Choosing a dry food with suitable characteristics should go hand-in-hand with a feeding routine to suit the training and competition phases.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A FEEDING ROUTINE
For sports dogs it is recommendable to feed two times a day. To choose the best time to feed the animal, the training or competition times should be taken into account, such that they are never fed immediately before or after the activity.
If the dog is active with a full stomach, apart from altering digestion, causing discomfort and worsening performance, it can lead to gastric dilatation and later gastric torsion; a surgical emergency which is a serious risk to the animal's life.
Advice from Canun®
In general, it is recommendable to take the following factors into account when establishing a feeding routine for sports dogs.
- Normally, when training or competing in the morning, it is recommendable for the last meal to be taken the previous night.
- If the activity takes place in the afternoon, it is recommendable to give a ration of dry food at least 12 hours in advance.
- After the activity it is recommendable to wait at least one hour before providing the food, while water can be given 15-20 minutes after the event is over. In addition, during the final feed before and after the activity, food can be mixed with water in order to favour hydration.
- Finally, it is important to differentiate between the period of competition or intense activity and the period of rest or maintenance in order to adapt the feeding to each stage.
- During the resting phase, a dry maintenance food may suffice and, as the competition stage nears, high-energy food can gradually be introduced.
- Providing this kind of bespoke diet that is suitable for the dog, the type of activity and the stage will improve performance and prevent injuries and metabolic disorders caused by inadequate feeding.
Do not forget to consult a professional in order to achieve optimal results for your pet's healthcare