Doggie nutrition and well being Q&A - chance to win £100 ANSWERS NOW BACK

[AnnMumsnet]

Do you have a dog (or 3) in the family? Thinking about getting one? Ask your questions of two experts from the Waltham® Centre for Pet Nutrition on this thread.

The team at Pedigree say "our philosophy is to provide leading edge nutrition that's affordable for everyone, and with over 80 years of experience making dog food, we're proud of our products. But we know that it can be hard to find the right diet and balance of food for your dog, with a wide variety of advice available which is often confusing or conflicting. So, in partnership with the Waltham® Centre for Pet Nutrition (the world’s leading scientific authority in pet nutrition and wellbeing), we want to lay out the facts and answer your questions on how best to feed your dog, what they need nutritionally, and how Pedigree® products can help support your dog’s health and wellbeing".

The two experts who will be answering your questions are Dr Gale and Dr Butterwick:

Dr Jo Gale MRCVS Science Engagement and Communication Manager Jo Gale is the Science Engagement and Communication Manager at the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition. Jo qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 2002. After working in veterinary practice with a wide variety of species from farm animals and horses to dogs, cats, and small pets, Jo joined WALTHAM in 2012. Jo and her husband have two daughters, two dogs, two horses, seven chickens, and very little free time!

Dr Richard Butterwick Global Nutrition Advisor at Pedigree Richard Butterwick is Global Nutrition Advisor for Mars Petcare, based at the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, UK. Richard obtained his PhD in 1990 from research on the metabolic and nutritional consequences of growth hormone treatment in dairy cows. In 1991 Richard joined the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition and has led a number of research programmes, covering a broad spectrum of nutritional areas in dogs and cats, including energy requirements, obesity, digestive function, probiotics, growth, oral health and clinical nutrition. Richard has published widely in the field of dog and cat nutrition and is a member of a number of professional bodies.
Richard shares his passion for pets with his wife Sarah, three children and Tucker the Labrador.

Post your questions to the Doctors on this thread by Friday 13th May and we will send 20 questions over to them to be answered. We will then post a link to their responses on the thread ASAP.

Everyone who submits a question will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will win a £100 John Lewis voucher.

thanks and good luck!

MNHQ
Standard Insight T&Cs apply

What's your opinion on the so called scientific / prescription style diets, specifically for joint related conditions? My vet has recommended this for my 5 year old lab but it's horribly expensive, does it really improve their joints?

Why is Pedigree so bad for dogs when it is marketed at dog owners?

I'd also like to know what's meant by "derivatives" in the ingredients list. I have been told that meat derivatives can include diseased tissue from an animal (e.g. pus , cancerous growths) - is that true?

can my dog be a vegetarian ?

Why do Pedigree use BHT and BHA in their food? They're proven carcinogens.

Although I usually get branded pet food, I sometimes buy discounter own label pet food when I am shopping there as that is all they sell. Are these actually less good than branded pet food?

Any suggestions for an older Labrador who is getting arthritic please?

There are different foods for different stages of a dogs life, but how do you know when you should be changing to the next stage

Also, is a wet or dry food best as I have heard good and bad points for both

I like to know how much it costs on average to feed a dog each year.

My dog (who's now a grand old age of 15) has been using your joint care sticks for a couple of years and really has improved on it. Would you ever consider bringing out a senior senior (for much older dogs) dry or wet food that incorporates this? Or would it be difficult to get the right amount of joint care in depending on the size of dog? (I have no idea if dogs can "overdose" on it - we give one per day).

My dog will be 10 in December. He is very fit and active and runs about 5k 3 times a week with my husband. Do I need to change his diet to a senior dog food or should o keep him on his current diet. The vet says he is a perfect weight. Thanks

I have a Jack Russell and a Staffie and both do better on a gluten free diet.

Is being gluten intolerant a common problem with dogs or have I just been unlucky in getting two with this digestive problem?

What is the best food for a dog, kibble or wet? I am disregarding raw as my IG will not entertain that.

I currently feed a mixture of both but will do whatever is best for the dogs.

i don't feed my dog any dog treats, should I?

#meandogmum

If my dog has a very busy day with lots of exercise and outdoor activity, should she have more to eat?

I have an incredibly fussy dog, he quite often doesn't bother to eat his one meal of the day even when it is something he has previously eaten well. He currently eats a mixture of raw food, cooked food and the odd bowl of dried dog food as he rapidly becomes resistant to eating the same thing. Do you have any tips?
He does enthusiastically eat dried cow pats and horse muck though. Are there any plans to flavour your dog foods on the manure front as it seems a common delicacy for dogs I know?

Why don't you sell treats that are high in protein, low in sugar and low in cereals?

Is it best to buy kibble with the highest meat content e.g 80/20 or is a raw diet best for them?

How long does kibble stay fresh and can it go off? Should i be storing it in a lidded container?

What are the animal 'derivatives' in your food?

Is it true you shouldn't give a dog chocolate, and if so, why?

Is it true that canned dog food contains more sugar than dried?

Do you think that dogs are better having a raw food diet? More natural and better for their teeth & digestive systems. I understand that complete dog foods have their advantages but ideally should I feed my working breed dogs on a BARF diet?

Should an older dog move onto "senior" dog food even if they are getting on fine with the same food they have always eaten?

The children have trained the dog to eat their unwanted crusts/veg. I doubt dogs would eat bread/carrots/broccoli/peas in the wild but is it ok for them to eat 'human food' as part of their diet?