Age
The age for which the food is intended.
Dogs of different ages have different nutritional needs. So,
puppies need easily digestible food with a lot of "building material" for growth. It is for puppies that the largest number of nutritional gradations by age has been introduced (from 1 month, 8 months, 12 months, etc.). Young animals require a lot of energy, and in old age it is not uncommon for dental problems to develop. All this is taken into account when creating feed.
Age categories are most often distinguished as follows:
- Puppies - from 2 weeks to 2 - 3 months.
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Young(juniors) - from 2 - 3 months to 10 - 12 months.
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Adults - from a year to 6 - 8 years, depending on the breed and characteristics of the body.
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Elderly - from 6 - 8 years.
Note that this classification is rather arbitrary, and in some brands of food, the age limits may be different - for example, food for puppies may have the designation "up to 5 - 6 months." These details should be specified separately, especially if the dog is in a “transitional” age, between categories.
Dog size
In this case, not a specific breed is meant, but the size and weight of the dog. The division into "weight categories" is primarily due to the difference in metabolism between animals of different sizes. So, small dogs have a faster metabolism than large ones, they have a higher need for calories per kilogram of weight; and a large breed puppy needs more "building materials"
for bones and muscles. In addition, dry food (see "Type") for different breeds can also differ in the size of the granules: the larger the dog, the larger the granules can be.
The approximate division of rocks by size looks like this:
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Small — weight up to 12 kg, height up to 40 cm (
dachshund,
Yorkshire terrier, cocker spaniels, miniature schnauzer).
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Medium — weight 10 – 20 kg, height 40 – 56 cm (
Dalmatian, Staffordshire Terrier, Chow Chow).
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Large — weight 20 – 30 kg, height 56 – 65 cm (collie,
boxer, doberman,
german shepherd).
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Giant — weight from 50 kg, height from 60 cm (St. Bernard,
Great Dane, Newfoundland).
Special purpose
The purpose determines the specific features of the feed. This is a more highly specialized parameter than a series (see the relevant paragraph): within the same series, feeds for different purposes can be produced. It is also worth saying that one food can have several purposes at once: for example, a composition
for picky people can be
hypoallergenic at the same time.
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Easily digestible. Feed formulated in such a way that the nutrients from them are absorbed by the body as quickly and efficiently as possible. This food is intended mainly
for active and/or young growing dogs, but can be used for other categories of pets: in particular, easily digestible food is recommended for certain digestive disorders.
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For skin and wool. Foods that improve the condition of the skin and coat. They contain an increased amount of "building materials" from which skin cells and hairs are formed. Note that such power supply can be useful for any breed of dog, not only long-haired.
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Taking care of your teeth. Foods that improve teeth and prevent problems with them. Such power supply can have different specifics of use: for example, some foods play the role of a “toothbrush”, cleaning the teeth and oral cavity, others supply the body with nutrients im
...portant for dental health (primarily calcium). Specific specialization may also vary: hard formulations are suitable only for healthy teeth, softer ones may be intended for weakened and problematic ones.
- From obesity. Feed intended for the prevention and treatment of obesity. As a rule, they have a reduced calorie content; in addition, the composition may contain ingredients that speed up the metabolism and reduce the likelihood that the calories eaten are “deposited” in fat.
- Hypoallergenic. Compositions selected in such a way as to minimize the likelihood of an allergy in a pet. This category also includes specialized grain-free feeds that do not contain cereals and are distinguished by a high content of meat.
- For the immune system. Feed designed to strengthen the immune system. They are characterized by a high content of vitamins and microelements, and may also contain specific immunomodulatory ingredients (for example, extracts of medicinal plants). Note that with a tendency to allergies, such feeds should be used with extreme caution.
- For dogs with diabetes. Food for dogs with diabetes. They are characterized by a low sugar content or its complete absence in the composition.
- For the fastidious. Food for naughty dogs who have certain preferences and often refuse food because it is "tasteless". Developed with special emphasis on the taste component. It should be noted that it is precisely such food that can be useful when transferring an animal from cheap formulations saturated with flavor enhancers to better power supply.
- For the kidneys. Foods that improve kidney function. Designed mainly for the prevention and treatment of urolithiasis.
- For heart. Feed to strengthen and improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system. They provide strengthening of the heart muscle and the walls of blood vessels, and can also reduce high blood pressure.
- For the liver. Foods that improve the functioning of the liver. Among other things, this category includes therapeutic formulations for use in chronic liver failure: they reduce the load on the liver, help restore its functions and stimulate the production of bile.
- For joints. Feed used for joint problems. In particular, they contribute to the restoration of cartilage tissue and its maintenance in a normal state.
- For the bones. Foods that strengthen bones. Contain an increased amount of substances used to build bone tissue - in particular, calcium. Especially useful at a young age, while the musculoskeletal system is just being formed, as well as for older animals in which bones weaken with age.
In addition to those described above, other options for appointments may be declared by manufacturers.Ingredients
The main ingredients that make up the feed and determine its nutritional and taste value. In addition to them, various auxiliary components may be included in the composition, however, manufacturers do not always indicate the full composition in the main data.
Calories
The energy value of the food is the amount of energy (in kilocalories) that the dog's body will receive when eating 100 g of food. Knowing the calorie content, as well as the daily energy requirement of the pet, you can estimate the amount of food he needs per day. A dog of medium size and build needs about 370 – 480 kcal per day, but this figure is very approximate — a lot depends on the breed, constitution, mobility and other factors. A specific energy requirement can be determined using special sources — tables, calculators, etc. It is highly advisable not to deviate from these recommendations: a lack of calories leads to lethargy and weight loss, an excess leads to excess weight.
