Professional Kennel Operator Diploma Module-1

8/8/2019 Professional Kennel Operator Diploma Module-1

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Professional Kennel Operator

Diploma

Module 1

Provided for Compass by The College of Canine Studies

Moss End, Corsock, Castle Douglas, DG7 3ED. Tel: 0845 458 5981. E-mail: [email protected]


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Kennel Operator Module 1

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Compass Education and Training Copyright 1

The Kennel Operator Diploma is a course marketed by Compass Education and

Training and written by David and Dolores Montgomery. They have both studied

animal behaviour at degree level and authored many canine and animal related

courses. They have, between them, had a lifetimes experience of owning, training,

breeding, rescuing and showing many, many dogs in addition to being involved in the

teaching profession for over 40 years.

Compass Education and Training is a non-profit making college dedicated to the

furthering of knowledge in the fields of behavioural studies. It is committed to good

practice and delivering quality tuition and is a member of the Institute for Animal

Care Education and also is approved as a learning provider by Learndirect (Scotland)

and European Association for Distance Learning,

The Kennel Operator Diploma is a course designed as a useful introduction to the

study of dogs in a kennel environment. This course is designed not only to impart a

lot of basic knowledge concerning dogs and their welfare but also legal

responsibilities. Hopefully it will also encourage you to continue your studies on to a

more advanced level covering topics such as canine aggression and more specific

behaviour.

Successful completion of the course should not be seen as an easy route to becoming

a kennel manager, remember this is an introductory course, however, further study of

a more specific nature will provide you with an additional stepping stone in that

direction. Hopefully it will also improve your canine knowledge.

The style of this course is to provide you with some of the information and to direct

you to discover the balance for yourselves. The difficulties involved in learning a new

subject should not be underestimated, however; hopefully you will enjoy the process.

We do not try and tell you how much time you should dedicate to your studies, take it

at your own pace, as fast or slow, as your circumstances will allow. We estimate each

module should take about 1 month. If you find you are taking longer than that, do

contact us otherwise your tutor might think you are having difficulty with course

material. Remember that if you do get into difficulty we are only a phone call away.

Pass, merit, or distinction certificates will be awarded by Compass Education and

Training to students who successfully complete the course depending on the quality of

the submitted work. A further certificate is awarded by ISAP (International Society of

Animal Professionals) and the student becomes eligible to apply for full membership

of the society.

Sources of information

It is not necessary to read (or buy) a huge number of books at this stage but it is

important that you have one good book to dip in and out of. There are many good

general dog books so it is difficult to recommend one in particular. Many of these

books can be found in second hand bookshops and can be bought very reasonably if

you keep an eye out. You may well find that much information is often duplicated

anyway, but it can be useful to read about the same subject from different authors and

researchers points of view. In addition to books there are excellent articles to be found


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in the many dog magazines available. Identify the relevant section in a good library

and use it.

Television can provide some material from which to draw but programmes dealing

with dogs alone are not as common as are general nature programmes. You may find

it useful to record canine programmes and build up your own video reference library.

The Internet deserves a mention. There are any numbers of sites providing

information on any number of topics, just remember that just because it is there does

not necessarily mean that it is true, anybody can say more or less what they want here.

You will soon get to identify whether a source is worthy of using or not, but try not to

fall into the trap of doing all your research from one source. Dog Training clubs and

vets are always a good source of information and dog food manufacturers can also be

very helpful. The Kennel Club, situated in London, has a very good library, which

you can use providing you ring them first to make arrangements.

Module notes

Each module will be accompanied by a set of notes on the subjects to be covered at

that stage. You will find two types of questions for each module. The first type are

within the module itself and require you to do some research on your own. You are

expected to research the questions in some depth in addition to reading the notes.

Additional research giving examples not covered will only serve to improve your

results and your knowledge. The degree to which independent research is shown in

submitted work will dictate the overall grade awarded on completion of the course.

The last module question is usually a mini-project. The second type of question is at

the end of the module. These are module revision questions and you will find the

answer to these in the text itself. Module revision questions normally only require a

short answer. All questions within a module should be answered. If you have

problems with any of the questions please contact your tutor, who is there to help.

Avoid repetition of examples from module to module as this could indicate minimal

research and will be marked accordingly.

