Page 662 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

DOD of Dogs 685

free choice (Alexander and Wood, 1987). Other studies have
VetBooks.ir shown that feeding 15 minutes twice daily does not reduce food
intake between free-choice and time-restricted groups (Toll et
al, 1993). Again, it is important in this type of feeding program
to recommend foods with a lower energy density (<12% DM
fat) to decrease the risk of overconsumption.
Time-limited feeding may also help in disciplining and
housetraining young puppies. The owner interacts with the
puppy during this time and is able to observe its general condi-
tion and behavior, which may lead to earlier detection of health
problems. A routine of feeding a puppy and then taking it out-
doors can assist housetraining by taking advantage of the gas-
trocolic reflex. Advocates of this feeding method suggest that
when some puppies fed in this manner reach adulthood they
may voluntarily limit their feeding to once or twice a day and
thus avoid overeating.
Figure 33-9. Comparison of growth curves of large-breed dogs fed
free choice vs. those in a food-restricted feeding regimen.

REASSESSMENT mercial foods specifically prepared for young, growing dogs; the
major potential for harm results from excess consumption of
Regular clinical evaluation of growing puppies and adjustments energy and calcium.
in the food offered are crucial. Rapidly growing, large- and A balanced food fed in appropriate quantities will help opti-
giant-breed dogs have a very steep growth curve and their mize skeletal development and decrease the risk of DOD.After
intake requirements can change dramatically over short peri- DOD has manifested, nutritional management becomes a
ods. These puppies should be weighed, their body condition minor component of treatment unless obesity is a contributing
evaluated and their daily feeding amount adjusted at least once factor.
every two weeks (Figure 33-8 and Table 33-7). Large- and
giant-breed puppies should be fed to maintain a BCS between
2/5 to 3/5.The veterinary health care team can perform this ENDNOTES
evaluation in the hospital and owners can be taught to perform
this evaluation at home. a. Breuer GJ. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Skeletal disease can be influenced during growth by feeding Unpublished data. 1997.
technique and nutrient profile. However, nutritional manage- b. Zentek J. Unpublished data, 1996.
ment alone will not completely prevent DOD because there is
a hereditary component (i.e., canine hip dysplasia and osteo-
chondrosis can develop in genetically affected animals fed bal- REFERENCES
anced foods). Additionally, the occurrence and clinical signs of
DOD can be aggravated when forced exercise or environment The references for Chapter 33 can be found at
are not adapted to the vulnerability of the young skeleton. www.markmorris.org.
Dietary deficiencies are of minimal concern in this age of com-

CASE 33-1

Lameness in a Labrador Retriever
H.A.W. Hazewinkel, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVS, Dipl. ECVCN
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
University of Utrecht
Utrecht, The Netherlands

Patient Assessment
A four-year-old female Labrador retriever was examined for difficulty in rising (standing up) and walking, especially the first few
minutes of a walk.These problems were worse after the patient had been out for a long walk or played with other dogs, as often hap-
pened on weekends. The current exercise program included three 15- to 30-minute walks per day, free exercise in the yard between
walks and two 60-minute walks in the woods on weekends.