Feeding Pets with Extra Needs
Most dogs and cats thrive on the basic maintenance recipes found in Dog Food Recipes and Cat Food Recipes but certain others under distinct conditions need special diets. Such animals include:
- Puppies and kittens. Extra protein and calories are needed for new tissue growth and youthful activity.
- Breeding, pregnant and lactating females. Conceiving, carrying, birthing and nursing offspring call for unusually high protein intake to grow new tissue
- Animals undergoing strenuous exercise or stress. Such conditions signal the body to consume high amounts of energy and protein, which is needed for activity and tissue repair.
- Animals that need to regain strength after surgery, injury, illness or malnourishment. Higher-than-usual amounts of protein and energy are vital for healing.
- Animals exposed to extreme temperatures. Very hot weather calls for diets high in protein to compensate for decreased food intake caused by a sluggish appetite; cold weather exposure demands more calories just to keep the animal warm; these calories are best supplied by a high-fat diet.
- The pet of vegetarian families. Ethical, ecological or health considerations lead some to eliminate meat from their diets If they reduce their pet’s meat intake as well, the must replace certain nutrients meat would provide.
See High-Energy Diets for recipes
How much should you feed your dog?
Charts are provided following each of the high energy diets using the main version of the recipes. Needs vary according to many factors, so, ultimately, you shoul just let your dog’s appetite be the gauge. Feed half-grown pups and adult dogs with extra needs two or three times a day, allowing them to eat as much as they want. Younger puppies should be fed three or four times a day.
Several of the higher-protein variations of the basic dog maintenance recipes may also be used for moderate growth needs, provided you follow these guidelines:
Fresh Meat Supplement for Dog Kibble - Use lean meats only
Meatless Supplements for Dog Kibble - Okay as stated
Doggie Oats Use only variations calling for oats and lean meats
One-on-One If you use oats, any lean meat is all right. With turkey, you may also use bulgur or millet. Often, but not always, a dog will eat as much as it needs and no more. But if your dog is lethargic, always ravenous, pot-bellied or losing weight, you need to feed more. Also, try feeding a richer recipe such as Growth B or C (in High Energy Diets). Feed less if your dog is becoming over weight.
NOTE: Larger dogs require fewer calories per pound of body weight than smaller dogs. That’s why a 55 pound dog isn’t fed 11 times more than a 5 pounder.
Cats
Most of the maintenance recipes for cats here contain enough protein and fat for felines with special needs. The chart below will help you select recipes for cats with special needs.
Variations of two of the maintenance recipes are not quite high enough in protein for growth and development needs when used with fattier meats or lower-protein grains. So, for cats with special needs, avoid using the Fatty Feline Fare recipe with millet (use oats or bulgur instead) or Feline Feast with a fatty grade of heart.
Feeding Cats with Extra Needs:
Pregnant Female - Cat Growth Diet
Kitten, nearly grown (30 week) Cat Growth Diet
Nursing Female (past her peak) Cat Growth Diet
Use Feline Feast for half-grown kittens (20 wk), Nursing female at peak, in cold weather for larger cats. For recipe see Cat Food Recipes
Use Mackerel Loaf for half grown kittens (20 wk), Stress, young kittens (10 wk) For recipe see Cat Food Recipes