PREPARING WORK FOR MARKING

When emailing your work for marking it must be sent as an attachment (not

embedded in the text of an email) and must be able to be read on a PC as Compass

tutors do not use Mac. The preferred format is as a word document, do not use pdf or

similar formats as the tutor will not be able to leave feedback where it is appropriate.

Ensure that you have a copy of your work saved elsewhere before you send it asCompass cannot be held responsible for documents that get lost or corrupted on the

internet.

A final word on the subject ofplagiarism, this is the unacceptable practice of copying

other peoples work and submitting it as your own. You may refer to published work

and quote it but in each case you must also say where you found the information.


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At the end of your work it is a good idea for you to supply a list of the books you have

used as it shows you have done some back ground reading (or research).


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Module 1

Canine Nutrition

Every cell of every tissue and organ in the dogs body has been made from and is

maintained in a healthy state by the food that it eats. It is true to say that a dog is what

it eats. The same can probably be said about all organisms. Dogs are omnivorous and

opportunistic in their eating habits, although they are technically carnivores.

If a dog eats too little, its body becomes thin and weak; growth slows down and

injuries do not heal well; it will lose the ability to fight off infections. Of course if a

dog eats too much its body becomes larger as it stores the food it does not

immediately need. This condition is called obesity and it too can cause problems.

Module question 1.1. Briefly describe 2 problems associated with obesity in dogs.

There is a third problem; this is when the dog eats the right quantity of food but it is

of the wrong type. For a dog to remain healthy the correct amount of the correct type

of food must be eaten i.e. a balanced diet.

Module question 1.2. Find a definition for the term malnutrition.

All foods perform the same function; they supply energy. Energy is released from

food by the chemical reaction created by respiration. The energy value of food is

normally measured in kilo joules or kilo calories. The body is unable to make full use

of all the energy released from a food by respiration because a lot of energy is lost as

heat. The colder it is the more energy is lost, so as stated in a previous module, more

food is required by a dog on cold days. This is not specifically because the extra food

will keep it warm but because it needs to replace the usual food which supplies the

other needs of the dog.

There are 5 main types of food: carbohydrates, fats and oils, proteins, minerals and

vitamins. Each of these has a different function.

Carbohydrates

These are not an essential part of a dogs diet as they can live perfectly well without

them and they are not readily found in a natural setting. Typical carbohydrates are

rice, potatoes, bread, pasta and sugars and whilst they are readily used as a source of

energy they will be taken by the body in preference to other, more nutritionally

valuable foods. This situation could result in an overweight, yet under nourished dog.

Carbohydrates are found in all biscuits and meal and have a particular value to he


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growing dog in that the proteins needed for tissue growth are not also being used for

energy. Although fats are probably more palatable than carbohydrates dog food

manufacturers mix the two to produce a highly palatable, high energy product.

Fats

For a dog to carry a good coat and remain the correct weight its diet should contain a

certain amount of fat. Every dog does seem to have its own fat requirement withcertain dogs being unable to digest certain fats and others doing well on diets that

have a high fat content. If fat is not available in a dogs diet it will use up its own fat

reserves and when these fall below a certain level the dog starts to lose weight and if

it continues will become emaciated.

Module question 1.3. What is meant by the term emaciated?

The main source of fat is animal fat, which comes from the meat of other animal

including fish, chicken, beef and lamb. Vegetable oils such as corn or Soya bean can

also provide fat, which can easily be included in any diet.

Fat, like carbohydrate produces energy but one should not be used instead of the

other. Fat is necessary for the prevention of skin diseases. Dogs that have a diet

deficient in fat have a scaly skin and their coats feel quite coarse. Fat is also important

for many metabolic functions such as reproduction, and it is required as a carrier of

certain vitamins (e.g. A, D, E and K).

Dogs like most people enjoy the taste of fat and adding it to certain foods can make

these foods taste more palatable.

It is worth pointing out that too much fat in the diet can lead a dog to want less of the

other types of important foods meaning their diet would then be unbalanced and could

lead to a different set of problems.

Proteins

Proteins are important for the formation of body tissue; they are necessary for

maintaining health and provide energy.

