With the ever-expanding array of pet food choices, we spend a lot of time counseling owners on the best diets for their pets. People tend to have different desires as to what kind of ingredients and in what forms their pets should be eating. As people learned with COVID vaccines and treatments, there is a lot of opposing information out there, and pet food has not been spared from this. Sometimes, it can be tough as there may not be a safe option that meets those. One thing that has made things a little easier for both owners and vets is the development of breed-specific diets. But are they worth it?
When the first company to make breed-specific dog diets announced their plans, most vets were skeptical. There have been a lot of diets released over the years that were touted as much more than they turned out to be. So, most of us watched carefully as universities investigated these diets for us. As it turns out, they are actually very good choices. These companies have taken the myriad of genetically-linked issues within breeds and done a very good job designing diets that will support dogs and help to lessen or prevent these issues.
One of the first items they look at seems silly, but it’s the shape of the food. In reality, this isn’t silly at all. Most people think a dog will just easily chow down their kibble regardless of shape. The first problem with that assumption is that this chowing down can be extreme. Labrador retriever owners will tell you that they often must control how quickly their dogs eat as many don’t chew. This can cause gastrointestinal issues, including fatal bloat. In response, Lab specific diets have large kibble shaped like little toilet paper tubes that need to be chewed. Flat faced breeds like French Bulldogs are another example in that the orientation of their teeth prevent easy chewing of round kibble. After research, they determined that, ironically, little croissant shapes worked best.
The next item is obvious: nutrients. Breeds with known joint issues like German shepherds and golden retrievers will have more fatty acids and other components that help with joint health. Large breeds like Great Danes have much higher energy needs with their higher muscle mass percentages. As such, the energy amount per cup is much higher. Long haired dogs with skin issues like Yorkies will have added skin support. Even very specific genetic issues are covered. Dalmatians can develop serious bladder stones if they eat regular dog foods because they are high in a substance called purines. This is purposely decreased in the food designed for this breed.
The last is exclusion of common allergens. While the jury is still out on how much ingredients play in a dog’s skin allergies, we do know that some dogs can get diarrhea and other GI problems from certain things. There seems to be a hereditary component to this, and we have begun to identify which ingredients are causing these issues. Companies have begun eliminating them from breed-specific foods.
Remember that there are currently minimal regulations on pet foods. As with anything, please talk to you vet about the food you would like to feed your pets. While most are fine, there are some potentially dangerous choices out there.