VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

FEEDING BEHAVIOUR OF DOGS

• Due to cooperative hunting behaviour, the dog’s ancestors (wolf) can prey on large prey species and they eat the hunt as quick as possible.  The same behaviour still present in domestic dog species which leads to rapid eating of their food.
• The tendency to eat rapidly can be a problem for some dogs because it may predispose them to choke or swallow large amounts of air.
• Dog while feeding with other dogs or other livestock species tends to eat more rapidly.

• Changing the food less palatable or make the food difficult to eat rapidly (semi moist food are consumed more quickly than dry food) or large pieces of food are possible approaches to slow down the feeding in dogs.
• Adding water to the dog’s food immediately before feeding decreases the rate of eating and minimizes the chance of swallowing large amounts of air. Other approaches include adding a large ball to the bowl or purchasing a feeding bowl that includes a center hub that functions to slow eating rate.
• Many dogs readily consume garbage, carrion, insects, and feces that they encounter in the yard or while out walking. Plant eating, in particular grass eating, is also frequently reported by owners. Contrary to popular beliefs, there is no evidence that grass/plant eating in dogs is a sign either of illness or nutrient deficiency. Rather, grass eating appears to be a normal Candi behavior as it is widespread among wolves and has not been shown to be associated with gastrointestinal upset or the onset of vomiting. It has been suggested that plant eating in canid and felid species may play a role similar to that described in chimpanzees, who consume entire leaves from various plants, which then function to purge intestinal parasites as they travel through the gastrointestinal tract.

• It is possible that plant eating evolved in dogs and cats to serve the same function. Although scavenging garbage and coprophagy are considered to be normal behaviors in dogs, these behaviors can present a health and sanitation risk and generally should be prevented.
• Keeping the yard picked up, using supervision, and teaching dogs a reliable “leave it” command are the best approaches to controlling scavenging and stool-eating behaviors.
• The dog’s ancestry suggests that an intermittent feeding schedule consisting of large meals interrupted by periods of fasting is the most natural way to feed dogs.
• However, when dogs are given free access to food, they will consume many small meals frequently throughout the day. 
• This pattern is similar to that seen in cats, with the exception that dogs tend to eat only during the day time. The domestic dog is quite capable of adapting to a number of different feeding regimens. These regimens include portion-controlled feeding, time-controlled feeding, or free-choice (ad libitum) feeding.