Page 279 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

284 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

VetBooks.ir Table 15-5. Key nutritional factors for reproducing dogs. body condition (BCS 2.5/5 to 3.5/5).
Table 15-5 summarizes key nutritional factors for breeding
Factors Recommended levels in food (DM) males and females and for pregnant and lactating bitches. The
Mating* Gestation/lactation following section describes these key nutritional factors in more
Water Fresh water Fresh water
should always should always detail.
be available be available
Energy density 3.5-4.5 ≥4.0 Water
(kcal ME/g)**
Energy density 14.6-18.8 ≥16.7 Although often overlooked, water is the first nutrient needed
(kJ ME/g)** for lactation. Water is needed in large quantities to produce
Crude protein (%) 15-30 25-35 milk and aids in thermoregulation. Water requirements in ml
Crude fat (%) 10-20 ≥20
DHA (%) - ≥0.02 are roughly equal to energy requirements in kcal. A 35-kg bitch
Digestible ≥23 ≥23 nursing a large litter may require five to six liters of water per
carbohydrate (%) day at peak lactation. Therefore, it is critical that clean, fresh
Calcium (%) 0.5-1.0 1.0-1.7
Phosphorus (%) 0.4-0.7 0.7-1.3 water be available at all times during gestation and lactation.
Ca:P ratio 1:1-1.5:1 1:1-2:1
Digestibility Foods with higher Foods with higher Energy
energy density are energy density are
more likely to more likely to Only 2% of total fetal mass is developed at 35 days of pregnan-
have higher have higher cy and 5.5% at 40 days (Figure 15-2). Therefore, during the
digestiblity digestibility first two-thirds of gestation, energy requirements are not differ-
ent from those of young adult dogs (Gesellshaft, 1989a; Ontko
Key: DM = dry matter, ME = metabolizable energy, kcal = kilo-
calories, kJ = kilojoules, DHA = docosahexaenoic acid. and Phillips, 1958). However, during this period bitches should
*Foods for most breeding males and females are usually similar be adequately fed and not allowed to lose weight or body con-
to those for young and middle-aged adults (Table 13-4).
**If the caloric density of the food is different, the nutrient content dition. After Day 40, fetal tissue grows exponentially
in the DM must be adapted accordingly. (Gesellshaft, 1989a; Leibetseder, 1989); energy needs corre-
spondingly increase markedly during Week 5 and peak between
Weeks 6 and 8 of gestation (Meyer, 1990; Ontko and Phillips,
1958; Romsos et al, 1981). Energy requirements for gestation
peak at about 30% above adult maintenance for bitches with
smaller litters, whereas energy needs for bitches with larger lit-
ters can increase by 50 to 60% (Table 15-6) (Meyer, 1990;
Romsos et al, 1981; Meyer et al, 1985a).
Although energy needs are highest during Weeks 6 to 8 of
gestation, food intake is limited by abdominal fullness as a
result of the gravid uterus. Giant breeds may have difficulty
ingesting enough food and maintaining body weight even
before the last week of gestation (Zentek and Meyer, 1992).
Food intake may decrease precipitously just before whelping
with some bitches becoming completely anorectic (Romsos et
al, 1981; Meyer et al, 1985). Enough energy should be provid-
ed to bitches during the earlier weeks of gestation, otherwise
Figure 15-2. The development of fetal mass during pregnancy in bitches may be underweight during mid and late gestation and
beagle dogs. Only 2% of total fetal mass is developed at 35 days of have difficulty maintaining body condition and milk produc-
pregnancy and 5.5% at 40 days. After Day 40, fetal tissue growth
tion after whelping (Bebiak et al, 1987). As mentioned above,
becomes exponential. (Adapted from Gesellschaft für
bitches should not be allowed to lose body condition during the
Ernährungsphysiologie. Empfehlungen für die Versorgung mit
earlier weeks of gestation. Thus, during gestation, particularly
Energie. Ausschuß für Bedarfsnormen der Gesellschaft für
Ernährungsphysiologie Energieund Nährstoffbedarf/Energy and during the last few weeks, the food should be high in energy
Nutrient Requirements, No. 5 Hunde/Dogs. Frankfurt/Main, density (≥4.0 kcal/g [≥16.7 kJ/g]) to provide adequate energy,
Germany: DLG Verlag, 1989; 32-44. Leibetseder J. Ernährung der
especially for large-breed bitches.
Zuchthündin und der Junghunde. Der Praktischer Tierarzt 1989; 70:
After whelping, the bitch’s energy requirement steadily
12-20.)
increases and peaks between three and five weeks (Leibetseder,
1989; Ontko and Phillips, 1958) at a level two to four times
3.5/5). Like breeding females, most sires do not have special higher than the daily energy requirement (DER) for non-lac-
nutritional needs beyond maintenance requirements for young tating adults (Grandjean and Paragon, 1986; Bebiak et al, 1987;
adults and do well when fed foods for young adult dogs Meyer et al, 1985). The energy requirement returns to mainte-
(Chapter 13). However, intact males and females may require nance levels about eight weeks after whelping (Ontko and
more energy than their neutered counterparts to maintain ideal Phillips, 1958). Bitches are capable of increasing food intake