The Complete Book of Dog Breeding. Dan Rice

quality as well as quantity.

      Dog Food Labels

      Some labels state that the foods meet or exceed recommendations of the NRC (National Research Council). That statement may apply only to canine maintenance requirements and may not consider the increased energy demands of breeding, pregnancy, or lactation.

      TIP

      When purchasing dog food, be selective! Don’t fall for TV ads showing a beautiful litter of puppies or a happy bitch. Those are paid actors; they are marketing tools.

      Labels may specify the quantities of available nutrients, not the bioavailable nutrients. If an essential element is fed to a dog in a form that is not bioavailable (that is, the amount that is assimilated and metabolized by the animal), it might as well be left in the bag. Always look for the source of protein. The ingredient list should give you that information. Vegetable protein sources such as corn or soy flour may provide an excellent analysis on the package, but that may be misleading.

      Labels stating that a food meets or exceeds requirements for growth and maintenance mean just what they say. Such products should not be fed during breeding, gestation, or lactation.

      Foods labeled with statements that they meet or exceed NRC recommendations for all stages of life are what you want, right? Getting close, but still not enough. Keep looking.

      Feeding Trials

      You will find foods with label declarations that they have passed the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) feeding trials for the entire life cycle of canines. You can generally rest assured that products so labeled contain the right amount of bioavailable food elements required by a brood bitch. If the AAFCO declaration is not shown, get the free phone number from the package and call the manufacturer. Obtain feeding trial results and ask about the source of protein and fat.

      Request printed information about formulation of products, and whether the formula is kept constant, regardless of seasonal variation of ingredient costs.

      If you are unable to obtain desired information about products, exercise your option to choose other brands, and if you are unable to understand information provided by manufacturers, consult with your veterinarian. If he or she isn’t able to help you make an intelligent selection, borrow a text on the subject. Most veterinary clinics have numerous reference sources for nutritional requirements of dogs.

      Generic Brands

      Generic and house brand products sometimes contain only 15 to 22 percent protein and too little fat for a brood bitch’s diet. When shopping, always consider generic brands, but before buying, be sure they conform to the standards we have discussed. Check the amounts and sources of essential elements, as well as feeding trial results.

      TIP

      To increase payability, a basic diet of complete and balanced dry food can be mixed with canned food that is also complete and balanced.

      Protein Quality

      Protein of plant (vegetable) origin, such as soy, cottonseed, safflower, or corn, offers a less desirable amino acid spectrum than meat-based products. Amino acids from vegetable proteins have lower bioavailability than those from animal proteins. Relative to canine optimum nutrition, plant protein is of less quality than animal protein.

      Fats

      Adequate fat must be included in brood animals’ diets. Fat is a calorie-dense nutrient, containing nine kcal per gram (more than twice the calories of protein and carbohydrates). This is true of both animal fat and vegetable oil. Palatability is the principal difference between vegetable oils and animal fats. Both provide adequate fatty acids.

      Carbohydrates

      Carbohydrates are a principal source of glucose in human food, but are much less important in canine diets. They are another source of calories derived from plants. Canine metabolism produces glucose from fat (through its glycerol), and from protein (through its amino acids). Dogs, therefore, do not depend on carbohydrates for glucose.

      Eight-week-old “designer” puppies from a Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Poodle cross.

      Starches or carbohydrates have low caloric density, and in dogs, they lack good digestibility and palatability. Although carbohydrates are not required by dogs, diets without them are impractical to produce. Diets high in carbohydrates, in which most of the protein and fat are also of plant origin, are not recommended for breeding dogs.

      Types of Food

      Three basic types of dog food are presently on the market. Many companies produce all three.

      Canned foods are expensive, but they store well and are highly palatable.

      Soft moist foods are also palatable, but do not store as well. They are also expensive and contain some questionable chemical preservatives that are not found in dry foods.

Dry foods are usually the least expensive and easiest to feed. Most premium brands are also well accepted by dogs.

      Generally, premium dry dog foods contain very adequate nutrition, require no supplementation, and are sufficiently palatable to suit most finicky appetites. In many cases, especially in house-pet breeding animals, they may be fed free-choice. Naturally, that is not an option if your bitch is a glutton.

      Supplements

      It is poor economics to feed a bargain brand of dog food, hoping to cover its deficiencies with a cheap vitamin and mineral supplement. Do not arbitrarily supplement your breeding bitch’s diet with vitamins or minerals. If she is established on a recommended diet, they are unnecessary. If your veterinarian has approved feeding a multiple vitaminmineral supplement to your dogs, specifically including breeding animals, it is fine to continue to do so.

      A word of caution: It is dangerous to add raw meat, bone meal, or other similar products to breeding animals’ already complete, balanced diets. It is true that animal protein supplementation was widely researched and used in the past. For years, nutritionists recommended additions of meat, especially liver, to dry dog food diets of breeding animals. That was primarily due to the extensive use of corn and soy flours in the dry food formulas. Protein quality was suspect and amino acid deficiencies were sometimes experienced in those diets.

      Today, due to extensive research by pet food manufacturers, private research foundations, and universities, we have more information about nutritional needs of our pets. Complete, balanced diets have been formulated for us. For individuals who want to delve into the specifics of dog nutrition, I recommend the book Nutritional Requirements of Dogs, Revised, from the National Research Council, telephone [phone]. This volume, which is updated regularly, will answer virtually all technical questions about canine nutrition.

      Homemade Diets

      Diets formulated and produced in the family kitchen often lead to problems. If you are determined to cook for your dog, the above-cited book will supply information on such diets. I heartily recommend that you follow its guidelines closely. Flowever, in my experience, it is best to leave formulation and production of dog foods to those who have laboratories, research facilities, and feeding trials to prove their products.

Health and Immune Status

      Conditioning a breeding animal is not complete without consideration of its general health and vaccination history. Before your brood bitch is due to come into heat, or upon the first signs of proestrus vaginal bleeding, schedule a visit