Page 76 - K9 News Digital - Issue 11 May2020

ideal growth diet should be very energy-dense and
provided over several meals because of the sheer
volume of food an animal may need to consume to
fulfil daily requirements.
Particular care should be taken with large and giant
breeds because their gastrointestinal tract is relatively
small, at around just 2.7% of its overall bodyweight
compared with a human’s at around 11% and a small
dog’s of around 7% (Grandjean, 2006). Due to the
high energy requirements needed, coupled with the
immaturity of a growing dog’s gastrointestinal tract,
feeding an energy dense food is less likely to result
in diarrhoea and reduced nutrient absorption.
Young animals, post weaning, are very active and
curious so a higher calorie intake is also needed to
facilitate this (Case et al, 2011).
Post-weaning, but during the remaining growth
phase, the diet should remain highly energy-dense
with high digestibility and adhere to latest published
FEDIAF guidelines (June 2019). If a diet too high in
energy is fed, the growth rate will be accelerated (and
conversely, if too little energy is provided, growth rate
will be retarded) but there is no benefit to speeding
up the growing process and in the case of large and
giant breed dogs, this may be detrimental, or even
catastrophic, to their health (Hedhammer et al, 1974)
Note that as the puppy approaches adult weight,
Erupting teeth in puppy at 3 and 6 weeks; perhaps it is pain growth slows down and there is a shift in energy
during suckling that causes the bitch to start the weaning
process (photo ref Royal Canin 2011) utilisation from growth towards daily maintenance
requirements.
POST WEANING KEY NUTRIENTS FOR GROWTH

Post-weaning, the animal will grow most rapidly until – A SUMMARY
it reaches adulthood. As already mentioned, this
phase in dogs’ growth varies with different breed Back in 1991, a study of Great Danes by Nap and
sizes but is also the most rapid growth period. Hazewinkel looked at how growth was affected by
The need for energy is greater than at any other stage increasing protein and calcium. They concluded
of a dog life, with the exception of lactation (Case that it is excess calcium which is responsible for
et al, 2011). We can break this growth phase down orthopaedic growth deformities, not increased levels
into two stages – puppy - which is the early phase of protein. The levels and ratio of calcium (Ca) to
before reproductive maturity - and junior, which is phosphorus (P), are a vital consideration during
after sexual maturity has been reached but whilst the growth and should be present at optimal levels,
animal is still growing. remain in a ratio of approximately 1:1 and not over-
supplemented, as defined by FEDIAF (2019). Other
Puppies have increasing energy requirements which
potential complications of over-supplementing Ca is
tail off towards the end of their growth phase. The
hypercalcaemia and hypophosphataemia (Case et al,
2011) leading to calcium deposits in the kidneys and
causing chronic renal failure and serious effects on
the GI tract, heart function and possibly neurological
effects (Gardbaum L, 2013). Hypercalcitoninism
was also shown by Stephens et al (1985) to occur
in dogs fed excess Ca during growth, resulting in a
slowing of articular cartilage and the possibility of
eventual detachment of that cartilage, as seen in
osteochondrosis.
Energy Requirements for growing puppies (Burger, 1995)

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