Owners often spay their animals to avoid hormonal surges that change their pet's behavior and personality. If the dog is not intended for breeding and will simply be a favorite in the family, then castration is the best way to preserve the health of the pet and the breeder’s nervous system. The operation does not affect the condition of the body in any way, the dog becomes more obedient, balanced and better in contact with the owner. In this article we will look at how to choose food for sterilized dogs, how they differ, composition and rating of the best manufacturers.
What is sterilization
Sterilization or castration is an operation to disrupt the functioning of the reproductive organs. The procedure is common both among mongrel dogs and among dogs of noble breeds in order to avoid unwanted pregnancy in females and procreation in males.
Natural instincts to find a partner are reduced to nothing, which allows you to calmly walk with your pet on walks and play with other dogs without consequences.
Veterinarians recommend sterilization for puppies at 6-8 months. Puppies recover faster, tolerate the postoperative period easier, and have fewer complications.
After the operation, the dog cannot be fed for the first 24 hours; only water is needed in small quantities. On the second day, start giving dry food, dividing the usual daily portion into 3-4 parts. In 5-7 days the pet will fully recover.
What other changes may occur after surgery?
- For some time after the operation, the pet will recover from anesthesia - within about a day. During the recovery period, it is better not to feed the animal at all. Over the next week, you need to give your pet soft food: canned food or dry food soaked in water.
- Low activity and weight gain come with other risks. Large breeds (Labradors, Huskies, etc.) are prone to diabetes, arthritis and hypertension. Medium and small dogs (dachshunds, Yorkshire terriers) may suffer from inflammation of the pancreas or suffer from joint dysplasia.
Why do dogs need to be given special food after sterilization?
The procedure of sterilization or castration changes the functioning mechanisms of the body. After surgery, the animal’s needs change, and accordingly, the diet needs to be adjusted to suit these needs.
Veterinarians are divided into two categories - some argue that castrated pets should be fed natural food, others - that special food with a balanced composition should be given. There are more second specialists. You need to choose a product carefully, in consultation with your doctor and focusing on the individual characteristics of the dog.
What is the difference between food for sterilized dogs and regular dog food?
During surgery, the dog's hormonal levels decrease, the pet becomes less active and lazy, which can affect its health. Males are more sensitive to sterilization. In castrated animals, appetite increases and natural activity decreases. Bitches tolerate surgery more easily, and their eating behavior remains virtually unchanged.
The owner’s main task after surgery is to help the dog recover. You need a calm environment in the home and proper nutrition, which includes vitamins, minerals and a minimum amount of fatty components in the diet. If your dog's diet consists of home-cooked food, it will be difficult to achieve the necessary balance of components.
After surgery, veterinarians recommend changing the diet and switching the pet to commercially balanced food to avoid obesity and related diseases.
Food for dogs that have undergone sterilization or castration is characterized by a decrease in protein in the food. The basis is lean meat, chicken and sea fish.
The composition contains more vegetables, cereals and a special additive L-Carnitine, which increases metabolism and burns excess fat in the body. The lipid content decreases by 12-14% and the protein volume increases by 10-12% - this gives quick saturation.
Prohibited Products
If you decide to castrate your dog, you need to make sure that the animal’s diet does not contain the following products:
- fat meat;
- potato;
- sweet products;
- pastries and bread;
- legumes;
- smoked products;
- fried foods;
- canned food intended for people.
Features of nutrition of sterilized dogs
The quality of food given to a neutered dog must be approached responsibly. The amount should correspond to the energy expended per day. If your pet does not eat the food, you need to reduce the dosage.
Don’t forget about the dog’s age, weight, breed characteristics and living conditions.
The average daily food requirement of a dog based on weight:
| Weight, kg | Norm, g |
| 5 | 60-90 |
| 10 | 120-150 |
| 20 | 160-240 |
| 30 | 240-330 |
| 40 | 280-420 |
| 50 | 330-480 |
| 60 | 390-570 |
If your pet walks for less than one hour a day and likes to lie on the couch, this is considered reduced activity, and the amount of food given should be reduced by 30%.
High activity means walking with long walks and training, this implies an increase in calorie intake.
The daily amount of food for adults is divided into 2 meals, and puppies need to be fed 3-4 times a day.
For castrated or sterilized dogs, it is better to choose special food marked premium or super class on the packaging. Suitable dietary dry food for dogs prone to obesity, the composition is almost identical.
Composition of food for spayed/neutered dogs
All manufacturers produce specialized feed, knowing how important it is to feed animals the right food.
