Make good use of the year and head into the hunting season stronger.
Is the groundwork laid for your hunting dog to perform during the hunt? There are many factors that come into play for the dog to be able to give its best. In this article, we will tell you why feeding is a necessary part of this puzzle and how you can specifically improve your dog in the years to come.
Feeding has a huge impact on how your dog performs, and is just as important for how well it recovers. It not only provides energy, but also building blocks such as fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals.
Protein is regarded as the very king of nutrients, and not without reason. It is protein that underpins all of the body's structures and plays a decisive role in the formation and maintenance of tissues such as muscles, tendons, skin and fur.
Not all protein is the same – quality is just as important as quantity. We believe that raw meat and offal is the clear first choice. This is because animal-based proteins have an amino acid composition that closely resembles the tissue the dog's own body produces. This relates to the fundamental structure of proteins.
Proteins are long chains of amino acids, and there are 22 different ones. These are combined in various combinations and form the enormous number of protein types found in the body. 10 of the 22 amino acids are essential amino acids. These are amino acids that the dog cannot produce itself, and they must therefore be supplied in their entirety from the diet.
Proper supply of the essential amino acids
Meat and offal provide a natural and proper supply of the essential amino acids, which in turn enables the dog to build and maintain its body. Proteins in the body are constantly being replaced, especially when the dog is undergoing physical training or hunting, and these must be replaced with proteins from its diet.
Raw meat and offal not only contain proteins of the highest quality, but these are also preserved in their natural form as the feed is gently processed. Harsh processing can degrade the quality of the protein, reducing the utilisation of both amino acids and other important nutrients. Raw meat and offal therefore have a very high digestibility and bioavailability.
Nature makes the best food; this is an indisputable fact when it comes to us humans. We are advised to eat whole, minimally processed foods, and we at VOM believe our dogs deserve the same.
Fat is the most important source of energy.
Fat is the most important source of energy for muscle work in dogs. Fat is found in all the body's cells and tissues, and for a hunting dog, fat is a tasty, energy-dense and stable source of energy. Fat also carries fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K, and is necessary for their absorption in the body. It contributes vital fatty acids, including the well-known omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids are highly susceptible to rancidity. Rancidity occurs when the fatty acids are exposed to air, light or heat. Rancid fat is far from being a beneficial building block when the body needs to function at its best. Our products are processed gently using methods such as milling and freezing, ensuring the fat in the feed remains of high quality.
Hunters who feed their dogs VOM often find that the dogs build more muscle, have strong hindquarters, better endurance, lose less weight, injure themselves less often and recover more quickly. You don't always think about these things, but it becomes very apparent when you switch food. The dog thrives and performs best on what it was naturally created to eat.
A year-round VOM diet turns your dog into a good fat burner. Fat is an energy-dense and stable source of energy, which means your dog can run further, for longer. Nutritious food builds a healthy body and a good store of nutrients, which makes the dog better equipped for tough periods. It's too late to prepare the dog once the hunting season is underway; training and nutrition should already have laid the foundation for a good autumn and winter.
Lining under the jacket
When you're out hunting, we recommend starting the day with a light meal of meat broth. Either frozen or freeze-dried VOM mixed with water. This gives the dog a boost and helps to maintain its fluid balance. If the meal is too large, the dog has to use energy to digest the food, which leaves less energy for the rest of its body. If you have the dog with you during the day's hunt, keeping it hydrated is the top priority, but you can also give it a smaller meal or some meat broth.
When the day is over, you have the biggest meal. This provides nourishment for recovery overnight and replenishes your energy stores until the next day.
It's not just hunting dogs that work hard at times. These tips will work just as well for other hard-working dogs.
Any more questions?
If you have any questions, or would like tips and advice, please contact us via produkt@vomoghundemat.no/island or via our Facebook pages @VOMNorge.