The right nutrition in every phase of life

Demands and nutritional requirements change depending on the phase of life of the dog. The life phases of dogs can be roughly divided into three sections: the growth phase, adulthood and seniority. You can also add a dog multivitamin by PetFriendly after consulting your doctor.

Nutrition has different goals in the three phases:

• Performance metabolism in the growth phase: Depending on the final size, the puppy must reach up to a hundred times its birth weight within the first two years of life.
• Maintenance metabolism in adulthood: maintaining normal body weight, regular digestion and a beautiful, shiny coat
• Maintaining health in old age: Prevention of typical diseases of old age and relief of the “ageing” organs.

Nutrition of adult dogs

Small and medium-sized dogs should be switched to adult food by the end of their first year at the latest, and large dogs by the end of their second year at the latest. An adult dog no longer needs as much protein, calcium and phosphorus as it does when it is growing. It is important to note the following:

Dogs with long coats need about 20% more protein when moulting in spring and fall. Since most adult feeds contain more than the required 18% protein per kilogram of dry matter, they automatically cover this additional requirement.

A serious excess of proteins should be avoided, as this can result in digestive disorders and the excess protein nitrogen has to be excreted again via the liver and kidneys.

In adulthood, it’s all about keeping the dog’s weight constant and avoiding obesity. This must be paid particular attention to after castration because dogs then have a lower energy requirement and tend to be overweight with the same feeding.

Nutrition of old dogs

In older dogs, the need for energy decreases due to a calmer lifestyle. The energy intake should be reduced accordingly if additional kilos show up on the scales. Conversely, a diminished sense of smell and taste can cause appetite to drop and the senior to lose weight. In that case, be sure to go to the vet to rule out a disease. A highly digestible feed with a higher energy density can limit weight loss.

Weighing in every phase of life

No matter what stage of life, a dog should be weighed regularly to control its weight. In the growth phase, this should be done once a week and also documented. A growth curve is suitable for this, which can be created individually in cooperation with an expert (e.g. breeder or veterinarian). This enables healthy growth in the right place.