Life Long Dog Nutrition

This article discusses two foods in paticual. For the puppy stage,
Eagle Pack Puppy food and for the adult stage, Royal CaninLabrador
Retriever
Puppy Nutrition
When deciding on the nutritional components that will determine the
diet of my pups it is important to recognize and keep the following
key factors at the forefront:
- The pups will mature quickly, meaning that they will need the best
diet possible to allow them to safely grow with the aid of the
necessary amounts of the 6 major nutrients present
- Starting at birth and lasting for the first 5-6 weeks of life, my
pups will need a high quality Colostrum based formula due to them not
being able to ween at birth. After researching various formulas, I
have selected the following:
Artho Formula
This is a blend of New Life Colostrum (vital for the pups when first
born to stimulate body functions), glucosamine sulfate, MSM, acetyl
myristoleate, lipase enzyme, coated with beta-lipid. Attributes
- Helps increase bioavailability and absorption of nutrients in the
body and helps decrease the bioavailability of iron to pathogens
? MSM, a natural form of sulfur helps in the prevention of free
radical damage and helps support joint and cartilage function
? Glucosamine sulfate contains sulfur, an element important to the
biochemical synthesis of connective tissue
? Cetyl myristoleate helps support joint and cartilage function. It is
paired with a lipase enzyme in order to help increase its absorption
and assimilation in the body
Due to the importance of Colostrum, below you will find a detailed
breakdown of the nutritional make up of this vital component to my
pup's healthy first few weeks of life.
Pure Colostrum Guaranteed Analysis and Nutritional Breakdown
Ingredient Amount Moisture 7% Ash 4.80% Protein 60% Calcium 0.26%
Lactose Monohydrate 15% Phosphorus 0.24% Magnesium 0.4% Sodium 0.07%
Potassium 0.14% Holine 0.12% Cobalt 0.06% Iron 0.06% Lysine 7.65%
Methionine 1.88% Cistein Trace Arginine 4.82% Triptophan 1.66%
Histidine 2.76% Isoleucine 8.57% Leucine 8.57% Phenylalanin 4.61%
Threonine 7.45% Valine 8.17% Half life 16 hours
Feeding Directions
(1x480 mg tablet mixed with 3-5oz of warm water three times daily
daily total = 1440mg) Feeding Chart Week Amount Daily Fed/Mg 1 3x480mg
= 1440mg 2 3x480mg = 1440mg 3 3x480mg = 1440mg 4 3x480mg = 1440mg 5
3x480mg = 1440mg
Some believe that proper Colostrum supplementation should consist of
more than what is stated above, however, this is just opinion, and
there is no evidence that proves this theory.
- The Structural Growth period (0 to 18 months) is the most important
stage of the development of my pups meaning that during this phase of
their lives, it is crutial for them to consume high quality premium or
home prepared food.
- Along with my formula, I will be eventually feeding my pups a
premium puppy food up until they are 15 to 16 months of age, (Eagle
Pack Large/Giant Formula) which upon my research, appeared to be the
best suited to the needs of my Labrador pups.
When considering a puppy food, one must take into account the quality
of ingredients, and what these ingredients mean to the growth of my
pups. For my pups to thrive, they need and will receive the best
possible ingredients which when combined will produce an optimum food
to enable them to grow safely, and consistently in regards to their
breed specifications.
