Part V — Nutrition

5.1 Life-stage nutritional requirements

• Puppy — higher protein, calcium, and calorie density. Large-breed puppy diets specifically formulated to avoid excessive growth rate (which drives orthopaedic disease).
• Adult — maintenance formula appropriate to activity level.
• Senior — reduced calorie density; often modified protein and phosphorus for renal support.
• Lactating / pregnant — puppy-formula-level calorie density.

5.2 Diet formats

• Commercial dry (kibble) — the default. Complete-and-balanced if AAFCO or FEDIAF standards claimed on the label.
• Commercial wet (canned) — higher moisture, often more palatable, often more expensive per calorie.
• Fresh / cooked — commercial or home-cooked. Home-cooked requires a formulated recipe by a veterinary nutritionist to avoid deficiencies.
• Raw (BARF, Prey Model) — controversial. Food-safety concerns (Salmonella, E. coli, both for the dog and for the household). The World Small Animal Veterinary Association discourages raw feeding.
• Homemade / vegetarian / vegan — possible in principle with veterinary-nutritionist formulation; challenging to get right; not recommended casually.

5.3 Foods to avoid (toxic to dogs)

• Chocolate — theobromine toxicity. Dark chocolate is most dangerous.
• Grapes and raisins — acute kidney injury. Mechanism unclear; individual sensitivity varies but the safe assumption is 'toxic'.
• Onions, garlic, chives, leeks (Allium species) — haemolytic anaemia. Common cooking staple; care with kitchen scraps.
• Xylitol (artificial sweetener) — severe hypoglycaemia and liver failure. Present in sugar-free chewing gum, some peanut butters, some medications.
• Macadamia nuts — hind-limb weakness.
• Cooked bones — splinter risk.
• Alcohol — small amounts are toxic.
• Caffeine — coffee grounds, tea leaves.
• Raw yeast dough — gastric expansion, alcohol production.

5.4 Weight management

• Body Condition Score (BCS 1–9) — the primary practical tool. Ideal is BCS 4–5.
• Obesity is the single most common preventable disease in dogs globally (a consistent finding across small-animal practices worldwide). Contributor to orthopaedic disease, diabetes, respiratory compromise, reduced life span.
• Weight loss diet formulated by weight or by prescription formula. Owner discipline is the intervention, not the vet.

5.5 India-specific dietary considerations

• Availability of premium commercial diets (Royal Canin, Hill's, Farmina, Purina Pro Plan) has improved in Indian metros; Amazon India / Supertails / Heads Up For Tails as distribution.
• Domestic Indian formulations (Drools, Pedigree India, Farmina India) are widely used; nutritional adequacy claims on the label should be verified.
• Home-cooked feeding is the norm in many Indian households; formulation by a veterinary nutritionist is essential to avoid long-term deficiency; casual home-cooking (chapatis + rice + dal) is insufficient for dog nutrition.
• Feeding practice: NEVER feed masala, oil-heavy, or spicy human food to dogs.