An update about feeding small dogs

The small dog breeds are and will remain popular in homes world-wide. However, these four-legged family members require as much attention to feeding as the larger breeds. We recommend feeding ProBiotic LIVE Mini Breeds, a complete super-premium feed, to all dogs with an expected adult weight of 1-10 kg. The feed pill size is appropriate to these breeds, but there are also other important benefits for the small dogs by choosing this va­riant.

Small dog breeds are unfortunately predisposed to the develop­ment of tartar (calculus), and the risk increases with the dog’s age (Kyllar, Witter 2005). Calculus consists primarily of calcium phosphate and is formed when plaque on the dog’s teeth is mi­neralized by ions in the dog’s saliva (Hennet P. et al. 2007). To inhibit the formation of calculus, sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) has been added in all varieties of LIVE Mini Breeds. STPP is effe­ctive due to the strong ability of the substance to bind to calcium ions. These calcium-ions are thus prevented from being involved in the mineralization process of plaque (Hennet P. et al. 2007). Feeding your dog with ProBiotic LIVE Mini Breeds is therefore a step in the right direction to ensure dental health.

In dogs, a difference in appetite and general interest in food bet­ween breed groups has been demonstrated (Raffan et al. 2015). To ensure an extra high palatability in LIVE Mini Breeds, an her­bal blend has been added for extra good palatability. Together with pure meat as a source of protein and a high content of sal­mon oil, this provides a very tasty feed, also for the picky dogs.
ProBiotic LIVE Mini Breeds, like all other variants of ProBiotic LIVE, contains live probiotics that promote a well-balanced di­gestion and are associated with a wide range of health-promoting properties (Wynn 2009). Like other varieties in the series, LIVE Mini Breeds are gluten-free and contain corn and rice as a carbo­hydrate source. There is also a high content of salmon oil, which promotes healthy skin and fur as well as healthy joints.

For proper feeding of nutrients and adequate energy content, we recommend the LIVE Mini Breeds Puppy up to 10 months of age, and then LIVE Mini Breeds Adult for the adult dogs. It is determi­ned individually, depending on the individual dog’s energy needs, when the dog switches to LIVE Mini Breeds Senior & Overweight. In many dogs, the right time will be around 8 years of age. Fee­ding with LIVE Mini Breeds is a perfect way to contribute to the general well-being and joy of life of the small dog breeds.

By Klara N. Trads, DVM and Technical Manager at Bacterfield GMBH.

List of references:

• Benyacoub J., Pérez P.F., Rochat F. et al. (2005): Enterococcus faecium SF68 Enhances the Immune Response to Giardia inte­stinalis in Mice. Journal of Nutrition. 135: 1171-1176.
• Benyacoub J., Czarnecki-Maulden G.L., Cavadini C. et al. (2003): Supplementation of Food with Enterococcus faecium (SF68) Stimulates Immune Functions in Young Dogs. Nutritional Immunology. 133(4): 1158-1162.
• Gómez-Gallego C., Junnila J., Männikko M. et al. (2016): A cani­ne-specific probiotic product in treating acute or intermittent diar­rhea in dogs: A double-blind placebo-controlled efficacy study. Veterinary Microbiology. 197: 122-128.
• Hennet P., Servet E., Soulard Y., Biourge V. Effect of pellet food size and polyphosphates in preventing calculus accumulation in dogs, Journal of Veterinary Dentistry 2007 Dec;24(4):236-9.
• Kolida S., Sauliner D.M. and Gibson G.R. (2006): Gastrointesti­nal Microflora: Probiotics. Advances in Applied Microbiology. Vol. 59: 187-219.
• Kyllar M., Witter K., Prevalence of dental disorders in pet dogs 2005 Veterinární Medicína 50(11)
• Raffan E., Smith S.P., O’Rahilly S., Wardle J. 2015 Development, factor structure and application of the Dog Obesity Risk and Appetite (DORA) questionnaire. PeerJ 3:e1278; DOI 10.7717/ peerj.1278
• Vahjen W. and Männer K. (2003): The Effect of a Probiotic En­terococcus Faecium Product in Diets on Healthy Dogs on Bac­teriological Counts of Salmonella Spp., Campylobacter Spp. and Clostridium Spp. in Faeces. Arch. Anim. Nutr. Vol. 57 (3): 229-233.