Guide To Why Dog Size Matters
One of the greatest things about the domestic dog is how truly diverse the species is.
When the difference in the possible size of the species is considered, nowhere else do we see such a vast degree of variation.
The very smallest of dogs stand less than 10cm tall and weigh less than 1kg, whereas the giants of the dog world tower at more than a meter in height and weigh 100kg+.
With such a massive size range, we see some very size-specific physiological differences, which influence the nutritional needs of dogs. That is why we know a size-tailored diet matters to your companion!
Size differences between dogs are evident from the very start of their lives, beginning with the rate and degree of their growth.
Small dogs tend to grow very quickly – their nutrition must be concentrated in energy to fuel this rapid rate of growth.
Medium dogs can take a little longer to reach adult size and need a diet adapted to support growth but avoid excessive weight gain.
On the other hand, large and giant dogs tend to have a more prolonged and sustained period of growth.
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Nutritional calcium and phosphorus levels must be optimized and balanced to help support optimum skeletal development.
Energy provision must also be controlled to avoid too rapid a growth rate, which could place excessive strain on the immature skeleton.
As fully-grown adults, the differences between our canine companions of varying sizes continue.
Energy needs differ, for example, with smaller dogs needing nearly twice the calories per kilogram of body weight than large dogs to maintain them – no surprise when you consider how much harder they have to work to cover the same distance!
We also need to consider how overall size can affect digestive physiology.
Did you know that a small dog’s entire digestive tract represents 7% of their total body weight while in a giant dog it is just 2.7% so a giant dog is more prone to digestive overload and needs relatively smaller, more concentrated meals?
As dog's age, we see differences too. Unfortunately, while the biggest dogs take the longest time to become adults, they also start to age much earlier and have a shorter life expectancy (around 8 years for giant dogs, compared to around 14 years for small dogs).
So nutrition must be adapted to account for the changes of aging at the right time, helping each dog to grow older gracefully.
We can also look at the different health sensitivities (which may be more evident in certain sizes of dogs) and help to support these areas through nutrition.
For example, dental health issues are far more common in smaller dogs, so diet can be adapted to help promote healthy teeth and gums.
On the other hand, mobility is more of a concern in larger dogs so they benefit from nutrition adapted to support the joints.
Finally, formulating canine nutrition tailored specifically to size enables us to design a kibble size, shape, and texture perfectly adapted to jaw size.
The right kibble design helps improve palatability and encourages crunching, which in turn helps support good dental and digestive health.
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Petworld recognizes that different sizes of dogs could benefit from tailored health nutrition.
And today, our Size Health Nutrition range for dogs is more comprehensive than ever before, reflecting the diversity of the canine species.
We have 5 size-specific programs:
- Mini – for dogs under 10kg adult weight
- Medium – for dogs between 11 and 25kg as adults
- Maxi – for dogs with an adult weight between 26 and 44kg
- Giant – for dogs weighing over 45kg as adults
Each program is tailored to the specific physiological needs of the dog as affected by the size, helps support key health sensitivities for the group, and has a kibble design adapted to jaw size, from growth right through to the aging period.
So whether your dog is a pint-sized pooch, gentle giant, or somewhere in between, our Size Health Nutrition range offers you nutrition tailored to their specific needs to out their best.
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If you have more questions, reach out to our nearest petworld store or call us now