Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Second Edition. Edited by Chris Zink and Janet B. Van Dyke.
© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Summary

Nutrition plays an integral role in sports performance and rehabilitation. Performance

dogs pursue a multitude of different activities that likely require dietary modifications

for optimal performance that revolve around substrate utilization. Sprinting dogs

require more carbohydrate while endurance athletes require fat as the major fuel for

exercise. These principles are best employed in a well‐trained, fit athlete in optimal

body condition, which varies slightly depending on the athletic endeavor. However,

many athletes, regardless of the task, are kept lean to ensure that they are not carrying

excess weight. Due to popular feeding practices that often do not use commercial dog

food as a portion of the ration there are risks of vitamin and mineral imbalances of

which clients with performance dogs need to be aware. Rehabilitation often employs

dietary principles that revolve around nutritional adequacy for wound healing and

maintenance of lean body mass. The concepts of lean body mass and protein con-

sumption are fundamental to obesity management, which can be a component of

rehabilitation and gerontology as well. Additionally, the use of long‐chain omega‐3

fatty acids and other nutraceuticals for their anti‐inflammatory properties and ability to

dampen the chronic inflammation and improve mobility in canine osteoarthritis, a

common sequela to many orthopedic procedures, is discussed.

Introduction

In canine performance, many variables such as
conformation, genetics, and behavioral drive
are determinants for success, yet controllable
variables such as training and nutrition are
important as well. Canine sporting venues and

events have grown in the past 20 years, with

limited physiological data on the numerous

activities in which dogs partake. There are

considerable nutritional physiology data from

studying two athletic extremes: endurance

dogs (sled dogs) and sprinting dogs

(Greyhounds). Nutritional studies for more

The Role of Nutrition in Canine

Performance and Rehabilitation

Joseph J. Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, DACVN, DACVSMR

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