The main source of protein we use to feed our dogs comes from the flesh of other

animals. This meat consists of fibres of muscle and other tissue; the older the animal

the meat comes from the greater is the proportion of fibrous tissue. In many animals

the digestive process starts in the mouth when food is mixed with saliva. In the doghowever, digestion does not start in the mouth as its saliva contains little or no

enzymes and this is one reason why they bolt their food down. Wild dogs drag meat

off the bones and swallow it without further chewing. The amount pulled off a carcass

at any one bite is usually small enough to be swallowed whole.

Meat contains protein, fibre and a quantity of fat. When in the intestine, the proteins

present in the food are converted to amino-acids and in this form they can be absorbed

from the intestine into the blood.


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Minerals

These are inorganic (they do not grow) materials such as sodium, iron, zinc, calcium,

magnesium and more, each having an important role to play in the dogs health albeit

in very small daily doses. It is theoretically possible to have a deficiency in any one ofthese with a resultant effect on health but the risk is very small because the

requirement is very small and minerals appear naturally in most foodstuffs without

any need for supplements.

Vitamins

Although they are only required in small amounts, they are essential to the well-being

of the dog. The absence of certain vitamins in the diet can cause specific deficiency

diseases.

Herbivores are able to synthesise most of their necessary vitamins during the

fermentation process of their food in the intestines. Carnivores, including the dog,rarely eat enough fresh vegetables to supply their vitamin requirements but the wild

canines do make up for this by gutting the animals they kill and eating their stomach

contents. The domestic dog has to rely on the vitamins present in their artificial diet.

Unlike humans different dogs of different breeds have different vitamin requirements.

Dogs are able to manufacture their own vitamin C in their intestines. Some will eat

grapes, oranges and other fruit, and foxes held in captivity and fed a diet of only meat

have taken to eating fruit and vegetables to supplement the loss of herbivores

stomach contents.

Dogs, especially if fed on a meat-only diet, are unable to synthesise vitamin

B-complex, this may be possible if their diet included vegetables and carbohydrates. It

has been known for wild dogs to eat the faeces of herbivores, a possible explanation

for this is to increase their vitamin B intake.

Vitamins A and D are important for growth. Vitamin A is not present in plants but

certain vegetables contain a substance called carotene. Carotene is a provitamin,

which means that if it is eaten it will be converted into vitamin A by the body.

Naturally, vitamin A is found in the flesh and fat of animals. The kidneys and liver are

especially rich in this vitamin but there are dangers in feeding your dog a diet

particularly high in vitamin A.

Module question 1.4. Name three other foods that are high in vitamin A.

Puppies that do not get sufficient vitamin A will not grow properly and some could

die. If a bitch in whelp has a diet low in vitamin A, especially in the early stages of

her pregnancy, she could give birth to dead or malformed puppies.


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Vitamin D has often been called the anti-rachitic vitamin because it prevents rickets.

This vitamin is important in the assimilation of calcium and phosphorous from the

intestines and transferring it to the bones.

Module question 1.5. What is rickets?

Vitamin E has been associated with fertility and many breeders believe that it is the

lack of this vitamin, which has caused the failure of their bitch to produce a litter. It is

not really known if this is true but some breeders will put their bitch on a course of

vitamin E before they are mated.

The canine digestive system

The canine digestive system is essentially similar to that of any carnivore. These are

all much shorter than the herbivores. Herbivores need the extra length and sometimes

several chambers in their stomachs because of the indigestible nature of plant material

(this makes a vegan diet for dogs unwise without veterinary advice). It is made up ofa tube, opened at both ends, which consists of parts designed to catch, hold, digest and

absorb food and water and eliminate waste. There are parts along the tube that help

the digestive system, including the teeth (discussed in a previous module), the tongue,

salivary glands, the pharynx, the oesophagus, the pancreas, liver and the gall bladder

(see figure 2).

Module question 1.6. What does a vegan diet consist of?

The teeth, tongue and salivary glands are mostly found in the oral cavity (i.e. the

mouth). The tongue contains the taste buds (although as stated on a previous module,

the sense of taste is not as important in dogs as their sense of smell). The tongue

allows the dog to lap up liquids along with any solid food, it is literally thrown to the

back of the throat for swallowing.

There are eight salivary glands, arranged in pairs located in the dogs head. These

produce saliva, a liquid that helps in the lubrication and therefore the swallowing of

food. Saliva is also important for releasing the flavours within certain, especially dry,

foods.

In humans the saliva also contains an enzyme called amylase, which is used to digest

starch. There is only a small amount of this enzyme in a dogs saliva.

Module question 1.7. What is starch?

Food is passed to the pharynx, which is located at the back of the mouth. The pharynx

starts the process of swallowing by contracting the muscles that push the food into the

oesophagus (see figure 1). The oesophagus goes from the top of the neck to the


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opening of the stomach and food is moved automatically by further muscle

contractions.

Figure 1 The swallowing process (adapted from Turner T (ed) (1990) Veterinary Notes for Dog OwnersLondon. Popular Dogs

In the stomach the food is mixed with gastric juices, which causes it to liquefy. The

gastric glands produce these juices and small amounts of this liquid are then

transferred to the duodenum.

Figure 2. The canine digestive system. (adapted from Turner 1990)


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Module question 1.8. Gastric juices consist of pepsin and hydrochloric acid. Brieflydescribe whatpepsin andhydrochloric acidare.

The duodenum is part of the small intestine, which also contains the jejunum and theileum. The small intestine is the chief site of absorption as the enzymes from the liver

and pancreas break food down into molecules small enough to be absorbed. There are

small areas within the pancreas, which are responsible for the production of insulin.

Insulin is very important as it allows glucose to enter the body cells. Without insulin,

the glucose would be passed out of the dogs system through its urine. A lack of

insulin can cause diabetes.

Module question 1.9. What is diabetes?

The liver is the largest organ in the dogs body. The liver has many functionsconnected with metabolism including the converting of fats, the storage of glucose in

the form of glycogen and then converts it back to glucose when needed. It also stores

iron and the vitamins A, B and D, the production of clotting factors (e.g. fibrinogen),

which ensure that blood clots if an injury should occur, it makes certain poisons

harmless, it filters out bacteria from the blood, and it produces heat from metabolism

which helps in the regulation of body temperature. It is also responsible for the

removal of old, unwanted cells. The gall bladder is part of the liver in the dog (see

figure 3) and its purpose is to store bile acids, which are produced in the liver. The

bile acids are responsible for the dissolving of the fat-soluble vitamins.

Figure 3 The canine liver showing the position of the gall bladder.

The large intestine is divided into the caecum, the colon and the rectum. No digestion

takes place in this part of the digestive system, its main job is to absorb most of the

water in the residual material. This ensures that the faeces have a fairly solid


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consistency. In humans the caecum contains the appendix, this does not apply to dogs

so it is impossible for a dog to suffer from appendicitis. The colon joins the caecum to

the rectum, which is the exit from the digestive system. The large intestine is not

actually longer than the small intestine but it is wider.

Feeding

Manufacturers have invested heavily in the production of complete foods, not only

do they produce specific diets for the different stages in a dogs life, they also have

diets which deal with specific medical conditions (e.g. gluten allergy).

As already stated a diet consisting entirely of raw meat is not satisfactory; the correct

diet will provide a wide range of nutrients in the correct quantities. It is important to

ensure that any meat fed does not contain any parasites or that it causes the dog to

develop bacterial infections. Although they can cope with meat that would make

humans quite ill it is advisable to cook meat thoroughly to minimise the risks.

Types of food

Moist food

Although not specifically, this term usually applies to food supplied in tins. Tinned

dog food is probably the most popular diet as it is convenient and easy to feed. Many

different brands are available and there seems to be little to chose between them.

Tinned foods usually have all the required vitamins and minerals incorporated into

them and there is only the need to add a mixer. Usually there should be as much mixer

as tinned food but this is by volume and not by weight as the mixer weighs

considerably less than the densely packed tinned food. No mixer should be added to a

complete tinned food.

Semi-moist food is also available in cartons or plastic type wrappers this type of food

appears to be a compromise between moist food and dry food that is now easily

available. For some reason this type of food has not had the success of the moist or

the dry food. This is possibly because it comes in fewer flavours than the other two

(flavours indicated on the cartons often seem to be more important to the owners than

the dog, as is the colour of certain foods).

Module question 1.10. What is meant by a complete tinned food?

