CARING FOR
THE NAID
From choosing the right foods and making sure all their grooming needs are met, we've answered some of the most common questions and concerns below.
DIET & NUTRITION.
Finding the Good Ones
A Hot Topic
We show our love to these beautiful animals through the food we give them. Naturally you want only the best for them.
The truth is, though, that pet food companies are a multi-billion dollar industry with tons of money to make and little professional oversight. As a result, there are a lot of terrible diets out there.
But that doesn't mean they all are.
It can be hard to sift through all those diets. But a quick search on the manufacturer's website can give you the info you are looking. for. Does the website mention that the diet was formulated under the direction of a board certified veterinary nutritionist or an expert with a PhD in animal nutrition? If not, then that brand has little-to-no professional oversight.
Can you easily find the calories per cup or kilogram of food? Is there an easily found reference of the full nutritional breakdown (nutritional facts, % daily values, breakdowns of vitamins)) rather than the standard minimum guaranteed analysis (Protein, Fat, Carbs, Ash, etc)? If you can't find it, then that level of analysis likely hasn't been performed or if it has, it is being purposefully withheld.
What About Ingredients?
There are several myths that are frequently encountered on the internet.
The first is that dogs cannot digest grains. The truth is that dogs have evolved to secrete more enzymes for that very purpose than the wolf does. Dogs - even breeds closely related to the wolf - are not wolves when it comes to nutrition. Grain-free diets have also been correlated with dilated cardiomyopathy and sadly, this heart condition has been found in NAIDS fed grain-free diets.
Another myth is that byproducts should be avoided. Animal byproducts are parts of the animal that people do not typically eat - like fat, skin, organs, blood, or bones. These parts of the animal are very nutritious and should be included in the complete diet for the NAID.
Tell Me About Raw Diets
There are plenty of owners that like to know what exactly is going into their dogs meals every day. You may be one of them and want to create your own meals for your NAID.
There are some concerns and challenges with creating your own diet.
The first is that the same food-borne pathogens that make us sick can also make your NAID (or any other dog) sick. There is a reason meat and eggs are cooked and milk is pasteurized. If you choose to make your own diets, you should cook them for the safety of your NAID and for yourself and your family. There are some who will say that nutrition is lost through the process of cooking. If that were true, we would see much more nutritional issues in people since we cook all of our own food.
The second problem is that most people don't have the training a PhD animal nutrition specialist or board-certified veterinary nutritionist has. Dogs have different nutritional requirements than people. Home-made diets can easily become poorly balanced and lack the necessary nutrition needed to keep your NAID running at his or her best. If you do want to pursue home-made diets for your dog, please consult www.balanceit.com - this website is run by veterinary nutritionists and it can help you design your own meals and recommend the supplements needed to balance the diet you created. You can even request approval from a veterinary nutritionist to ensure your diet is completely balanced for your pet.
COAT CARE
& GROOMING.
Contrary to previous reports, NAIDs DO SHED year round. Typically this is small amounts of hair daily with shedding seasons where they may blow their whole coat. NAIDs come in two hair coat types, Medium coat and Wooly.
Medium coated NAIDs tends to shed more often and in order to decrease the hair around the house it is recommended to brush regularly. Wooly coats will be prone to matting, especially of their butt fluff and feathering and around their ears and may require daily brushing. Woolies tend to shed less every day, but more during the season changes (spring, fall). It is important to brush out the dense undercoat as this can predispose them to skin infections.
Most NAIDS do not have a doggie odor, and do not require regular bathing unless they make themselves dirty when outside. Usually allowing them to dry and then a good brushing will remove much of the build up in their coats. It is also important to dry them well as moisture trapped in their fur can predispose them to hot spots.
Like any dogs, NAIDs may need their nails trimmed. The frequency of nail trims will be dependent on their natural wear based on their activity. Like many dogs, this is not always their favorite thing. Getting puppies used to handling their feet and nails at a young age and continuing this practice throughout their life is important to making nail trims a stress- and fret-free experience for all involved.
