Dogs and humans have co-evolved for many thousands of years. During this time, dogs participated in human society through companionship, protection, shepherding, and hunting. Today, this human-canine relationship has expanded to include several important working and service roles, including guide work (for sight- and hearing-impaired handlers), medical alert, scent detection, search and rescue, and police dogs, to name a few.
What are the nutritional considerations for working and service dogs?
The optimal diet for working and service dogs depends on several variables, including the intensity and length of their activity, the goals of the work being performed, environmental conditions, and the dog’s individual energy requirements. When designing a feeding strategy, it is essential to consider the overall demands placed on a dog. Your veterinary team can work with you to ensure that a nutritional plan is tailored to meet the specific needs of your working or service dog.
Water
Water is the most important essential nutrient. Dogs that perform higher levels of physical activity and those that work in warm environments require more water than those at rest in ambient conditions.
Fresh, clean water should always be available; consumption of small amounts of water more frequently is better than large amounts of water in one sitting. Avoid access to water immediately before short durations of high activity.
Dogs do not lose electrolytes through perspiration like humans do, so electrolyte drinks are not as important for dogs as they are for people. Fresh, clean water is best.
Nutritional Adequacy
The first step in providing appropriate nutrition for working and service dogs is to feed them a complete and balanced diet for their life stage, to ensure they receive an adequate supply of essential nutrients. Many working and service dogs begin training as puppies and serve well into adulthood, so their diet should support them through these critical stages.
You can determine if a diet meets the animal’s needs by looking for the nutritional adequacy statement on the pet food label or the company website. If this statement includes the term “complete and balanced,” with reference to an AAFCO nutrient profile (Association of American Feed Control Officials) or a feeding trial using AAFCO procedures, the diet is considered nutritionally complete for the identified life stage.
Energy/Calories
The daily energy requirements of a working or service dog are highly variable and are dependent on the amount and type of work performed. These animals may require a higher or lower intake of calories than the feeding instructions state on a pet food label.
Feeding instructions should be considered a starting point. You will need to monitor the dog’s body weight and body condition score to adjust the feeding amounts as needed, according to response. The goal is to feed to a body condition score of 4 or 5 on the 9-point scale.
With practice, handlers can learn how to score their dogs for body condition, allowing for regular monitoring in the home. Those who are visually impaired can use tactile assessments for body condition (e.g., feeling the ribs and pelvic bones, feeling for an abdominal tuck). Ask your veterinarian for assistance on how to use the body condition score tool for your dog.
It is vitally important to avoid overfeeding, as it places dogs at risk of becoming overweight or obese. Obesity puts dogs at risk of joint disorders, such as osteoarthritis, which in turn may impact a dog’s mobility and aptitude to perform work.
Treats
High-calorie and high-fat treats are often given to dogs for positive reinforcement of a job well done. While treats may be rewarding, they can also be detrimental, because they can unbalance the overall diet and can cause unwanted weight gain, which may hinder their ability to work.
If training treats are necessary, consider using the dog’s own kibble as treats. Measure out the total allotment of food needed for the day and ration it out for meals and snacks to avoid excessive calorie consumption and reduce the risk of feeding an unbalanced diet. Alternatively, if unbalanced treats are used, they should account for no more than 10% of the total energy intake for the day as a general target.
Public Health Considerations
Food safety is a priority for all dogs and for the people they work or live with. In some instances, service dogs may visit healthcare facilities with immunocompromised individuals, including young children or seniors.
Dogs that are fed raw food diets present a potential infectious disease risk to people and the surrounding environment, and particularly to immunocompromised individuals. The primary concerns relate to bacterial or parasitic contamination of raw meat products that the dog may have consumed.
While there are anecdotal reports in favor of feeding raw food diets to dogs, the significant health risks associated with feeding raw meat still outweigh any potential benefits. Most veterinary nutritionists do not recommend feeding raw food diets to dogs, and this opinion is supported in the veterinary literature and human healthcare fields.
How should I choose a diet for a working or service dog?
With the above considerations in mind, there are many dietary options available for working and service dogs. If the dog has exceptional demands, such as high levels of daily physical activity, then energy-dense, performance-type diets meet the criteria for complete and balanced nutrition.
Veterinary nutritionists agree there is no single, best diet that meets the unique needs of all working and service dogs. Instead, a diet recommendation for any animal should be based on a combination of factors, including medical history, dietary history, and physical examination findings from your veterinary clinic. Collaborate with your veterinary healthcare team for the best diet recommendations for your pet's individual needs.
