During the animals growth period they require higher amounts of calcium, protein and energy than an fully grown adult animal. If you do not feed the correct amount of nutrition they may not reach their optimum weight and may affect their lifespan, skeletal system and may cause muscular problems.
Depending on the use or role of the animal they may have different nutritional requirements for example, working dogs need a high level of energy.
Pregnant and lactating companion animals need a concentrated diet for more energy, nutrients and protein.
Neonates require more milk in the first 5 weeks of their lives.
Geriatric companion animals need if they do not get enough nutrients can get kidney failure, skeletal muscle been lost because of deficiencies in vitamins. It is essential for older animals to have a good amount of fat in their diet so they can use vitamins correctly in the diet. Having the correct amount of vitamins and minerals allows antioxidants to be created in the body allowing for the creation of proteins. An older animal may also require a reduction in the level of fats. This is due to an older animal not being as active.
Protein requirement in dogs increases in the later gestation 40-70% higher. The last week been the highest. After 40 days the foetus grows rapidly the energy requirement is 30% higher than in maintenance.
Pregnant dogs
They require higher levels of protein to allow them to keep their strength up and to also maintain a healthy pregnancy; allowing the puppy to develop without any deformities. They require more carbohydrates to provide them with enough energy to develop the puppy and to carry their young. More fat is needed to allow the puppy to grow inside her and for her to not get any deficiencies.
Lactation in dogs
5-6 litres of water must be drunk a day during lactation. The diet must be very easy to digest and high in energy. There should be a 27% increase in protein in their diet and carbohydrates need to be increased by 10-20% to give them more energy; this is because they produce milk. If this is not done they will not be producing a sufficient amount of milk . Calcium and phosphorus should be increased 2 to 5 times more than in maintenance to help them keep their strength up (0.8-1.1% calcium and 0.6-0.8% phosphorus).
Weaning
Some dogs still produce a lot of milk during weaning this can cause mastitis (a disease of the mammary glands). The intake of food needs to be kept to a minimum a few days before weaning to decrease the level of nutrients which stops the amount of milk being produced and stops mammary gland engorgement.
Puppies
Puppies require double the nutrition of an adult dog (for their size). Under 6 months should be fed 3-4 times a day, once they reach 6 months two to three times a day. (more protein required for growing and the food should be palatable). This is because they need protein, carbohydrates, lipids, water more often in order to meet the demands of growing so they do not get deficiencies or growth problems and to provide them with enough energy to grow from the carbohydrates. They need more water to make the food more palatable and fat in order to allow them to put weight on and grow.
Adult dogs
You will need to feed them twice a day with a sufficient amount of all nutrients. This is because even though they have stopped growing they still need to maintain a good weight with all of the six nutrients to stop them getting dietary diseases.
Senior dogs
Senior dogs are more susceptible to cancer, heart disease and kidney disease as well as many other conditions.. Fresh water should be available all of the time. When the dog reaches 7 years the energy requirement needs to decrease. This means that they should eat less more often and the food should still be palatable). These dogs commonly become obese due to not using as much energy so they need to have a good amount but not too much. They need a higher level of protein than younger dogs due to the bones becoming more fragile. Decreasing dietary protein can stop them getting kidney disease. If a dog does develop kidney disease you should decrease the level of protein in their diet. You should not give them too much phosphorus as it can cause renal disease. A senior dog should also have a lower level of phosphorus as this has been linked with causing kidney disease (Nutrient requirements of dogs, 1985). They do not require as many carbohydrates due to not being as active.
Working dogs require more protein to keep their bones strong and more carbohydrate to give them the energy to do their job correctly.
Lizards
Young lizards eat only insects. Young lizards require feeding daily whereas older lizards should be fed every other day. Hatchlings and juveniles require more supplements in order to maintain health. Young lizards should be fed small insects due to not being able to digest bigger ones. Larger lizards can have bigger ones as they are big enough to digest them. They need vitamin and mineral supplements. Adult lizards also require weekly supplements of calcium dust whereas juveniles should have calcium supplements twice weekly.
