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Welcome to the latest edition of The S-Files, where we delve into the cyclical dance of the seasons and its impact on our canine companions’ nutritional needs. Our mission is twofold: to demystify the science fueling our Canine Calory Counter and to serve you with the knowledge we accumulated in the most digestible (pun intended) format. No difficult terminology, just pure, engaging insight.
Discover two corners of the Dogbesity Triangle in our FREE EBOOK and join us live in the webinar to get that last corner of wisdom. Maybe it will revolutionize the way you look at nutrition for that faithful companion that is probably either lying on your lap pushing buttons that are not to be pushed or lying at your feet, making sure you’re not moving an inch without knowing.
On our journey through The S-Files, we tried to lead you through most of the cornerstones of the ‘secret sauce’. Just to give you an insight Dogbesity.com is not merely a project; it’s a passion, honed with expertise and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of pets and their people, drawing from over 15 years of dedicated study and practice.
In this edition, we shine a spotlight on a small detail of dog nutrition: the changing seasons. As the earth cycles through its annual voyage around the sun, so should your approach to feeding your four-legged family members.
Addressing this factor is an example of the thoroughness of our thought process and it’s also one of these things that makes Dogbesity stand out from the amplitude of formulas you’ll find if you start digging as deep as a Beagle for a buried bone.
In this article, we’ll explain the importance of the date you fill out the form for the Canine Calory Counter and drop a so-called golden nugget as to why you want to recalculate your life companions’ food requirements at least four times a year.
In our journey through The S-Files, which is highly recommended, we’ve unveiled the critical role of nutrition in managing thermoregulation. This is the ability of your body to cool down when it gets hot and heat up when it’s cold. You could say it’s your dog’s internal thermostat that maintains the perfect balance, come rain or shine, heatwave, or frostbite
There are a wide variety of factors that influence your body temperature like hormones, infections, viruses, and movement. Think about the beads of sweat that dot your forehead as you chase a personal best on the marathon in two days. That’s one of the systems we, humans, have developed to deal with excessive body heat.
On the other end of the spectrum are the goosebumps on your body or the involuntary shiver that courses through your body when you go through an intensely emotional experience.
For both our beloved quadrupeds as for us, this biological HVAC system is autonomous, meaning we have no direct control over it. A sigh of relief when I look at the room of my teenage son. I wouldn’t want him to regulate his body temperature.
Probably the most important factor that influences (not the Instagram type) our body temperature is our immediate surroundings. Take a second and reflect on how you respond in a sauna compared to an ice bath (again, really?).
You can’t deny that the essence of seasons persists, climate change taken into account. In some parts of the world, these are more extravagant than in others. Anyway, these changes also trickle through in our diets and from now on, the diet of our dearest drooling buddies.
In winter, hearty meals take center stage, fueling our bodies with the energy needed to combat the cold. Summer calls for lighter fare, with fresh salads and juicy fruits replacing the rich, dense dishes of chillier times.
Compare the Thanksgiving Turkey with gravy to the summer BBQ with a fresh salad and some watermelon instead of eggnog and I assume you will come to an identical conclusion.
When you know that fat provides a lavish amount of calories for a smaller amount of food and nutrients found in food that contains a lot of water will make you eat larger portions, it all makes sense.
This culinary rhythm isn’t lost on our four-legged friends, though their menu changes aren’t as simple as swapping stews for salads. The key to aligning their diet with the dial of the seasons? Portion control.
As the year cycles from the short, frosty days of winter to the long, languid afternoons of summer, so too will the caloric content of their meals adjust—more to ward off winter’s chill, less to complement the ease of summer.
While the thought of seasonally adjusting your dog’s diet might seem like a minor tweak, especially since you probably don’t have an Alaskan Malamute living outdoors north or south of a polar circle, it’s a testament to our commitment to precision when we are serving your pets need to shed some additional fur.
A day doesn’t make a difference and seasons never change from one day to another, although they can all occur in one day in some parts of the world.
Also where I live, the morning temperature can be around the low thirties Fahrenheit, and with a bit of luck some sleet up to the high sixties and sunny in the afternoon to finish somewhere in between with a chilly thunderstorm.
But calculations need to be done at some point in time so setting a date for it makes sense. You don’t have to do it on the 21st and it’s not an absolute science, but pick a date that suits you and put it in your calendar. It’s no use either to calculate for winter mid-June.
That’s why I suggest doing it on April 1st, and no, that’s not a joke, July 1st, October 1st, and January 3rd when you are half lucid again from celebrating New Year’s Eve.
The date doesn’t matter, but what has been proven scientifically, is that this only works when you put it on your calendar. Intentions are nice and commendable but until it’s written in stone, it’s only an intention.
You can use this for almost any intention or appointment. How many times do you say to friends “We should do that someday” and never find a day to do it? Hopefully for you less often than it happens to me.
So it’s not a matter of the nutritional clock ticking and your dog will self explode when you don’t change the caloric need on the 21st, but it’s more the commitment to do it and acknowledging it. Body temperature will still be regulated, don’t worry.
At Dogbesity, our primary mission is clear: to peel away the unnecessary layers of body fat that envelop too many of our canine friends, replacing them with extra years of vibrant life.
Dogbesity could act as a false friend in the form of insulation during chilly times. It remains the prelude for health issues that can significantly shorten their lifespans. On the other hand, we recognize the nuances of keeping them comfortable through all seasons of life—and weather.
For dogs, particularly senior companions, maintaining a comfortable body temperature is crucial, not just for their comfort, but for their overall health. While we work towards reducing their natural insulation of body fat, we also look to other methods to keep them warm, especially during the cooler months or in adverse weather conditions.
In our meticulous attention to nutrition and its role in regulating our dogs’ body temperature, we must not overlook another profoundly effective method: clothing.
Just as we humans swap shorts for scarves with the changing seasons, our canine companions can benefit from a similar wardrobe adjustment, especially those in their golden years.
Dogs naturally rely on the combination of food and fur for insulation. Seasonal shedding helps to adapt to varying temperatures. The process of filling vacuum cleaners remains pretty accurate at any age, but the part of metabolising (processing) food slows down, making older dogs more sustainable to colder temperatures.
Also during wet weather the thermoregulation is mostly dependent on the internal systems, a a damp coat offers little insulation, making it harder for them to maintain warmth. The combination can cause dogs to shiver and quiver.
Observing a shiver in your senior dog may be a signal, perhaps, that it’s time to consider an extra layer. A well-fitted sweater or a weather-resistant jacket can be more than a fashion statement.
It can be a vital tool in ensuring comfort and health. More comfort and health result in more mobility and more enjoyable outdoor excursions making them not only happier but also healthier.
In essence, while we fine-tune their diets to combat the excess insulation from the inside, adding a layer of external warmth serves as an immediate and effective response to temperature changes.
So next time you notice your vulnerable trusted companion looking a bit chilly, remember that a trip to the pet clothing aisle might just be the perfect way to express your care. It’s a simple act, but one that speaks volumes in love and comfort, ensuring they remain cozy and content, no matter what the weather brings.
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