Nutrition
Introduction
All living bodies need energy to implement the basic activities of their cells,
tissues and organs. Nerves, muscles, excretion, glands, connecting tissues and
organs can only be active if sufficient energy exists. Energy resources are the
nutrients ingested by living organisms which are necessary for survival. The six
basic nutrients needed by living things are protein, carbohydrates, fat,
vitamins, minerals, and water.
The fundamental substances of a Kangal (Karabash)'s body change continuously.
Elements and organic compounds are lost by urine and defecation, as well as by
hair shedding and skin erosion. It is known that elements such as calcium,
phosphorus and sodium cannot be synthesized in the Kangal's body. Hence,
nutrients consisting of these elements must be provided externally.
Kangal (Karabash) Dogs don't require a great deal of food considering their
size, but puppies and adolescent dogs do need to eat well in order to gain
weight. In rural areas in Turkey they are routinely fed a kind of gruel called
yal, which is made from boiled barley. Very occasionally they are also treated
to pieces of dead lamb, goat, or cattle.
Water Needs
Water, as for all other living organisms, is an essential nutrient for the
Kangal (Karabash) Dog. The water requirement of the Kangal (Karabash) is 2.5-3
times the amount of dry-matter it receives. In other words, if a Kangal (Karabash)
of 50 kg in weight takes 1 kg of dry-matter, it must take 2.5-3 litres of water.
Stated differently, the Kangal (Karabash) Dog must consume 50 grammes of water
for each kilogramme of body weight. These are minimum values. Over values are
acceptable.
Energy Needs
It is difficult to give definite figures for the nutrient needs of Kangal (Karabash)
Dogs for the following reasons:
1. Weight differences between individuals
2. Different living environments
3. Different performances expected in accordance with breeding purposes.
Protein Needs
Proteins are chemicals made up of other chemicals known as amino acids. Amino
acids are the building blocks of proteins. The Kangal (Karabash) Dog needs 23
amino acids. Dogs can synthesize 13 amino acids in their bodies and must be
supplied with others in their food. The remaining 10 are called essential amino
acids, namely phenylalanine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine,
valine, arginine, tyrptophan, and threonine. The only nutrient having all the
essential amino acids in the world is milk.
Mineral Needs
Minerals are essential for bone formation, muscle metabolism, fluid balance, and
nervous system function. Minerals are divided into major and trace
concentrations. Calcium and phosphorus are necessary in a particular ratio for
bone formation and strength. An imbalance in the ratio will cause bone problems.
Potassium is found within tissue cells and is important in cellular activity; a
deficiency causes muscle weakness and heart and kidney lesions. Sodium is found
in fluids outside the tissue cells and performs a function similar to potassium.
It is usually found in the diet as sodium chloride and is rarely deficient.
Excess sodium has been linked to hypertension in dogs. Magnesium is found in
soft tissue and bone; it interacts with calcium to provide proper heart, muscle,
and nervous tissue function and aids in metabolism of potassium and sodium.
Deficiency leads to muscle weakness and sometimes convulsions. Trace elements
are iron, copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, and cobalt. Although
dietary requirements are minimal, they are essential to general good health.
Vitamin Needs
Vitamins are organic compounds which are vital, but cannot be synthesized as
necessary in the dog's body. Hence they must be obtained via food. In accordance
with their solubility they are divided into two groups: soluble in fat and
soluble in water. They can be stored to some extent in the liver.
Essential Fatty Acids Needs
Fatty acids are important for a wide range of cell structure components and for
many chemical reactions in the body, including hormonal and energy activities.
There are two fatty acids playing a role in the metabolism of the Kangal (Karabash)
dog: one is linoleic acid (Omega 3 fatty acid) with 18 carbon atoms and having a
double bond, another is arachidonic acid (Omega 6 fatty acid) with 20 carbon
atoms and having a 4-double bond. Kangal (Karabash) Dogs can synthesize
arachidonic acid from linoleic acid. Thus only linoleic acid is needed. Plants
are an excellent source of linoleic acid. Arachidonic acid is present only in
animal fats. The need for these two acids is 1.6% of the dog's body weight.In
other words, 800g of these fatty acids are needed for a dog of 50 kg. Some
defects such as growth retardation, weakness, pathalogical changes in skin and
coat and loss of hair are seen in Kangals deficiencient in these two fatty acids.