Adult lizards as standard require 75% live food and 25% vegetables. Pregnant lizards require more protein to help with growth and carbohydrates to give them energy they should be encouraged to drink more water.
Depending on the use or role of the animal they may have different nutritional requirements for example, working dogs need a high level of energy.
Pregnant and lactating companion animals need a concentrated diet for more energy, nutrients and protein.
Neonates require more milk in the first 5 weeks of their lives.
Geriatric companion animals need if they do not get enough nutrients can get kidney failure, skeletal muscle been lost because of deficiencies in vitamins. It is essential for older animals to have a good amount of fat in their diet so they can use vitamins correctly in the diet. Having the correct amount of vitamins and minerals allows antioxidants to be created in the body allowing for the creation of proteins. An older animal may also require a reduction in the level of fats. This is due to an older animal not being as active.
Protein requirement in dogs increases in the later gestation 40-70% higher. The last week been the highest. After 40 days the foetus grows rapidly the energy requirement is 30% higher than in maintenance.
Pregnant dogs
They require higher levels of protein to allow them to keep their strength up and to also maintain a healthy pregnancy; allowing the puppy to develop without any deformities. They require more carbohydrates to provide them with enough energy to develop the puppy and to carry their young. More fat is needed to allow the puppy to grow inside her and for her to not get any deficiencies.
Lactation in dogs
5-6 litres of water must be drunk a day during lactation. The diet must be very easy to digest and high in energy. There should be a 27% increase in protein in their diet and carbohydrates need to be increased by 10-20% to give them more energy; this is because they produce milk. If this is not done they will not be producing a sufficient amount of milk . Calcium and phosphorus should be increased 2 to 5 times more than in maintenance to help them keep their strength up (0.8-1.1% calcium and 0.6-0.8% phosphorus).
Weaning
Some dogs still produce a lot of milk during weaning this can cause mastitis (a disease of the mammary glands). The intake of food needs to be kept to a minimum a few days before weaning to decrease the level of nutrients which stops the amount of milk being produced and stops mammary gland engorgement.
Puppies
Puppies require double the nutrition of an adult dog (for their size). Under 6 months should be fed 3-4 times a day, once they reach 6 months two to three times a day. (more protein required for growing and the food should be palatable). This is because they need protein, carbohydrates, lipids, water more often in order to meet the demands of growing so they do not get deficiencies or growth problems and to provide them with enough energy to grow from the carbohydrates. They need more water to make the food more palatable and fat in order to allow them to put weight on and grow.
Adult dogs
You will need to feed them twice a day with a sufficient amount of all nutrients. This is because even though they have stopped growing they still need to maintain a good weight with all of the six nutrients to stop them getting dietary diseases.
Senior dogs
Senior dogs are more susceptible to cancer, heart disease and kidney disease as well as many other conditions.. Fresh water should be available all of the time. When the dog reaches 7 years the energy requirement needs to decrease. This means that they should eat less more often and the food should still be palatable). These dogs commonly become obese due to not using as much energy so they need to have a good amount but not too much. They need a higher level of protein than younger dogs due to the bones becoming more fragile. Decreasing dietary protein can stop them getting kidney disease. If a dog does develop kidney disease you should decrease the level of protein in their diet. You should not give them too much phosphorus as it can cause renal disease. A senior dog should also have a lower level of phosphorus as this has been linked with causing kidney disease (Nutrient requirements of dogs, 1985). They do not require as many carbohydrates due to not being as active.
Working dogs require more protein to keep their bones strong and more carbohydrate to give them the energy to do their job correctly.
Lizards
Young lizards eat only insects. Young lizards require feeding daily whereas older lizards should be fed every other day. Hatchlings and juveniles require more supplements in order to maintain health. Young lizards should be fed small insects due to not being able to digest bigger ones. Larger lizards can have bigger ones as they are big enough to digest them. They need vitamin and mineral supplements. Adult lizards also require weekly supplements of calcium dust whereas juveniles should have calcium supplements twice weekly.
Adult lizards as standard require 75% live food and 25% vegetables. Pregnant lizards require more protein to help with growth and carbohydrates to give them energy they should be encouraged to drink more water.