07/03/2024
Great article from Functional Canine
"๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ฅ
Iโve seen and had a few conversations pop up regarding this topic and decided to share some thoughts hereโฆ
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐
Balancing over time suggests that by a feeding variety of foods, the dog will be receiving all nutrients required for growth, maintenance, repair, energy, and more ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. These meals often contain a mix of roughly weighed animal products, fish and vegetables. People feed this way as itโs easier, quicker, requires less ingredients per meal, little guidance is required and it can be perceived as more affordable.
Balancing per meal, or per day, means that the home made recipe or commercial fresh food meets a certain nutritional standard. These meals are typically perceived as being heavily supplemented, having the addition of synthetic vitamins or containing 10 or more ingredients each.
๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฐ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ
To balance overtime, itโs important to know what, how and when to balance. Water soluble nutrients like B vitamins are better provided daily through meats, offal and eggs. In comparison, fat soluble nutrients like vitamin E, D and K can be given less frequently if desired, and sometimes should be especially if theyโre being given in supplemental form. A little more know how and organisation is needed rather than hoping that โat some point in time, all nutritional requirements will be coveredโ.
As a nutritionist, I advocate and create recipes balanced per day. For my profession, itโs important I do this. After I pass the recipe on, I have little to no control over what happens. I donโt know how, what, where and when the client intends on feeding their dog and I prefer to set them up for success knowing that what theyโre giving for that day is ideal. Thereโs three recipes they can rotate between and then itโs up to them if they want to feed one recipe for a week, or all three across the week. If nutritional supplements are used, thereโs an option for these to be given daily, weekly or fortnightly based on the dogs daily needs and the concentration of supplements.
I think what does cause issues with โbalance over timeโ is when there is no balance. When nutrients are completely neglected or lacking across all recipes fed and when entire food groups or proteins are excluded due to intolerance or allergy.
๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐จ๐
Some common nutrients which are often partially or completely lacking in home made โbalance over timeโ diets are vitamin E, manganese, zinc and iron (mainly in puppy diets), magnesium (if not enough plant matter is being fed) and vitamin D (if there is inadequate fish in the diet). Due to their nutritional requirements and ability to absorb nutrients, fully weaned puppies are best fed balanced meals. I also personally feel stools are more consistent if bones and offal are fed daily rather than a couple times a week in accordance with โbalance over timeโ. Daily balanced meals donโt need to be heavily supplemented or to contain synthetic multivitamin mixes. If there is understanding of which ingredients contain what nutrients, itโs easy to build a meal with whole foods or whole food nutritional supplements.
๐๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐โฆ.
Personally, I donโt mind if your dog is being fed as per โbalance over timeโ or โbalance every mealโ as long as there is balance.
Yes, it is better to feed fresh foods rather than highly processed, but lets aim to give it our best ๐พ"
