australian Ian Billinghurst , who also owns the rights to the name Barf Diet . Proponents of this method feed raw meat, raw bones and raw vegetables (pureed) in a self-made ration. With this type of feeding, however, particular attention must be paid to the correct composition and processing of the food. It cannot simply be equated with species-appropriate feeding.

Compared to feeding with ready-made feed, raw feeding does not offer any nutritional-physiological advantages and harbors microbiological risks for both the raw-fed animals and the people living with them. It is therefore rejected by veterinary specialist organizations. Genetic studies also show that domestic dogs have adapted to a diet rich in carbohydrates in the course of domestication .

Vegetarian dog food

In the case of vegetarian dog food, animal products (meat and fish) are replaced by vegetable protein-containing components such as soy . One reason for this feeding strategy is, for example, that the pet owner is a staunch vegetarian . In this case, care must be taken to ensure the correct composition of self-made rations, as the composition of vegetable proteins in a vegetarian diet means that there is a great risk of insufficient supply of the dog with essential amino acids such as lysine , methionine and tryptophan as well as with taurine and carnitine . Commercial vegetarian and vegan ready-made dog food is also available.

Dog food in the test

The Stiftung Warentest examined dog food at the beginning of 2015 and found that every second wet food tested was missing important nutrients. Minerals , vitamins , fatty acids and protein were not always available in sufficient doses. According to the test, the labeling of the moist food was not always correct. For example, pork and poultry meat was also found in a moist food which, according to the manufacturer, contained "100% beef" - another had no trace of reindeer meat, although the manufacturer advertised it.

The Austrian Association for Consumer Information tested dry food in the summer of 2013. Of 25 tested dry food products from drugstores, pet stores and hardware stores, 20 performed very well. In the opinion of the Austrian testers, the products rated “unsatisfactory” did not offer the puppies enough protein; the zinc content and the calcium to phosphorus ratio were also incorrectly dosed.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ N. Becker, N. Dillitzer, C. Sauter-Louis, E. Kienzle: Feeding dogs and cats in Germany . In: Veterinary practice small animals . No. 6 , 2012, p. 391-397 ( pdf online ). pdf online ( Memento of the original from June 20, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / tpk.schattauer.de
  2. ↑ Helmut Meyer, Jürgen Zentek: Nutrition of the dog . Basics - feeding - dietetics. 5th edition. Parey Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8304-4151-7 , p. 11 .
  3. ↑ Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 54-55 .
  4. ↑ Helmut Meyer, Jürgen Zentek: Nutrition of the dog . Basics - feeding - dietetics. 5th edition. Parey Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8304-4151-7 , p. 38 .
  5. ↑ Michael S. Hand, Craig D. Thatcher, Rebecca L. Remillard, Philip Roudebush: Clinical Dietetics for Small Animals . 4th edition. Schlüterscher Verlag, Hannover 2003, ISBN 3-87706-893-6 , p. 156 .
  6. ↑ Michael S. Hand, Craig D. Thatcher, Rebecca L. Remillard, Philip Roudebush: Clinical Dietetics for Small Animals . 4th edition. Schlüterscher Verlag, Hannover 2003, ISBN 3-87706-893-6 , p. 512 .
  7. ↑ a b Dominique Grandjean, Franck Haymann u. a ..: Encyclopedia of Dogs . Diffomédia-Paris, 2010, pp. 658–659.
  8. ↑ Michael S. Hand, Craig D. Thatcher, Rebecca L. Remillard, Philip Roudebush: Clinical Dietetics for Small Animals . 4th edition. Schlüterscher Verlag, Hannover 2003, ISBN 3-87706-893-6 , p. 513 .
  9. ↑ Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 321 .
  10. ↑ a b Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 62 .
  11. ↑ Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002 (PDF)
  12. ↑ a b c Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 65-66 .
  13. ↑ Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 67 .
  14. ↑ Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 69-71 .
  15. ↑ Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety
  16. ↑ a b Helmut Meyer, Jürgen Zentek: Nutrition of the dog . Basics - feeding - dietetics. 5th edition. Parey Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8304-4151-7 , p. 1-2 .
  17. ↑ a b E. Axelsson, A. Ratnakumar, ML Arendt, K. Maqbool, MT Webster, M. Perloski, O. Liberg, JM Arnemo, A. Hedhammar, K. Lindblad-Toh: The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet . In: Nature . Volume 495, number 7441, March 2013, ISSN  1476-4687 , pp. 360-364, doi : 10.1038 / nature11837 . PMID 23354050 .
  18. ↑ a b Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 11 .
  19. ↑ Michael S. Hand, Craig D. Thatcher, Rebecca L. Remillard, Philip Roudebush: Clinical Dietetics for Small Animals . 4th edition. Schlüterscher Verlag, Hannover 2003, ISBN 3-87706-893-6 , p. 1 .
  20. ↑ Helmut Meyer, Jürgen Zentek: Nutrition of the dog . Basics - feeding - dietetics. 5th edition. Parey Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8304-4151-7 , p. 195 .
  21. ↑ Michael S. Hand, Craig D. Thatcher, Rebecca L. Remillard, Philip Roudebush: Clinical Dietetics for Small Animals . 4th edition. Schlüterscher Verlag, Hannover 2003, ISBN 3-87706-893-6 , p. 779 .
  22. ^ Ian Billinghurst, Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life. I. Billinghurst, Lithgow, NSW 1993, ISBN 0-646-16028-1 .
  23. ↑ Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 100, 117 .
  24. ↑ LM Freeman, ML Chandler, BA Hamper, LP Weeth: Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats. In: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Volume 243, number 11, December 2013, ISSN  1943-569X , pp. 1549–1558, doi : 10.2460 / javma.243.11.1549 . PMID 24261804 . (Review).
  25. ↑ Natalie Dillitzer: Nutritional advice in the small animal practice . Dogs, cats, reptiles, guinea pigs, rabbits. 1st edition. Urban & Fischer (Elsevier Verlag) Verlag, Stuttgart 2009, ISBN 978-3-437-58310-0 , pp. 118-121 .
  26. ↑ Ina Steinacher: Get the cucumber! In: the daily newspaper . July 2, 2011 ( online ).
  27. ↑ Dog food: Every second wet food is missing important nutrients test.de from February 26, 2015, accessed on March 17, 2015
  28. ↑ Dog food (dry): Zum Fressen gut , konsument.at of July 25, 2013, accessed on March 17, 2015

literature

  • Helmut Meyer, Jürgen Zentek: Nutrition of the dog. Enke, 2010, ISBN 978-3-8304-1082-9 .
  • Michael S. Hand et al .: Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. Mark Morris Institute, 2000, ISBN 0-945837-05-4 .
  • Subcommittee on Dog and Cat Nutrition: Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press, 2006, ISBN 0-309-08628-0 .

Web links

Commons : Dog Food  - Collection of Images
Wiktionary: Dog food  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations