Welfare Evaluation of Pet Dogs Through Feeding Protocols Followed, Nutritional Composition of Available Feeds and Blood Metabolic Profile

A survey was conducted in Central Kashmir covering 91 adult pet dogs with collection of 26 feed and 73 blood samples. Feeding practices followed by the dog owners were recorded and samples of commercial dry adult dog foods collected during survey were subjected to nutritional analysis to assess their effects on blood metabolic profile. Mostly (~63%) the pet dogs were reared on homemade diets with about 90% receiving non-vegetarian type, and only ~5% owners were exclusively feeding commercial dog foods of different brands. Majority (63%) of the pet dogs were fed thrice a day. Among the analyzed commercial dog food samples, the proportion falling below the recommended nutrient standards was 19% for protein, 15% for fat, 31% for fibre and calcium, 12% for total ash, and 15% for phosphorus. The homemade diets had wide variation in composition and were generally imbalanced. Blood metabolic profiling revealed prevalent calcium deficiency in dogs fed homemade diets, while plasma cholesterol (51%), triglycerides (44%), and urea nitrogen (30%) were found elevated beyond normal physiological ranges. It is concluded that homemade diets constitute the mainstay of feeding with little or no provision of supplements to pet dogs, but these diets are nutritionally imbalanced.