Feeding during the period of lactation (0-2 months)
The new-born pup's eyes are sealed, as are the ears. They find the teats of
their mother instinctively after birth and start to suckle. They must suckle
their mother at least until the age of 1.5-2 months. The longer the suckling,
the better for the puppies. The dam normally has sufficient milk to feed her
pups for the first months but this depends on a balanced diet. She sometimes
whelps up to 10 puppies a litter, which means if the mother does not have enough
milk for feeding all the puppies, they must be supported with milk and food.
Support should be given with milk up to 15 days old, bread or pita (village
bread) moistened with milk between 15 days- 1 month old, and normal food after
one month. Foods such as bread, rice flour, cornflour, boiled rice (pilaf) and
pasta, provided it is not very oily, may be mixed and moistened with milk. The
demand for milk by nursing puppies will increase day by day. Consequently, the
mother dog's food and water requirements increase during this time. At peak
lactation her food intake may be two to four times above her usual or
maintenance food intake.
Importance of Colostrum
As soon as pups are delivered they start to suck colostrum. Colostrum, a sort of
thin, yellowish, milky fluid is very important for the pups for two reasons:
1. Pups are fed with blood through the umbilical cord whilst they are inside the
womb. They cannot defecate for two months. Hence in their first bowel movement
they must release meconium, which is a thick, rather sticky, greenish black
substance that lines pup's intestines whilst in the womb. Colostrum has a
diarrhoeal effect, which the mother Kangal (Karabash) assists by licking her
pups especially around the rectum. This movement will clean the intestines.
2. Newborn puppies lack an immune system, making them extremely vulnerable to
disease. Colostrum contains all the necessary antibodies against the many
viruses that could cause illness in the pups.
Other Important Points Concerning Milk
Type of Milk: In case the dam Kangal (Karabash) does not have enough milk
to feed all her newborn puppies sufficiently, cow's milk or goat's milk should
be used, rather than sheep's milk or buffalo's milk as these are more fatty.
Cleanliness: The milk for newborn pups must be clean and boiled.
Pasteurized milk is preferable if available. Milk may be given with a feeding
bottle using a rubber teat.
Dilution of milk with water: Milk should be diluted with 2/3 parts of
water in the first day, and with fifty-fifty thereafter, because the mother's
milk has less fat than that of other domestic animals. Excessive fat leads to
problems such as diarrhoea. In case of diarrhoea, 3-5 baby biscuits may be added
the milk, and puppies should be kept under observation. The number of biscuits
should be increased by two at each meal. Normally the diarrhoea ends before the
number of biscuits reaches 10 for one feeding bottle.
Milk Temperature: Milk should be heated to about 37°C. In practice the
temperature should feel neither hot nor cold when tested with the middle knuckle
of the second finger. The fingertip should not be immersed in the milk because
the milk may be polluted by dirt and microbes under the nail.
Feeding of Young Kangals (2/18 months)
The new owner will find the task of feeding rather easier if the pup is kept by
the breeder for up to 2 months old. The pup at this age should have become
accustomed to eating home-made meals and manufactured pet food. Most importantly
care must be taken in this period to provide calcium to puppies which are no
longer suckling their mother. Puppies may get the necessary amount of calcium if
they are fed with bones, but if their food consists mainly of vegetables or of
yal (as in rural areas of Turkey), from the age of 2 months old calcium should
be mixed with their food. Calcium additives from pharmacies may be used.
Raw meat should definitely never be given to puppies. Two reasons for this are:
1. Puppies given raw meat may harm other domestic animals and pets.
2. Puppies risk picking up internal parasites or infectious diseases from raw
meat.
Feeding of Mature Kangal (Karabash) Dogs (after 18 months)
Food fed to mature Kangal (Karabash) Dogs should consist of 50% protein, 40%
carbonhydrate, and 10% fat, minerals and vitamins during this period.
Feeding of Pregnant Kangal (Karabash) Dogs
Male and female dogs should receive two meals a day during the mating period.
The quality and quantity of meals should be increased at the second month of
pregnancy. Mouldy, very cold or frozen, stale or rancid food, or food which
causes gas, should not be given to the pregnant bitch. These may cause her to
miscarry.
Feeding of Old Kangal (Karabash) Dogs
Foods low in protein and fat, and soft, easily-digestible, vegetable-weighted
foods should be given to older Kangal (Karabash) Dogs. Large bones should be
avoided because of a decrease in the number of teeth.
Feeding of Sick and Injured Kangal (Karabash) Dogs
Liquid, soft, easily-digestible food with a high nutritional value is
recommended for sick dogs, and tender meat rich in protein, vitamin-rich green
vegetables, and leguminous yal for injured Kangal (Karabash) Dogs.