Feeding and Caring for Your Active Dog

An active and athletic dog has unique nutritional requirements compared to the average household pet. Examples of these types of canines would be dogs doing activities such as agility coursing, dock diving, herding, hunting, and sled work. These activities can require short bursts of energy, such as dogs navigating an agility course, or long-term energy requirements, such as a sled dog or a hunting dog on a long trip. Energy is important for all of these activities so having plenty of calories in their diet is crucial to an active dog’s health. Dogs can utilize fat, carbohydrates, and protein for energy. A nutritional calculation or laboratory test can determine how much energy is in a diet based on levels of these nutrients.¹ Fat has the highest levels of calories that can be utilized for energy by dogs. Protein is also a necessary nutrient for an active dog. Diets for dogs that need high levels of energy in their diet are generally higher in fat and protein than a diet for the average dog.

Diets for athletic dogs usually contain higher protein levels than standard diets and many diets designed for dogs that have extremely high physical activity may be as much as 28% protein or more. It is important that a dog is getting all the essential amino acids it needs through its diet, as essential amino acids cannot be synthesized from other nutrients.

Not only does protein provide the essential amino acids needed to build and repair muscle tissue, but it is also important for skin and coat health, benefits the dog’s immune system, and helps support red blood cell health.² Active dogs need high levels of protein to support muscle exertion and recovery. Without adequate quality protein in your active dog’s diet, he will not be able to perform as well.

Fat is an important source of energy for an active athletic dog. Fat contains more calories than any other category of nutrients in your dog’s diet. Most active dog diets contain higher levels of fat than a diet designed for the average dog. Some diets designed for active dogs may contain 16% fat or even more. Generally, the higher level of fat in the diet, the more calories it will contain. Animal sources of fats are a good choice for dog foods designed for active canines and can also add taste to the diet that your dog will like. However, there are also good vegetable or plant-based fats, such as sunflower oil and flaxseed oil among others, that can provide other health benefits.³

Water is the primary source of hydration for active dogs. During any activity, it is important to always have water available. Since dogs do not perspire and cool themselves through panting, their hydration status can be compromised. During very strenuous activity, especially in hot or humid conditions, electrolyte solutions may benefit them as well.⁴ These can help to replenish lost potassium, sodium, magnesium, and other electrolytes. A good way to check a dog’s hydration is to squeeze together and lift the skin between his shoulder blades. The skin should slide back into place quickly, if it does not and stays folded or goes back into place very slowly, the dog could be dehydrated. If in doubt, please consult with a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Active dogs generally do not do as well on low-calorie, weight management types of diets. These diets typically are lower in fat and higher in fiber than most foods, which can lower the overall caloric density of the food.⁵ These diets are good for overweight or lazy dogs that do not require a lot of energy in their diet but are not a good fit for dogs with active lifestyles.

When shopping for a diet for your active dog look for high-protein and high-fat diets. Look for dog foods with a high caloric density. This will typically be listed as kcal/kg or calories per kilogram of dog food. Caloric-dense dog foods will typically have at least 3,800 kcal/kg but may be well over 4,000 kcal/kg. Each dog food should also have the calories (kcal)/cup listed and there should be a feeding guide that corresponds to your dog’s weight as well. For very active dogs that require a lot of calories, it is a good idea to consult with a veterinarian to make sure they are being fed the right amount for their activity level to maintain ideal body weight and body condition score during their athletic endeavors.

References: 

1. AAFCO (2022) Association of American Feed Control Officials. Oxford, IN: Official Publication.
2. Hill R. The Nutritional Requirements of Exercising Dogs. 1998. J. of Nut., Vol. 128. (12) 2686-2690.
3. Alessandro D., et al. Functional food in pet nutrition: Focus on dogs and cats. 2017.  Vet. Sci. Vol. 112. 161-166.
4. Niedermeyer GM. et al., A randomized cross-over field study of pre-hydration strategies in dogs tracking in hot environments. 2020. Front. Vet. Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00292
5. Flanagan J., et al., Success of a weight loss plan for overweight dogs: The results of an international weight loss study. 2017. PlosOne. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184199

 

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About the Author

Dr. Bradley Quest, DVM, is the Principal Veterinarian at BSM Partners. He has practiced clinical veterinary medicine, developed and tested hundreds of pet food and health products, performs extensive animal health research, and helps navigate pet food ingredient approval for clients.