04.16.07
Diet-Related Hyperactivity in Dogs
Excerpts from Old Dog, New Tricks by David Taylor; Understanding and Retraining Older and Rescued Dogs. This is a truly useful, concise book with pertinent tips and specific advice on a range of dog behavior issues.
Hyperactive dogs, like hyperactive children, will often calm down if given food that is free of artificial colorings, flavor, preservatives and sugars. How to test this? Do an experiment. Cut out canned food, which is usually high in protein, and dry food, which often contains lots of preservatives, and cook for your pet. Give your dog dishes such as boiled chicken, rabbit, lamb or fish mixed with boiled rice or mashed, unpeeled, boiled potatoes in the proportions of one part meat or fish to four parts rice or mash.
If, within a week or two this diet does effect a change for the better in your dog’s behaviour, go onto some form of low- but high-quality protein proprietary canned food that is claimed to be free of additives such as the ones recommended for animals with chronic kidney disease or low-protein organic ones. Alternatively, if you are prepared to continue with the home cooking, use this recipe.
HOMEMADE DOG FOOD
NOTE: All quantities are per 5 lbs. dog weight.
two-thirds cup rice
one-half cup medium-fat meat
6 teaspoons raw liver
1 teaspoon steamed bone meal
1 teaspoon corn oil
one-half teaspoon iodized salt
Boil the rice until tender and drain. Mince the meat and cook in a little water. Mix the two together, and then stir in the remaining ingredients. Feed either warm or cold.
WATER TIP
Some experts believe that it is best not to give chlorinated or fluorine-treated water to hyperactive dogs, but to provide bottled mineral water instead.
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ED.NOTE– Granted many energetic-by-nature dogs are simply needing more exercise than they are able to get; but the possibility of diet-influenced behavior is well worth considering.
