Evaluation of the amount of metabolizable energy in the dogfood quantities recommended by the manufacturers to be fed daily to dogs, in relation to their energy requirements

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the quantity of metabolizable energy (ME) in the dogfood amounts recommended by the manufacturers for commercial dry dogfoods formulated for adult dogs at maintenance and growing dogs, and compare these with the dogs’ calculated ME requirement. Commercial dry dogfood formulations for adult dogs at maintenance (15 brands) and growing dogs (15 brands) were evaluated. Samples from 3 batches per formulation were combined, ground and mixed with the indigestible marker Cr₂O₃. Each dogfood formulation for adult dogs was fed to 8 Labrador Retriever adult dogs and each formulation for growing dogs was fed to 8 growing Labrador Retriever dogs, for 8 days following 8 days in which the dogs received a nutritionally adequate base diet. Faecal samples were collected from each dog on days 6, 7 and 8 in which they received the test diets. The ME content of each diet was estimated and the quantity of ME in the amounts of the diets recommended by the manufacturers for adult dogs (10, 20 and 30 kg bodyweight) and growing dogs (12 and 24 kg bodyweight) was compared with the calculated ME requirements of these dogs. Depending on the size of the dogs, up to 80% of the brands recommended quantities of dogfood that would not supply the correct amount of ME according to the dog’s requirement. Feeding the dogs these quantities of the dogfoods may result in dogs that are significantly over- or under-weight.