Page 272 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Feeding Mature Adult Dogs 277

VetBooks.ir on the antioxidant vitamins E and C and on selenium as an Assess and Select the Food
The following key nutritional factor recommendations focus
Assessment of the food for mature dogs is similar to those pro-
essential component of the antioxidant enzyme, glutathione cedures outlined for young adult dogs in Chapter 13. Compare
peroxidase. These compounds make up the list of antioxidant the current food’s key nutritional factor levels with the key
key nutritional factors because: 1) they are biologically impor- nutritional factors reviewed above, identify discrepancies
tant, 2) they act synergistically (e.g., vitamin C regenerates vita- between key nutritional factor levels and current intake and
min E after it has reacted with a free radical), 3) they are safe decide whether food changes are required. Table 14-3 com-
and 4) information regarding inclusion levels in pet foods is pares key nutritional factor levels in selected commercial foods
usually available. For improved antioxidant performance, foods formulated for mature dogs to the key nutritional factor recom-
for mature dogs should contain at least 400 IU vitamin E/kg mendations. Check with manufacturers for key nutritional fac-
(DM) (Jewell et al, 2000), at least 100 mg vitamin C/kg (DM) tor content of foods not found in Table 14-3. Contact informa-
and 0.5 to 1.3 mg selenium/kg (DM). tion can be found on pet food labels, websites or published
information. Also, as with young adult dogs, the pet food label
Food Texture should indicate that the product has been approved by a regu-
Oral disease is the most common health problem in mature latory agency such as the Association of American Feed
dogs and may predispose affected patients to systemic compli- Control Officials (AAFCO) (Chapter 9).
cations (DeBowes et al, 1996). Both veterinary care and home Commercial treats, snacks and table food should also be
care are important in the treatment and prevention of periodon- included in the food assessment step.Excessive feeding of treats
tal disease. Foods designed to reduce the accumulation of dental and snacks may markedly affect the cumulative nutritional pro-
substrates (e.g., plaque) and help control gingivitis and malodor file (Chapter 13, Box 13-4). The impact of snacks on daily
are an important part of an oral home-care program for mature nutrient intake depends on two factors: 1) the nutrient profile
dogs (Chapter 47). If the labels of such foods carry the of the snack and 2) the number provided. Thus, if snacks are
Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal for plaque con- fed, it is prudent to recommend those that best match the key
trol, they have been successfully tested according to specific pro- nutritional profile recommended for mature dogs. Because
tocols and shown to be clinically effective in reducing accumu- meeting nutrient requirements is not the primary goal of feed-
lation of plaque. However, with older dogs, it is best if an ade- ing treats, many commercial treats are not complete and bal-
quate periodontal management program is in place (veterinari- anced. However, a few treats are complete and balanced and are
an/client/patient) so that there is sufficient periodontal health to approved by AAFCO, or some other credible regulatory
ensure that the patient can chew the product (Chapter 47). agency. Most table foods are not nutritionally complete and
balanced and may contain high levels of fat or sodium and
Other Nutritional Factor other minerals. If snacks are fed, it is simplest to recommend
Calcium that they be commercial treats that, if possible, match the nutri-
Osteoporosis occurs frequently in older people but is not a clin- tional profile recommended for a particular lifestage (see prod-
ical problem in mature dogs (Weigel and Alexander, 1981). uct label). Generally, snacks should not be fed in excessive
This finding is probably due, in part, to lifetime feeding of cal- amounts (<10% of the total diet on a volume, weight or calorie
cium-replete commercial foods to most dogs. There should be basis). Otherwise, the nutritional composition of the snack and
little concern about calcium deficiency in mature dogs unless food should be combined and assessed.
unbalanced homemade foods are fed. Foods with 0.4 to 0.8%
DM calcium are recommended for mature dogs. The calcium- Assess and Determine the Feeding Method
phosphorus ratio should not be less than 1:1. It may not be necessary to change the feeding method when
managing healthy mature dogs. However, a thorough evalua-
tion includes verification that an appropriate feeding method is
FEEDING PLAN being used.
The feeding method should be monitored more closely in
Mature dogs are more prone to obesity, degenerative joint dis- mature than in younger dogs. Free-choice feeding should not
ease, cardiac disease, renal disease, cognitive dysfunction and be used for obese or overweight patients; however, this method
metabolic aberrations. They also are usually less active than may be preferred for thinner, very old animals to allow
young adult dogs. The feeding plan should be based on poten- increased food intake. It is very important to measure food
tial risk factors and information attained in the assessment. intake of mature dogs; this measurement may be more accurate
Because of the larger variation in health among mature dogs, when dogs are meal fed. Measures to stimulate food intake may
more attention should be paid to individual needs. Nutritional be necessary for some very old dogs. Most mature adult dogs
surveillance is more important for mature dogs than for young adapt well to new foods, but some patients may have difficulty.
adult dogs; therefore, the number of veterinary assessments per It is always good practice to allow for a transition period to
year should be increased. Goals remain the same as listed in the avoid digestive upsets. This is particularly true when switching
introduction; however, each patient should be evaluated indi- from lower to higher fat foods. The new food should be
vidually. increased and the old food decreased in progressive amounts