Eagle Pack Analysis
The Eagle Pack puppy food I chose has in my opinion the best
combination of ingredients for consumption by my pups. Some of the key
ingredients include:
- 7 skin and coat conditioners consisting of; chicken fat, flax seed,
avocado oil, herring meal, lecithin, vitamin E, and biotin. This is a
rare combination and is only found in top quality puppy formula. The
main purpose of these conditioners is to allow for a nice shiny
healthy coat with healthy skin underneath
- Premium chicken meal, rice, and herring meal provide great taste as
well as extra protein and fat which allow for a great foundation for
growth In order to show the extensive process of creating a high
calorie-quality puppy food, below is the entire ingredient list with
the above key ingredients included:
Chicken meal, brown rice, ground rice, rice bran, chicken fat
(preserved with mixed tocopherols and ascorbic acid), flax seed,
dehydrated alfalfa meal, avocado oil, herring meal, lecithin, brewers
dried yeast, natural flavoring, monosodium phosphate, choline
chloride, rosemary extract, sage extract, ferrous sulfate, dl-alpha
tocopherol acetate (source of vitamin E), zinc oxide, sodium selenite,
manganous oxide, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B complex),
copper sulfate, zinc methionine, iron proteinate, manganese
proteinate, copper proteinate, cobalt proteinate, niacin, vitamin B12
supplement, vitamin A supplement calcium pantothenate, d-biotin
supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), calcium iodate,
thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), folic acid, vitamin D3
supplement, bromelain, papain, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation
product, dried aspergillus oryzae fermentation product. Advantages
- Like most specific puppy formulated food, Eagle Pack's Puppy Formula
is designed for optimum growth. With high protein, nutrient and fat
content, the building blocks for continued growth are present and I
would expect my pups to do very well while consuming this product
- Low stool volume is a big advantage and is strictly due to the
chicken meal and rice formula allowing for better digestibility, which
in turn, allows for more nutrients and vitamins to be absorbed by the
puppies
- Palatability is maintained by the presence of vitamin E and C,
meaning that no preservatives are used
- Eagle Pack Puppy Formula is pressure cooked to ensure that the
highest nutrient and vitamin level is present
Guaranteed Analysis
Ingredient Percentage Crude Protein 26% Crude Fat 16% Crude Fibre 4%
Moisture 10% Phosphorus 1% Calcium 1.25%
At approximately 5 weeks of age, I will start reducing the "Artho" and
introducing my puppies to the "Eagle Pack" kibble mushed in warm
water.
Feeding Chart Week/Month Daily Amount Daily Caloric Intake 5-6 wks of
life 2x ? cup 188 7 wks of life 2x ? cup 372 8 wks of life = 2 months
2x ? cup 564 10 wks of life 2x 1/1 cup 744 12 wks of life = 3 months
2x1 ? cup 838 16 wks of life = 4 months 2x1 ? cup 838 20 wks of life =
5 months 2x1 ? 932 24 wks of age = 6 months 2x1 ? 1308 24 wks of
life-36 wks of life= 9 months of life 2x2 cup 1488 36 wks of life-48
wks of life = 12 months 2x2 cup 1488 12 months of life-14 months of
life 2x2 cup 1488
Weeks of Life Pup Food Ration, Adult Food Ration
Total Daily Ration 57 wks of life = 14 ? months 75%, 25% 100% 58 wks
of life = 14 ? months 50%, 50% 100% 59 wks of life = 14 ? months 25%,
75% 100% 60 wks of life = 15 months 0%, 100% 100%
Now that phase two of my nutrition plan is complete, I need to move to
phase three, which is the adult phase of life. I have always been a
believer in the commonly used phrase, "you are what you eat" and with
this in mind, I have researched the wide selection of adult dog food
found on today's' market and in doing so have come across a company
that goes the extra mile in regards to their research, dedication, and
determination to provide the best adult dog food on the market.
Royal Canin, a dog food manufacturer based in Europe, stands head and
shoulders above all other food manufacturers based on their track
record, attention to detail, testimonials, and their determination to
provide the best diet possible for any given breed. Yes, this company
has started to provide specific diets for specific breeds based on the
differing needs that different breeds incur.
Knowing this fact, made it impossible for me not to choose this
manufacturer to provide my Labrador with a life long healthy diet.
Labrador Retriever 30? Formula coupled with love an all the affection
I can give, will provide my Labrador the optimum foundation for a long
healthy mischievous life. (I can't wait!)