Dry food

This has been becoming increasingly more popular in recent years because it is so

easy to feed and it can be fed anywhere (not that that is always a good idea). Dry food

is fairly easy to keep although it should not be allowed to get damp. Dogs do usually

drink more water when on dry food and if you are using this type of diet it is

imperative that water is freely available. The texture for this type of food is also good


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for teeth as the process of crunching is likely to prevent the build up of tartar on the

teeth. Some owners prefer to add water to dry food to moisten it, this is not a bad idea

if you are feeding an older dog or a dog that has had several teeth extracted. Of course

dry food is available in various sizes and in most cases the dog is able to swallow a

mouth full without the need for chewing.

Natural food

This is probably the most difficult diet to feed. It does require a little more effort than

just opening a tin or bag and putting the food in a dish. For a natural diet different

people understand different things. Some owners are known to feed their dogs a

completely vegetarian diet while others feed meat only, either cooked or uncooked,

and yet others will combine the meat with vegetable matter and home made mixer or

biscuit. All these options are probably acceptable providing the natural diet does

contain all the nutrients the dog requires in the correct quantities. As already stated

the dog is omnivorous in its diet but it classified as a carnivore. Out of interest, this is

also true of the Giant Panda; it is classified as a carnivore but it only eats bamboo.

Unfortunately the panda (like the dog) does not have a particularly long digestive tractwhich, as stated earlier, is a requirement for a herbivore so that all the nutrients

required can be absorbed from the vegetable matter eaten.

It is also worth considering what is currently a natural diet for the domestic dog. We

know what wild canids eat by watching them in their natural environment, but what is

the natural environment of our domestic dog? It is probable that we have created the

domestic dog as we know it today, so how can we feed a natural diet to a possible

unnatural species?

Module question 1.11. What are dietary supplements?

When to feed

There are various arguments about this point, some owners prefer to feed several

meals a day while others (the author included) prefer to feed one large meal a day.

Some would argue that wild dogs do gorge themselves on one large meal a day, but

once again it must be emphasised that we are dealing with a species we have modified

to suit our own requirements.

Young puppies have of course got small stomachs so do require several smaller feeds

a day. The same can be said about dogs that you do not want to put too much strain ontheir digestive systems (e.g. the elderly, ill or bitches in whelp).

If choosing to feed one meal a day, it is not a good idea to do so last thing at night.

Going to 'bed on a full stomach' is not the most comfortable of experiences and the

addition of food to a digestive system may cause the dog to want to relieve itself. It is

never a good idea to feed a dog before vigorous exercise as this can lead to gastric

torsion and in extreme cases can be fatal.


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Module question 1.12. What is gastric torsion?

Dietary requirements for different ages

Puppy requirements

A new born puppy will obtain all its nutrients from its mothers milk. Most puppies

will continue to require this milk until they are about three weeks old. Weaning can

start at around three weeks when they will eat a combination of food supplied by you

and their mothers milk.

Under 8 weeks 5 meals per day: 3milk/cereal; 2 meat/biscuit

8-12 weeks 4 meals daily: 2milk/cereal; 2meat/biscuit

12-16 weeks 3 meals daily, each containing meat, cereal and

milk16-20 weeks 2 meals daily, each containing meat, cereal and

milk

20+ weeks 1 meal a day meat/biscuit. Milk can be added

but many dogs are unable to digest milk once

they get older.

Table 1. A simple puppy feeding chart

Because a change of diet (coupled with stress) can cause digestive problems for a

young puppy it is always a good idea to continue the regime started by the breeder of

the puppy. All good breeders should give you a diet plan to take away with you before

you collect your puppy so that you can be prepared when the puppy arrives to joinyou.

Puppies of different breeds will have different dietary requirements, do check with the

breeder and/or your vet if you have any doubts at all.

Weaning

A good way to introduce all puppies to solid foods is by placing a little on your

(clean) finger and allowing the puppy to lick it off. Alternatively it is possible to put a

little on the puppies tongue. It is not a particularly good idea to push the puppies

head into a dish of food. Pushing is quite an aggressive act and, if not gentle enough,

you could hurt or frighten the puppy or even create an aversion to eating from a bowl.

