Adult
Diets fed to adult animals are designed to meet the nutritional
needs of the average dog or cat. In fact, the average adult
maintenance diet may provide more nutrients and calories than
needed by the average dog or cat. Adult pets that are not neutered have higher daily
energy requirements than pets that have been spayed or castrated. Most pets are neutered and
have limited opportunity for exercise, hence more than half of
the dogs and cats in the USA are overweight, and a third of
them are obese.
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Reproduction
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Gestation
The Maintenance lifestage should be further defined for those
reproducing: pregnant and nursing adults. Dogs that are pregnant
(gestating) generally have a 10-20% increase in nutritional
requirements in the last 20 days of pregnancy, and pregnant
cats have a 10-20% increase steadily throughout the 63-day
gestating period.
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Lactation
Lactating dogs and cats have greatly increased
nutritional requirements for energy. Their caloric need can be
increased by a factor of 2 to 8 times over non-reproducing
requirements depending on how many young are nursing. When
selecting a diet for an adult pet, these factors must be taken
into consideration in order to optimally feed the lactating dog or cat.
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If you need help feeding your pregnant or nursing pet click on
Chef to request a nutrition consultation.
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Work
Adult pets that have active daily lives, either in work or play,
have higher daily energy requirements than pets that wait on the
couch for their owners to return home. The working pet has an
increased energy need which can be 2 to 8 times the non-working
pet depending on the type of work activity and environment. When selecting a
diet for an adult pet, these factors must be taken into
consideration.
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If you need help feeding your working pet, let us help you!
Click on Chef to request a nutrition consultation.
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Environment
The pet’s environment (indoor verses outdoor) also significantly
affects the daily caloric requirement. In cold temperatures, increased energy is needed to warm and maintain normal body temperatures. In hot temperatures, increased energy is needed to cool (panting) and dissipate heat from the body.
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