Labrador Retriever 30? Formula Unlike other similarly sized dogs, the
Labrador tends to have less muscle mass, and an ability to gain weight
just by looking at the food dish. When you combine the "labrador beg"
which usually wins him something from the human supper table, with the
lazy metabolism and chronic greed of the Labrador, you get the "porky
Labrador." This obviously is bad news and can promote numerous disease
factors such as bloat, obesity, poor joints, etc. Taking all these
factors into account, Royal Canin set out to develop a specifically
formulated food for the Labrador retriever. They determined that by
Promoting high protein and low fat, the Labrador would receive the
building blocks to a well balanced diet and would be most likely to
hold a proper bodyweight in relation to their specific height and
activity level.
Ingredients List Chicken meal, brown rice, corn gluten, oatmeal,
barley, brewers rice, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed
tocopherols), natural chicken flavor, beet pulp (sugar removed),
cellulose, fish oil, zeolite, soya oil, potassium chloride, sodium
tripolyphosphate, salt, choline chloride, chicory extract, borage oil,
taurine, calcium carbonate, inositol, niacin supplement, vitamin E
supplement, L-carnitine, glucosamine hydrochloride, ascorbic acid
(source of vitamin C), chondroitin sulfate, calcium pantothenate,
marigold extract, tyrosine, zinc oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride
(source of vitamin B6), rosemary extract, thiamine mononitrate (source
of vitamin B1), riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), zinc
proteinate, iron sulfate, manganous oxide, vitamin A supplement,
manganese proteinate, folic acid, copper sulfate, copper proteinate,
biotin, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement, sodium selenite,
vitamin B12 supplement.
Guaranteed Analysis, Feeding Method
Ingredient Percentage Crude Protein 30% Crude Fat 13% Crude Fibre 5.7%
Moisture 10% Vitamin E 600mg/kg Vitamin C 300mg/kg L-Carnitine 200mg/
kg Lutein 5mg/kg Glucosamine 780mg/kg Chondroitin 220mg/kg Feeding
Method Calories Per Cup Portion Controlled 293 Amount Fed Daily
Calorie Intake 2x 3 cup 879x2 = 1758
Advantages
- Contains numerous skin and coat conditioners to help maintain a nice
healthy shiny coat
- Contains antioxidants such as glucosamine and chondroitin to aid in
joint maintenance
- Contains taurine which has been proven to aid in heart health
- A high protein level allows for muscle mass maintenance
- Specific components when combined together have been proven to slow
down the aging process. Some of these include; vitamins C and E,
taurine, zinc, selenium, chondroitin, and other antioxidents
- Meets all standards provided by the Association of American Feed
Control Officials (AAFCO)
The final stage of my nutrition plan is based on the nutritional
requirements for my dog when he becomes a senior. (9-10 years of age)
Although we do not like thinking of our dogs one day becoming seniors,
getting old is one of life's few guarantees and it is because of this
fact that we need to look out for the well being of our pets when they
reach this point of their lives.
After researching the hundreds of possible senior based dog foods, I
have decided to keep my Labrador on the Labrador Retriever 30?
Formula. I have decided this because this food has all the necessary
components that senior dogs need and I feel that my Labrador will do
very well on this food in his elder years. Also by not switching food,
I avoid the potential of temporary setbacks during the transition from
adult to senior foods. Advantages
- We all know that as dogs get older, they tend to spend more of their
time sprawled on the couch: therefore, by feeding my couch potato
Labrador Retriever 30? Formula, his fat intake will remain low and his
protein intake will remain high to help him retain his muscle mass
- Joint protection will be aided by the presence of glucosamine and
chondroitin
- In order to aid the digestive tract chicory extract has been added
to help regulate this vital body system. (fructo-oligosaccharides)
This resource can be very beneficial for anybody wanting to gain a
furthered understanding into the nutritional components that make up
any given dog food. Do your research, and please do your best to offer
your dog a proper healthy diet. He/she is counting on you.
http://groups.google.com/group/dogfoodmave/
.

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