Feeding an orphaned puppy

Although it is possible to rear a litter of puppies that have been orphaned at birth, it

must be remembered that it requires hard work and dedication on the part of the

owner. Ideally a foster mother should be found so it is wise to check with your vet if

he knows of a bitch that has lost her litter. Also check with a local breeder who might


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have a bitch that has just whelped to see if it is possible to accommodate one or more

of the puppies. It is not impossible for a bitch to accept puppies that are not hers and it

is known for other bitches to produce milk when they are in contact with a litter of

puppies and their mother.

If another bitch is not available the puppies need to be kept warm. Use a well

insulated box, the original whelping box that had been built for the bitch and her pupsis probably the best option. To line a box, newspaper is a good and easily available

resource. The box should then be placed in a draft free area and should have soft

warm material placed over the newspaper lining. Charity shops often have old

blankets for sale for less than a couple of pounds. It is possible to purchase excellent

bedding material from your local pet store or your vet but such material can be quite

expensive. The advantage of certain types of commercially available bedding of this

kind is that it does not absorb moisture, so as the puppies get older, urine will flow

straight through the bedding material and onto the newspaper underneath. This means

the puppies bedding is always dry.

Puppies do need to be kept warm, normally around 26C (although opinion about this

varies). A heat lamp or a heat pad or hot water bottle can achieve this temperature.The problem with a hot water bottle is that it needs to be topped up at regular intervals

to ensure it doesnt get cold. The hot water bottle must be covered with a suitable soft

material (which can be removed and regularly washed) to ensure the puppies do not

accidentally roll onto it and burn themselves.

Initially the puppies need to be fed every 2-3 hours but after a fairly short period of a

few days the interval between feeds can be increased. Cows milk is not a suitable

alternative to bitchs milk, not only does it not contain sufficient fat but even many

adult dogs are unable to digest it (as are some people). Replacement milk is available

from your local vet and some pet stores. If you are unsure which product to use, speak

to your vet who might know of some local breeders who have experienced a similar

problem. It is impossible to give exact quantities as this really does depend on each

puppy. A guideline is normally given on the packaging of the milk substitute but it is

only a guideline. It is a good idea to give as much as the puppy will willingly take at

each feed. A puppy feeding bottle can probably be purchased from your vet but if they

have none in stock, a pipette (available at your local pharmacy) is perfectly suitable.

At the end of each feed the pups should have their face and stomach cleaned with a

warm dam cloth and then gently dried. The purpose of this is two-fold. Firstly any

milk residue is removed from the puppy and so cutting down the chance of bacterial

infection, secondly it mimics the licking of the bitch and so aids digestion.

An important point that is worth mentioning here is that orphaned puppies are oftenmore susceptible to infections. Puppies reared by the bitch will receive immunity to

all kinds of infections from the colostrum in the bitchs milk. This is a good reason to

ensure your bitch is fully vaccinated before breeding from her.

Module question 1.13. The bitch initiates defecation in a young puppy. How wouldyou encourage an orphaned puppy to defecate?


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It is advisable to wean orphaned puppies quite early on, about three weeks of age.Under normal circumstances, weaning does not need to commence until the pups are

between 4-5 weeks old. Weaning does not mean the puppies should no longer get

their formula milk, as this milk can be given for quite a while longer (see table 1).

Feeding the brood bitch

As stated in the previous module, it is important not to let a bitch in whelp become

overweight and during the first four weeks of pregnancy she should not require any

extra feeding. An increase, especially in proteins, will be required in the second half

of her pregnancy.

While feeding a litter of puppies the bitch will need a large increase in the quantity of

food she requires. In some cases this can be as much as three or four times as much as

she is normally given. Her stomach has not increased in size so the food needs to be

fed over several smaller meals throughout the day.

Calcium is particularly important at this time, as much of her calcium will be passed

onto her puppies through her milk. Tinned sardines are an excellent source of calcium

so have some tins on hand for a bitch with a litter of puppies. Most of them enjoy it as

well.

Module question 1.14. What is eclampsia?

As with the other stages in a dogs life, commercial food of high quality is available

for the pregnant and subsequently, lactating bitch.

Feeding the adult dog

How much should a dog be fed?

This is quite a difficult question to answer because there are so many variables

involved. The most obvious point to consider is the size of the dog. Smaller dogs will

require smaller portions because they have a relatively smaller stomach and use less

energy in the course of their day. This does not of course mean that small dogs should

therefore have several meals per day.

