Nutrition and Skeletal Health in Dogs

The role nutrition plays in skeletal health in dogs of all sizes and breeds is complex and important. A number of studies indicate that over feeding, both quantity and quality, has a detrimental effect on healthy development.

Good Feeding Can Make a Difference - Particularly in Young Dogs

The role of nutrition in developmental skeletal health is complex. Rate of growth, specific nutrients, food consumption, and feeding methods have all been shown to be important. Large and giant breeds are most susceptible to problems, presumably because of their accelerated growth rate.

Over-nutrition from overconsumption and over-supplementation increases the frequency of developmental bone disease in large dogs. Energy and calcium are of greatest concern.

Dietary deficiencies are rare in young, growing dogs fed commercial growth foods. Problems associated with dietary excess are far more likely, especially if a high quality growth food is supplemented with minerals, vitamins, and energy.

Management of food in-take alone will not completely control developmental bone diseases. However, development can be influenced during growth by feeding technique and nutrient profile. More