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food ingredients high in starch, including rice and dried potatoes, have less fiber. Q: How often should I feed my dog? A: Dogs eat larger, less frequent meals than do cats. It is fine to feed an adult dog one or two times per day. Puppies, however, need two to three daily meals. Q: How can I help my overweight dog trim down? A: The most obvious answer is to feed your dog smaller amounts on the same feeding schedule. Some dog owners offer less tasty food or allow less time to eat. Another option is to feed your dog one of the low-calorie dog foods on the market. It’s also important to remember to keep your dog from sampling the dog-next-door’s food and to refrain from giving your dog table scraps. Q: How do heat and exercise affect the amount of water my dog needs? A: Fresh water should be available to your dog at all times to reduce the risk of becoming overheated. A dog’s need for water increases in keeping with the amount of energy he expends during exercise, and this need may more than double in warm conditions. Ideally, you should actively offer your dog water during exercise. 37491_Dog_P01_16 07/24/06 4:47 PM Page 11 12 FOOD CHOICES Commercial dog foods come in a variety of forms. The most common types are dry, semimoist, and canned. The moisture content of these foods ranges from 6 to 10 % for dry, 15 to 30% for semimoist, and 75% for canned. Most canned food has relatively more fat and protein and fewer carbohydrates than does dry and semi-moist food, and generally contains much higher levels of animal products. Pet food labels must list the percentage of protein, fat, fiber, and water in the food. When reading labels, it is important to remember that what may appear to be a big difference in the amount of a nutrient—for example, 8% protein in a canned dog food vs. 27% protein in a dry dog food—reflects the fact that there is more water in the canned food. PET FOOD ADDITIVES Some other substances that might be found in pet foods, which are not required nutrients, are described below: Chondroprotective agents are used by the body to make cartilage and joint tissues. Although, use of chondroprotective agents may be indicated for selected clinical conditions, widespread inclusion in the diets of healthy populations may not be warranted at this time. Antioxidants work to prevent oxidative damage to nutrients and other compounds in the body and inhibit or quench the formation of free radicals. At this time, data are lacking to make specific recommendations beyond those for the essential vitamins and minerals that are components of antioxidants. TIDBIT Exposure to certain flavors and textures of food early in life can shape strong preferences later on. 37491_Dog_P01_16 07/24/06 4:47 PM Page 12 13 Herbs and botanicals are used in pet foods either to provide flavor or, more often, to have a medicinal effect on the body. This is especially true in the case of extracts, where the classical nutritive components of the plant may be separated from the extract in the process. Because the intended functions are more pharmacologic versus nutritional in nature, discussion of potential benefit is beyond the scope of this publication. Flavors and extracts derived from animal tissues such as poultry or fish are considered “natural” flavors. A wide variety of flavors can be derived from other animal and plant materials, including dairy products, eggs, herbs, and spices. Acceptable processing methods include roasting, extraction, and fermentation. Except for artificial smoke and bacon flavors, synthetic substances are rarely used in most dog and cat foods. Colors are synthetic compounds used to replace or accentuate the inherent color of the food. Only certified colors approved for use in human foods are allowed in pet foods. Iron oxide is a synthetic but noncertified color that can be used at levels not to exceed 0.25% of the pet food product to give dog and cat food a red, meaty appearance. Titanium dioxide is another common color additive in human and pet foods because it can induce a “brightness” in foods by complementing other color additives. Its use is limited to 1% of the food by weight. TIDBIT Pet foods marketed as “snacks” are not required to have nutritional adequacy labels. 37491_Dog_P01_16 07/24/06 4:48 PM Page 13 F or more than 80 years, the National Academies has fostered improved understanding of the nutritional needs of pets, wildlife, laboratoryresearch species, and food-producing animals through its Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals series—a series that is considered the “gold standard” for animal nutrition in the United States and worldwide. This pamphlet is based on recommendations from the 2006 release of Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. The report contains useful information for companion animal nutritionists, veterinarians, scientists in industry and academe, regulators, pet owners and anyone with an interest in the health and welfare of these important animals. To order the report, contact the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street NW, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or http://www.nap.edu. For more information, contact the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources (BANR) at 202-334-3062 or visit http://dels.nas.edu/banr. BANR is part of the National Academies’ Division on Earth and Life Studie In addition to the nutritional imbalances of these diets, raw meat products are likely to carry bacteria (like any raw meat products we encounter at home or in restaurants). These diets pose a health risk, not only to the individual animal eating them, but also to other animals in the hospital and to our hospital staff. Raw meat-based diets (RMBD) can be home-made (for example, the BARF Diet) or commercially made. Commercial RMBD are typically frozen or freeze-dried but some are available as fresh refrigerated products and others can even look like commercial dry food (dry food with a raw coating). At this time, there are no scientific studies showing any health benefits of RMBD. However, numerous studies show that there are health risks for an animal eating a RMBD, ranging from nutritional deficiencies or toxicities,