English Setter Nutrition I

ENGLISH SETTER NUTRITION I

QUIK LINKS to the ENGLISH SETTER GALLERIES

You want a Setter that will perform in the field for as long as possible-hopefully 12+ years. You are asking your hunting dog to do momentous tasks, run all day, scour the woods and countryside for birds, hold the same position for many minutes locked on point, retrieve your birds, then start the cycle over. Strong Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Neurological and Immune Systems are a must. These dogs have heart and Setter owners will tell you these great dogs will run on heart alone, through illness and injury but it is so much better for the dog that they be given the needed nutrients for not only the muscles and bones but for the brain that makes the decisions and follows the commands that you ask of it.

New foods and new nutrition studies show proper balance and amount for these fast growing puppies and large dogs. Nourish the whole dog. Read the labels, ask yourself, "what is in this dog food I am expecting my friend, my hunting companion to eat?"

You've taken the time to read the pedigree and research the bloodlines, you make sure your Setter has the proper health clearances, now take the time to nourish your dog so that it can give optimum performance and live a longer healthier life.

Feed him or her a quality dog food. Below are some links that might be helpful to explain not only the reason behind feeding a quality food be it the why or the what not to do.

Yes, your pup is growing fast but who is it that says it is,too, fast? Who says slow its growth by feeding a low quality grain based food to avoid hip dysplasia-undernourishing and damaging the structural integrity of the beautiful pup entrusted in your care? Underfeeding a large breed puppy is NEVER the correct way to avoid skeletal problems or slow growth plates as some suggest. Overfeeding and feeding a poor quality food source is believed to be one of the main culprits behind a dogs skeletal anomolies.

I hope for your fast growing Setter puppy you will inform yourself, you will read some of the information and follow the links. You will learn for him or her how to give them a better quality of life. Feeding is paramount and I hope this Nutrition Section will help you make sound decisions and choices about feeding your puppy or your adult dog. Quality is surely the best way to produce better performance. You pay extravagant amounts for hunting gear and fancy beeper collars, new guns and the latest shot, drive all over the country chasing the next covey surely you can be a friend to your hunting companion and improve his life by providing quality food.

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE in the FIELD

Nutrition and Dog Food Links--Read the Guaranteed Analysis!

"High quality diet + free choice of exercise + regulating the pup's weight = good health"

"The results of ongoing research clearly document that the unique nutritional needs of the large breed puppy are best provided by a diet matrix containing a minimum of 26% protein (high quality, animal-based source), a minimum of 14% fat, and 0.8% Calcium and 0.67% Phosphorus."

My recent emails with Dr. T. J. Dunn Jr.,DVM, Director of "ThePetCenter.Com" creator of The Internet Hospital offers many insights into solving some of the issues of underfeeding, feeding a high protein diet and so much more/a wonderful website with indepth information. Excerpts below are reprinted with permission, visit Dr. Dunn's unique website aka The Internet Animal Hospital:

"What we need to do is this: provide all pups with the best diet we can that is consistent with a meat-eating canine; feed only an AMOUNT that does not allow the dog to become overweight. It just isn't much more complicated than that. Trying to restrict a pup's growth is entirely different, and dangerous, than is trying to restrict calorie intake to prevent an overweight condition. We need to restrict becoming overweight, not the rate of growth."

"I recommend that a dog owner look at the pet food label. Look at the ingredient list and a meat such as chicken should be listed as the first ingredient. Look at the guaranteed analysis to see that the protein level is at 30% or more. The fat content should be at 18% or more. And if there is a rather wide spectrum of ingredients such as omega fatty acids and Vitamin E, that's good, too. There should be NO FOOD COLORING! If you find a few diets that meet this criteria, and there are quite a few from which to choose, you just might have the confidence that you are feeding the best dog food you can get."

Button Link
to
Nutrition II