Efeitos da nutrição sobre a saúde e bem estar de cães em diferentes fases da vida

Abstract

To guarantee a good quality of life for dogs, correct nutritional management throughout their development is essential. It is known that as puppies, dogs must ingest colostrum to receive immunoglobulins and, later, regular breast milk, until three weeks of age when they can receive solid foods. To meet the demands of the puppies, the bitch must receive adequate amounts of nutrients, considering the requirements throughout the gestational and lactation period. In healthy adult dogs, nutrition must meet requirements and reduce the risk of disease. In the case of dogs with illnesses, nutrition can help with management and treatment. In obesity, for example, energy restriction with fiber administration is recommended to generate satiety; in heart disease, it is necessary to provide a food with high energy density and low sodium content; in chronic kidney disease (CKD), in turn, nutrition must ensure the maintaining the body condition score, helping to reduce azotemia and maintaining acid-base balance. Finally, in the case of elderly dogs, adequate levels of protein must be provided, taking into account in view of the progressive loss of muscle mass. These particularities must be taken into account to ensure the health and well-being throughout all stages of dog development. Therefore, the present work aims to elucidate the importance of establishing adequate nutrition according to the dog's life stage, aiming to assist veterinarians and owners in choosing the best nutritional management.