The main composition of the feed includes: proteins 27-30 g, fats 8-10 g and fiber 8 g per 100 grams of product. The rest is easily digestible vitamins, macro-microelements and additional ingredients: cereals, legumes, peas and alfalfa.
Squirrels
The basis of dog nutrition: they give strength to the pet and keep the body in balance. Protein sources can be different: animal and plant. Animal protein is added to the feed in the form of chicken, turkey, lean beef and eggs. It provides the necessary amino acids, without which the development of puppies and the activity of adults is impossible. Vegetable protein is made from cereals and legumes.
Lipids
Provides the dog with Omega fatty acids. Sea fish is rich in lipids, which is often added to animal feed and vegetable oils obtained from sunflowers and cereals. The lipid component in food is very important for sterilized animals and should be indicated on the food packaging. Omega improves the dog's coat, plays a major role in the formation of the nervous system and is indispensable for the proper development of the puppy. It accumulates energy in the body obtained from food and allows the pet to become full faster while consuming less food.
Carbohydrates
Fiber is rich in carbohydrates and is necessary for the normal functioning of the intestines. Carbohydrates that are easily digestible by dogs are obtained from cereal crops: rice, wheat and corn. If your pet doesn't move much and is prone to a lazy lifestyle, carbohydrates will give you a feeling of fullness between feedings with a minimum amount of calories. The presence of fiber in food for adult dogs that are susceptible to stomach and intestinal disorders is important.
Additional components
Adding alfalfa from healthy herbs, burdock and chicory root to the food will have a good effect on your dog’s health. Many manufacturers add vegetables, fruits and berries to the composition. Green peas and legumes are useful, but in small quantities.
Be sure to have vitamin supplements and minerals in an easily digestible form.
Types of food for sterilized dogs
The digestive system of dogs absorbs ingredients from food in the quantities needed by the body. Manufacturers offer highly specialized food for dogs susceptible to diseases of the endocrine and genitourinary systems. For overweight pets who are prone to diabetes, you can buy low-calorie food.
Feed mixtures are also produced for dogs with heart and joint problems, which contain taurine, kaolin and brewer's yeast.
If an animal is diagnosed with a certain group of diseases before purchasing, you need to consult a veterinarian - he will tell you which food is best and which can be harmful.
Premium
It is made from chicken meat powder with a minimum amount of by-products, the share of which does not exceed 5%, and meat should be 30% of the total feed volume. The cereals included in the composition undergo additional purification. Sea salt, rich in microelements, is added as a preservative. The manufacturer does not use flavor enhancers, and the food is prepared using natural broths.
Super premium
Designed for elite dog breeds participating in exhibitions. The balance of components, including minerals and vitamins, provides the dog with everything necessary for a full life. When using this food there is no need for additional vitamins. There are no by-products, only natural meat of lean beef, sea fish and boneless chicken with the addition of cereals, vegetables and fruits.
Holistic
It has a high energy value, which will satiate your pet for a long time, which allows you to reduce daily food consumption. The composition is universal and suitable for dogs of any breed and weight. When purchasing, you only need to consider age. Made from chicken, beef, fish, vegetables and fruits with a small addition of cereals. There are no GMOs, dyes or flavor enhancers.
Dry
Can be a dog's main source of nutrition. Dry food can be used as a reward during training and activities with your pet. It makes it easier to regulate the amount you eat per day.
Wet
Consists of 60-70% meat ingredients. When feeding sterilized and neutered individuals, it is used in combination with dry specialized food.
The food differs not only in quality classes, but also takes into account the breed and age of the dog.
Different composition and fraction of the granule, what breed the food is intended for:
Puppies under one year of age require increased levels of all ingredients, including vitamins and minerals. The food is enriched with these components in full for the growing organism.
Small breeds are prone to allergies and stomach upsets. The food should have a balanced composition of fat and protein and exclude beets, legumes and fruits, which often cause allergic reactions.
Medium breeds need carbohydrates and lipids, which improve the functioning of the digestive system and give strength for long walks.
Large dogs need a higher calcium content, which is added to the food with vitamins that improve its absorption in the body.
Older animals over 12 years of age need fiber and a special composition of vitamins to maintain health and prevent disease.
Food mixtures for spayed and neutered dogs are balanced. When feeding your pet homemade food, it is impossible to achieve a complete diet. And the lack of necessary vitamins and elements affects health, so veterinarians recommend switching to higher quality food from an early age.
Rating of food for sterilized dogs
Manufacturers offer the entire age line of food for castrated animals, dividing them into small, medium and large breeds, which differ in the granule fraction.