Another point to consider is how active the dog actually is. Obviously the more activethe dog, the more energy it uses. Some breeds are naturally more active than others

and so are individuals within a specific breed. The dog may be a Border Collie

working in the field as a working sheepdog for example. Such a dog will use a lot of

energy throughout the day while herding sheep. A Border Collie that is a pet will use

a lot less energy. The packaging of most dog foods does give recommended quantities

and it is advisable to follow the manufacturers guidelines.


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A good way to gauge if you are feeding your dog too little or too much is to weigh

him regularly. This is a fairly simple procedure with small dogs that can be held in

your arms. First you weigh your self and then you weigh yourself with your dog in

your arms; subtract the first weight from the second weight and you will get the dogs

weight. This procedure is not a good idea if you have a large dog or even a medium

one if you suffer from back problems. The majority of vets practices have scales

specifically designed for this purpose and are quite happy to let you use them. If youhave a pedigree dog it is quite easy to find the ideal weight range your dog should be

in either by checking with the Kennel Club, reading the breed standard, talking to the

breeder, or from books. With other dogs, it is quite easy to feel if your dog is too thin

or too fat. If in doubt, talk to your vet who will no doubt be more than pleased to give

you advice.

Sadly over one third of pet dogs are overweight and this can cause all sorts of

problems. Some dogs tend to be more prone than others to obesity.

For a dog to lose weight the same rule that applies to people should be used; decrease

the food intake and increase the amount of exercise given. This should be well

thought out, as less food must still ensure a balanced diet. This might not be asdifficult as it sounds. Simple rules apply; dont feed the dog between meals (unless of

course you are using a tit bit as a reward for a particular good behaviour), dont feed

the dog from the table (both these points can be quite difficult when there are children

around) and do not replace dog food with human food such as sweet biscuits. Foods

such as human chocolate are in fact poisonous to dogs, so if you wish to give your

dog a chocolate treat do ensure it is chocolate specifically designed for dogs. A useful

point to remember is that many manufacturers do now sell low calorie food for

overweight dogs.

Dietary requirements of the elderly dog.

As dogs get older their dietary requirements will start to slow down. This may be due

to the fact that an older dog will want less exercise and so will use less energy. It is

perhaps a good idea to divide the food given into smaller meals so as to reduce the

strain placed on the digestive system. Older dogs do need less protein but what they

do get should be of very high quality. Fish and poultry tend to be more easily digested

than other meats and you may find that a dog that was previously fed on dry food will

now prefer something softer and moist.

Commercial foods are available for the older dog and some of these are quite good. A

point to remember is that the internal organs of the dog are also getting older; organs

such as the kidneys and the liver may not be able to operate as efficiently as they usedto. It is well known that many of the dietary problems older dogs have are actually

due to problems associated with their internal organs.

Module question 1.15. Visit a pet food shop (or supermarket) and compare theingredients (not a food analysis) of a veteran dog food and an adult dog food. If

possible, ensure the same manufacturer makes both the products. What differences (if

any) are there in the food ingredients?


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Loss of appetite (fussy feeders)

Very few dogs are fussy feeders and very few dogs will allow themselves to starve

but occasionally a healthy dog will lose its appetite. The owner feeding it too many

titbits (or helping itself to the bread, on the bird table) may be the cause of theproblem. So by the time its regular mealtime comes around, it is no longer hungry.

Children are very good at sharing their snacks with their dog, unfortunately many a

time have children given dogs vast quantities of unsuitable food such as chocolate

resulting in severe problems.

Warming food up to blood heat is a good way of encouraging a dog to eat. If the dog

does not want to eat the food put down for it, the food should be cleared away after

about half an hour. The same type of food (not the same food) should be put down at

the next mealtime. If you pander to the dog by giving it some expensive, human food

it will soon learn that he can manipulate you into changing his diet to what he wants

instead of what he requires. Children want sweets and ice-cream all the time, this does

not mean that these are a suitable alternative to their normal diet!

It is worth mentioning that some of the smaller breeds (the toys for example) are very

good at manipulating their owners. Fussy eaters are often actually encouraged by the

anxiety they cause their owners and the subsequent fuss the owners make of them to

encourage them to eat.

Feeding the unwell dog.

