Surrey Homes | SH39 | January 2018 | Interiors supplement inside
The lifestyle magazine for Surrey - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
The lifestyle magazine for Surrey - Inspirational Interiors, Fabulous Fashion, Delicious Dishes
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Pets<br />
the food company: Natural Instinct<br />
What are the benefits of feeding your dog raw ingredients?<br />
Despite the many years of domestication and the evolutionary<br />
changes that have occurred as a result of this, the domestic dog<br />
is still designed to process and benefit from a raw meat and<br />
bone based diet. The dog’s dentistry for example is designed<br />
for nipping, tearing and crushing/macerating meat and bone<br />
and has no side to side grinding ability that is needed for plant<br />
fibres. The gut is short and the stomach small with strong<br />
acid which is adapted to high meat and bone based diets<br />
and not for the breakdown and fermentation of high starch<br />
and plant fibre based diets. Even though the domesticated<br />
dog largely uses humans to supply their food, they have<br />
never learnt to cook and never get excited about a field of<br />
corn… other than when a rabbit is running through it!<br />
What should I feed a puppy up to 8 months? Puppies grow<br />
rapidly and have a developing bone structure and thus have<br />
a higher calorie requirement than adult dogs. There is breed<br />
variation in growth rates and so for the very small toy breeds<br />
and the very large giant breeds in particular, owners should<br />
seek additional help (Natural Instinct are happy to advise)<br />
to ensure that the particular needs of the individual are met.<br />
As a general rule puppies should be fed 5-6% of their body<br />
weight per day divided into several meals per day depending<br />
upon their age. Puppies’ weights should be checked regularly<br />
as they grow and the amount fed adapted to keep the growth<br />
rate steady, as either can have consequences on an adult dog’s<br />
health. Natural Instinct produces puppy recipes from weaning<br />
paste all the way through to the introduction of puppy food.<br />
Does a working dog’s dietary requirements differ from a<br />
domestic pet dog? Working dogs will generally have a higher<br />
energy requirement than more sedentary dogs and will be<br />
subject to more wear and tear on the musculoskeletal system<br />
for example. The diets for working dogs need to be calorie<br />
dense, easily digested and especially supportive of the joints<br />
and muscles. The diet for these dogs also has to pay attention<br />
to supporting the nervous system and brain, which is essential<br />
for top class working dogs. Natural Instinct’s Working Dog<br />
range is perfect for active dogs and includes an added boost<br />
of Vitamin C to support their hardworking lifestyle.<br />
What bones or treats are safe to give my dog? Non weightbearing<br />
bones of natural prey animals are the ideal bones for dogs.<br />
Remember that whilst a lamb might be suitable for a Rottweiler,<br />
it would not be suitable for a Chihuahua. Dogs must be taught<br />
how to use their dentistry to crush bones if they have not been<br />
raised with other dogs that can teach them. Avoid feeding a ‘clean’<br />
bone and use e.g. a quarter chicken carcase, so that it has to be<br />
worked on properly with the teeth. Bones should not be fed until<br />
a dog has adapted to handling a raw meat and crushed bone diet<br />
and never if the dog is on antacids or other medications that<br />
prevent normal stomach acid or gut motility. Natural Instinct<br />
offer a wide range of bones and dehydrated treats for dogs.<br />
What are the benefits of probiotic treatments?<br />
The gut flora is an important part of a dog’s immune system<br />
and an essential part of good digestion and utilisation of food.<br />
Probiotics can help support the dog’s gut flora especially at<br />
times of stress such as when transitioning onto a new diet<br />
e.g. when transitioning from processed to raw diet, following<br />
antibiotics, after surgery or at any other time of stress. Natural<br />
Instinct’s Zoolac Propaste helps aid improved digestion.<br />
For more information visit their website naturalinstinct.com,<br />
telephone 01276 608500 or email retail@naturalinstinct.com<br />
L Burgundy Country Collection<br />
Dog Drying Coat, £49, Ruff and<br />
Tumble, ruffandtumbledogcoats.com<br />
Natural Puppy; Chicken<br />
and Beef Liver recipe,<br />
from £2.76, Natural<br />
Instinct naturalinstinct.com<br />
Charley Chau Ducky<br />
Donut Dog Bed<br />
Elephant, £180, Charley<br />
Chau, charleychau.com<br />
Lush Designs Dog Bowl<br />
1000, £27, Lush Designs<br />
lushlampshades.co.uk<br />
Doggy delights<br />
Pink Corduroy Dog<br />
Bow Tie, £5, Pet<br />
Pooch Boutique<br />
petpoochboutique.com<br />
Pamper your pooch with WT’s best buys<br />
to treat your four legged friend!<br />
Treatments from £25,<br />
Posh Pet Parlour<br />
poshpetparlour.co.uk<br />
Tweedmill Travel Dog Bed<br />
with Waterproof Base - Tweed<br />
922-Chocolate, £54.95, Black by<br />
Design black-by-design.co.uk
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