Food for castrated animals
Akana
Belongs to the premium class. The main composition is 40% chicken and beef and 4% chicken eggs. Carbohydrates in the form of legumes, vegetables and fruits. Additionally, it contains minerals: magnesium and phosphorus, which prevents the occurrence of diseases of the genitourinary system.
Royal Canin
Dietary food that does not contain animal protein. The source of protein and carbohydrates in the feed is chicken eggs, soy meat, legumes and corn, which is not advisable to include in the diet of castrated animals. When feeding Royal Canin, it is necessary to add vitamin and mineral complexes to the diet. Suitable for dogs with gastrointestinal diseases and allergies to animal protein.
Farmina
The composition is optimally balanced, no additional fertilizing is required. Farmina contains 30% chicken and egg, minerals and additional components for burning fat, which prevents obesity.
Summit
Belongs to the holistic class. Contains beef and chicken meat, without added by-products. Source of carbohydrates: brown rice and oatmeal in easily digestible form. Chicken fat is used as a preservative, which gives the pet quick satiety. A full complex of vitamins and minerals is added to the composition.
Hills
It is characterized by a high content of protein and carbohydrates, which can lead to obesity in a sterilized animal. The composition contains few vegetables and a large amount of corn, but contains minerals and vitamins in full. The high price of feed is not justified.
Kanide
The most expensive food on the market, designed for dogs with allergies. Made from high quality turkey, chicken and lamb meat. This is the main ingredient. Enriched with a complex of vitamins and minerals. The main source of carbohydrates is peas, white and brown rice, and oatmeal. The packaging notes that it contains potatoes in small quantities; they will not benefit the dog. Additionally, the composition contains a small amount of vegetables.
Brit
It belongs to the premium super class and is sold at a relatively low price. Perfect for dogs after sterilization and with obesity. The optimized composition of chicken meat and brown rice is supplemented with useful components that prevent concomitant diseases during castration.
Grandorf
Premium food, intended for purebred animals and dogs engaged in increased physical activity. Includes a complete diet for your pet. Burns fats in the dog’s body and improves the function of the genitourinary system.
Bosch
Premium line. The food is developed for animals with increased weight, allergies and digestive disorders. Made from chicken, fish and beef with the addition of vegetables, fruits and cereals.
Monge
Belongs to the middle price segment. Thanks to the 30% protein content in the composition, it quickly saturates and maintains a feeling of fullness between feedings. Ideal as a complete diet for dogs of medium breeds with high activity.
Purina
It satisfies hunger well and keeps you full for a long time with a minimum amount of fat, which contains 8%. Contains fibers that are good for stimulating intestinal function. Increased Omega-6 content, which supports the body of older animals in a healthy state.
Eunukaba
The granules contain lamb, turkey, salmon and chicken combined with rice and a full range of essential vitamins. It is produced for dogs of all breeds and has a separate line of specialized food for animals after castration and those prone to obesity.
Go
Belongs to the holistic class. It has a unique formula that provides a complete diet for the animal. Made without grain and using only meat ingredients. It has a rich composition of essential vitamins for a full life. Produced for all breeds of animals.
Abba
Belongs to the premium class. It consists of 40% lamb and turkey meat with the addition of a small amount of peas, rice and corn. Additionally enriched with iron, iodine, copper and zinc, which will have a great effect on the health of a dog of any breed and age. The composition contains natural fiber, salmon oil and fish meal.
Happy dog
Made with reduced protein and fat content from veal, turkey, liver and chicken eggs. Beets and apples will provide the necessary fiber, and flaxseed will improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and saturate the body with Omega 3 and Omega 6. The food contains brewer's yeast and seaweed, so you need to transfer your pet to the Happy Dog with caution and gradually.
Now
Made from turkey and salmon meat, without adding any by-products or bones. Contains a rich assortment of vegetables, fruits, cereals and peas. The potatoes stated on the package will not benefit the dog, and different combinations of ingredients can be dangerous for allergy sufferers.
Chappie
The food belongs to the economy class. Contains chicken and beef meat and a large number of herbs that are good for health. The carrots and potatoes contained in the product are not recommended for overweight dogs. A variety of herbs can cause allergies. There are no small granules suitable for puppies and small breeds.
A wide range of food for sterilized and neutered animals will allow you to choose the best option with a complete composition.
The need to choose specialized food
After sterilization, a dog’s body undergoes a number of significant changes, which dictate the need to select special food:
- Elimination of the constant and excessive influence of sex hormones leads to a change in the character of the animal. The pet becomes calmer and there is a sharp decrease in motor activity.
- The animal's need for food calories changes significantly.
- In addition, the pets themselves become more picky about food, giving up previously favorite delicacies.
