Page 51 - K9 News - Issue 14 - December 2020

not be fed a ‘one kibble fits all’ puppy diet. giant breeds.

During puppyhood, one should never be DIGESTIVE TRACT PECULIARITIES
tempted to add calcium – in the form of bone
Looking at a giant dog, you might think, ‘big dog,
meal, cheese or milk or in any other form – in
big mouth, big tummy’ and feel that your giant
the hope of achieving a larger adult. The size
dog needs a big meal. In fact, the opposite is
of the adult is largely determined by the genetics
true as the digestive tract makes up only around
of the parents and over-supplementing calcium
2.7% of overall bodyweight and the transit time
can have a catastrophic effect on the skeleton
from meal to defaecation is only around 24-36
of a giant breed dog. This is because calcium
hours (Weber et al, 2001). Compare this with
absorption is passive during this phase, meaning
humans, who weigh roughly the same, and our
that the immature body cannot regulate calcium
digestive tract is around 11% of our overall weight
levels. The more calcium you feed, the more
with a transit time of about three days. What this
the puppy’s body will store and, since calcium
means is that giant dogs need their nutrients and
is stored in the bones, this can lead to severe
calories provided in a very energy-dense format.
deformities, cartilage failing to grow and weaker
Otherwise they are at greater risk of diarrhoea
bones due to demineralisation as a consequence
and nutrient deficiencies because they simply
of unbalancing Ca and P.
don’t have the time to digest a large meal. In
addition, giant breeds are known to be at greater
Protein requirements are higher in growth (30-
risk of gastric dilative volvulus (GDV) – commonly
35%) than in adulthood because of muscle building
known as bloat – and it is believed that large
in addition to normal maintenance needs. Protein
meals are one contributing factor to this.
quality varies widely, and the biological value is
generally measured by assessing the amino acid
When considering the giant puppy’s intestinal
profile and the digestibility of the protein source.
tract, it’s not only short but is also immature and
(Hoffman and Falvo, 2005). Animal proteins
not fully effective yet, so the giant puppy may be
usually provide all the essential amino acids, but
at greater risk of loose stools if large meals are
the inclusion of vegetable protein sources can
fed. The digestibility of the diet is paramount in
help with digestibility and is a more sustainable
giving the puppy the best chance at absorbing all
source of protein in pet food with the human
the necessary nutrients to ensure ideal growth.
population growing exponentially.
TWO PHASES OF GROWTH
One publication (Tal et al, 2018) highlights the
pitfalls of inappropriate nutrition during growth, Unlike smaller breeds, studies have identified two
describing the case of a six-month-old Giant distinct phases of growth in the giant puppy. The
Schnauzer that presented with intermittent first phase is the dynamic skeletal growth phase.
lameness and pain. The owner had been feeding A giant puppy achieves around 80% of its adult
a complex homemade diet based on an internet- size in just eight months. This is astonishing
sourced recipe since acquiring the puppy at two when you consider that humans take roughly 15
months of age. Analysis of the diet showed many years to achieve comparable growth! Calorie
deficiencies and excesses leading to a diagnosis requirements peak at eight to nine months of age,
of Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism after which they start to taper off as the puppy
and rickets. Changing the diet to one formulated moves into the junior phase. For the next 15-16
of large puppy growth corrected the problem to months, the junior dog’s muscles fill out and the
some extent but the dog was left with a permanent last 20% of the skeletal growth is completed.
hunched posture and one year later tired easily
during exercise. This highlights the importance Food chosen for either stage should be of high
of correct nutrition during growth, particularly for energy density, with high digestibility and adhere

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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / DECEMBER 2020