Growth diet
(0 to 18 months old)
Growing dogs and cats require a high energy diet, which is easily digested and most importantly, balanced for growth. Small dogs require different nutrient levels to large dogs, so it is important to pick a diet suitable for the size of your pet. Nutritional factors may be implicated in certain developmental joint disorders of large breed dogs e.g. OCD, and specifically tailored diets may reduce their incidence. Calcium levels are of particular importance for growing animals, however too much calcium will result in over calcification of the bones which could lead to conditions such as joint abnormalities and arthritis in later life. Too little calcium and the bones could become brittle, weak and liable to fracture.