Due to these features, the initial diet is completely unsuitable for feeding a dog.
- Excessive intake of calories and lipids contributes to rapid weight gain in your pet.
- Obesity for dogs, as for all living beings, is fraught with the addition of diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive, and respiratory systems.
The most optimal diet after sterilization will be selected only by a qualified veterinarian who is familiar with all the features of hormonal changes in the body.
How to choose the right food
If the dog has no health problems and is active, you can switch it to premium food, which is produced in a wide range of flavors and for different breeds. Dry or wet is up to the owner, but if the pet has intestinal problems, it is better to alternate food from the line of one manufacturer.
If you have weight problems or illnesses, you should consult a veterinarian before purchasing; he will tell you what composition is needed to normalize the condition.
When choosing, it is necessary to exclude from the food composition: starch, soy protein and palm oil. For sterilized dogs, it is better to have a minimum amount of by-products, and the main component should be meat. High-quality food contains preservatives and dyes only from natural raw materials.
Series of products from Pro Plan
This company has developed its own complex to protect the digestive tract of sterilized dogs. The composition of dry food for sterilized dogs provides a balanced ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates to simultaneously maintain the required calorie content and prevent obesity.
When choosing this product, you should remember that it contains chicken meat (not suitable for dogs with high allergies).
Manufacturers also took care of protecting the musculoskeletal system of pets, for which they included cartilage and meat tripe in the food products. Unlike previous companies, food for sterilized small breed dogs is being launched on the market.
Basic principles of feeding
The pet needs to be fed to its fullest, but not overfed. It is worth adhering to the main rule - this is 30 calories per kilogram of animal weight per day.
In foods for spayed and neutered dogs, the protein content is reduced and is often replaced with a plant-based ingredient, which allows for weight control.
Puppies up to one year old need a large amount of animal protein, so when purchasing in a store, you need to pay attention to what age the diet is intended for. It is better to buy food specifically for puppies, which contains everything necessary for a growing organism.
It is necessary to transfer the animal to a special diet gradually, replacing one type of food with another, daily and in small portions. Dry food will provide the dog with the necessary nutrients in full, and it will be easier for the owner to control the amount of calories to avoid obesity.
Why do dogs need to be given special food after spaying/castration rather than regular food?
Castration or sterilization is difficult for the animal’s body to tolerate, and statistics show that females cope better with the consequences of the operation than males. Regardless of gender, the dog’s hormonal system is injured and rebuilt, and its activity drops, its metabolism slows down significantly or even deteriorates.
The risks of obesity, heart defects and other diseases directly or indirectly related to changes in body weight are increasing. In animals, the level of estrogen or testosterone decreases, which only weakens the immune system. If measures are not taken in time, the pet’s lifespan can be significantly reduced - the list of side effects from this necessary operation can be continued for a long time. But it’s better to think about how to solve this problem in time. And you need to start with changing your diet.
The dispute between supporters of natural nutrition and ready-made food for sterilized pets has been going on for many years. A large proportion of Russian veterinarians believe that a dog’s diet should be based on ready-made food. Most often, both in veterinary clinics and on the Internet, Brit food for sterilized dogs is recommended, as well as special diets from Happy Dog and Proplana. But it’s better to find out for yourself what characteristics a suitable food should have.
Owner reviews
Tatiana S.
My bull terrier is allergic. It took me a long time to find out what foods caused the rash on my stomach. The veterinarian advised me to switch to premium food. I bought different ones, he didn’t eat some foods, and his allergies intensified to others. I stopped holistically and have not had any skin problems for more than a year.
Vitaly. U
At the family council they decided to sterilize our Jessica. The operation was almost painless. She lay down for a day, and the next she ate and went for a walk. The dog is one year old and we fed her regular food from the table, but the doctor advised us to change her diet. We chose premium food and did not regret it, Jessica is healthy.
Briefly about the main thing
- Sterilization and castration of a dog should be carried out by veterinarians in a clinic where emergency assistance can be provided in case of complications.
- If your veterinarian advises you to change food to something more expensive and of higher quality, you should listen. It will be cheaper than treating your pet for concomitant diseases.
- Buy food from trusted stores; there are a lot of fakes on the market, in the premium and holistic segments.
- When choosing what to feed your dog, study information about the full composition on the Internet, read reviews on food forums. You can identify shortcomings from different manufacturers that will not be written about on official websites.
- Before purchasing a large volume, take a sample and give it to your pet to try. If you like it, you can safely go to the store or order food delivered to your home.
The article is based on the expert opinion of the author; consult a specialist before use.
