The Best Dog Food for Special Needs
In the past, you would typically find an assortment of dog food available in three specific types: puppy, adult, and senior. Today, you'll find a wider assortment of the best dog food available addressing specific needs: ages, breeds, sizes, and health conditions. This is because of what we continue to learn about dogs every day. Dogs are about as individual as they can come, and it can be a health risk to feed them assuming otherwise.
Some of the best dog food for examples are designed to cater to a dog's sensitive digestive system, joints, or skin. Others cater to a type of dog age, weight condition, or specific illnesses. Foods that are only available from a veterinarian often cater to canine dementia, dental problems, food allergies, gastrointestinal problems, growth problems, heart problems, kidney problems, liver problems, obesity, orthopedic problems, and urinary problems.
One way that manufactures produce special needs dog food is by supplementing it with antioxidants, fatty acids, probiotics, and other chemicals known to help alleviate joint problems.
Antioxidants for example, are added as an anti-cancer and immunity boosting food product. Found in vitamins C, E, selenium, and some plant substances, these antioxidants are added in addition to what's already found in processed dog food.
Fatty acids are added to help fight against itching, allergies, and dermatitis brought on by flea bites. Omega-3 found in fish oil is an example fatty acid.
Glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, mussel, and shark cartilage promote flexible joints and restores cartilage. These supplements are great additives for dogs suffering from arthritis.
Probiotics aid digestion since they're rich with friendly bacteria. They’re also immunity boosters.
If we were to look at the best dog food for puppies, we’d find a product that’s high in protein and high in fat. Protein and fat helps puppy development. But if we were to take a dog’s breed into account, we’d find that a high-protein and high-fat diet may not be appropriate for large dogs. Great Dane puppies and Saint Bernard puppies for example grow to 100 pounds within just a few months. Such a fast growth rate can stress the skeletal system and contribute to hip or elbow dysplasia.
Some of the dog breeds that suffer from dysplasia are the:
Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
Airedale Terrier
Akbash Dog
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
American Bulldog
American Eskimo Dog
American Foxhound
American Pit bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Appenzeller
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Azawakh
Basenji
Basset Hound
Beagle
Beauceron
Belgian Shepherd Dog
Berger des Pyrenees
Berger Picard
Bernese Mountain Dog
Black and Tan Coonhound
Black Russian Terrier
Bleu de Gascogne
Bloodhound
Border terrier
Borzoi
Bouvier des Flandres
Boxer
Boykin Spaniel
Bracco Italiano
Braque du Bourbonnais
Braque Francais
Briard
Brittany
bulldog
Bullmastiff
Canaan Dog
Cane Corso
Caucasian Ovcharka
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cesky Fousek
Chinook
Chow Chow
Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Curly-Coated Retriever
Dalmation
Deutscher Wachtelhund
Dogo Argentino
Dogue de Bordeaux
English Cocker Spaniel
English Setter
English Shepherd
English Springer Spaniel
Eurasian
Field Spaniel
Fila Braileiro
Finnish Lapphund/Swedish Lapphund
Flat-Coated Retriever
Fox Terrier
German Longhaired Pointer
German Pinscher
German Shepherd Dog
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Giant Schnauzer
Golden Retiever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
Greate Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Greenland Dog
Harrier
Havanese
Hovawart
Iceland Dog
Irish Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Wolfhound
Jindo
Kangal Dog
Keeshond
Kerry Blue Terrier
Komondor
Kuvasz
Labrador Retriever
Large Munsterlander
Leonberger
Louisian Catahoula Leopard Dog
Maremma Sheepdog
Mastiff
Miniature and Toy Poodle
Miniature Pinscher
Mudi
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
Norwegian Buhund
Norwich Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Old English sheepdog
Otterhound
Owczarek Podhalanski
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Pharoah Hound
Portuguese Water Dog
Presa Canario
Pudelpointer
Pug
Puli
Rat Terrier
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Saint Bernard
Samoyed
Schapendoes
Scottish Terrier
Shetland Sheepdog
Shiba Inu
Siberian Husky
Small Munsterlander
Spanish Hound
Spanish Water Dog
Spinone Italiano
Stabyhoun
Standard poodle
Standard Schnauzer
Swedish Vallhund
Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Terrier
Tosa Ken
Vizsla
Weimaraner
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
You are strongly advised to consult your vet before placing one of these dogs on a high-protein and high-fat diet since it can be inappropriate for very large dogs. A very large dog will benefit from adult dog food with moderate amounts of protein, fat, and calcium, or dog food that's specially made for giant dogs instead. Some of these foods are low fat but high protein, while others are moderate in both fat and protein.
Small breeds need special food as well because of their fast metabolisms. Ironically, they also need to eat more often than large dogs --- several times a day. Because of the high feeding requirements, obesity is easily achieved within a small dog. That's why manufacturers produce low-fat foods for the smallest and toy breeds, such as the:
Affenpinscher
Alaskan Klee Kai
Australian Terrier
Basenji
Bedlington Terrier
Berger Des Pyrenees
Bichon Friese
Bolognese
Border Terrier
Brussels Griffon
Cairn Terrier
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cesky Terrier
Chihuahua
Chines Crested
Coton De Tulear
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
English Toy Spaniel
Fox Terrier
Havanese
Italian Greyhound
Jack Russell Terrier
Jagdterrier
Japanese Chin
Kooikerhondje
Lakeland Terrier
Lhasa Apso
Lowchen
Lundehund
Maltese
Manchester Terrier
Miniature And Toy Poodle
Miniature Pinscher
Miniature Schnauzer
Mudi
Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Papillon
Patterdale Terrier
Pekignese
Pomeranian
Pug
Puli
Schipperke
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Shih Tzu
Silkey Terrier
Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
Treeing Feist
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Xoloitzcuintli
Yorkshire Terrier
Athlete and working dogs need food with added calories and protein for calories, but overweight dogs need no extra additives at all. Dogs that are prone to obesity benefit from food that's low on calories and fat, but high on fiber. Some dog breeds that are prone to obesity are the:
Akbash Dog
Basset Hound
Bolognese
Brussels Griffon
Bulldog
Bullmastiff
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chihuahua
Chow Chow
English Toy Spaniel
French Bulldog
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Greyhound
Havanese
Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin
Lhasa Apso
Lowchen
Maltese
Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiff
Papillon
Pekingese
Pug
Shih Tzu
Skye Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier
Senior dogs may benefit from food that caters to both older dogs and low-activity or overweight dogs since they tend to exercise less. But a senior dog that's seemingly healthy and active needn't exclusively eat senior's diet. When things like arthritis and heart disease decrease a dog's activity level, it's time to start looking at senior formulas. Be aware that senior formulas are low in protein, and this may not be appropriate for your senior's health. Protein maintains muscle mass, so consult your vet before starting a senior regimen.