It is not uncommon for dogs that are ill to go off their food much in the same way as

people do. For a dog that has never been off his food, the sudden loss of appetite can

be a sign that he is unwell.

There are certain illnesses (e.g. enteritites) when it will do the dog no harm to go

without food for 24 hours. Obviously how long a dog can remain without food

depends on the physical state of the dog before it became ill. If the dog was

malnourished before the onset of illness, it is not advisable to withhold food. In all

cases, it is advisable to talk to your vet if the dog is off his food for any length of time

(36 hours).

It may be necessary to tempt a dog to eat while he is ill or recovering from an illness.

If the dog has lost his sense of smell (a respiratory infection can do this),

remembering that this is the most important sense of the dog, it may be necessary to

present him with stronger smelling or stronger flavoured foods. Light foods such asboiled rice, fish and baby foods are suitable for an unwell dog. Special foods can also

be obtained from your vet, these are very nutritious and have a pleasant flavour. By

serving all food slightly warm it will help to release the flavours and make it more

palatable. Like an ill person, in order to avoid putting an unnecessary strain on the

digestive system it is better to feed several small meals a day instead of one large

meal.


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Water.

Although not a food, water is extremely important to a dog (as it is to most animals).

There is no set norm for the quantity of water a dog should drink but they should

have unlimited access to fresh drinking water, although most dogs also enjoy a long

drink from a muddy puddle!

Dogs can easily become dehydrated, especially in warm weather and after vigorous

exercise. Tinned dog food contains quite a lot of moisture but this is obviously not the

case with dry foods. To aid digestion and the absorption of these foods, water is

essential. Do however, keep an eye on the amount of water your dog actually drinks

on a daily basis. A large increase in the quantity of water taken by your dog could be

indicative of health problems.

Module question 1.16. Bones and chews have not been mentioned in the module text.Are these good, bad or both? Give reasons for your answer.

Module project

The aim of this task is to compare the three types of dog food available for sale.

Visit a pet food retail outlet (supermarket or pet store for example), and locate asample of tinned food, one of semi-moist and one of dry food. Preferably the samemanufacturer will produce these.

a) Compare the three foods in terms of ingredients and analysis. Produce a table ofyour findings. E.g.

FOOD TYPE

Analysis Tinned Semi-moist Dry

Protein 30% 20% 2

Fats 6% 5%

etc _______ _______ _______

etc _______ _______ _______

b) Use one (or more graphs) to compare some of the elements of your table (e.g. abarchart to show the amount of protein in each food type).

c) Assuming you have a dog the size of a Cocker Spaniel, how much of each foodwould you have to feed it daily?


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d) What is the price of 100grams of each type of food?

e) Which would be the best value taking contents and price into consideration?

f) What observations can you make about the water content of each food? Explainhow this affects the comparisons.

Module revision questions

Answer all the questions listed below. As much as possible and unless otherwise

specified (as in the case of definitions), use only the module notes. Answers to these

questions need only be very short.

R1. What unit of measurement is used to measure the energy value of foods?

R2. Name the five main types of food.

R3. Name two sources of animal fats and two sources of vegetable fats.

R4. Give two reasons why fat should be included in a canine diet.R5. Why are proteins important?

R6. Name three minerals that are important to a dogs health.

R7. What is carotene?

R8. What could be the outcome of vitamin A deficiency in a pregnant bitch?

R9. Which vitamins have been associated with fertility by many breeders?

R10. What are the purposes of the tongue?

R11. Give two uses of the salivary glands.

R12. Name the three parts of the small intestine.

R13. Why is insulin important?

R14. Give three functions of the liver.

R15. What is the purpose of the gall bladder?

R16. What is the purpose of bile acids?

R17. Name the three areas of the large intestine.

R18. Why do young puppies require several small meals a day.

R19. How many meals a day should you give a puppy aged:

a) 9 weeksb) 18 weeks

R20. Briefly describe a good way to introduce puppies to solid foods.

R21. Give one advantage of using certain types of commercially available bedding.

R22. How can an orphaned puppy be kept warm?

R23. Why are orphaned puppies more susceptible to infections?

R24. Give one way a fussy feeder might be encouraged to eat.

R25. How might you encourage a dog that has lost his sense of smell, to eat.

Documents

Professional Kennel Operator Diploma Module-1