How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Borzois
The regal Borzoi carries itself with elegance and grace. With a lithe body and distinctive lengthy head, the Borzoi is a dog breed synonymous with nobility. A breed that originated in the palaces of Russia as hunting companions for royalty, this sight hound is a true beauty to behold.
The Borzoi is well renowned for its sweet nature which is matched only by their ability to run at top speeds. One of its most cherished characteristics is its easygoing disposition, making this breed a joy to live with.
Though the Borzoi can run at top speeds, the breed was built for sprints and not endurance runs. When at home with its family, this breed is most content spending time with its family relaxing. The Borzoi is a breed that does require exercise each day, but that does not have tremendous amounts of energy to expend. This pooch is quite happy to be wherever its family is; whether on an adventure or just curled up on the couch.
A breed considered to be giant in size, the Borzoi is not suited to apartment living. The Borzoi bonds deeply to its family and does not thrive if left alone for long periods of time.
In possession of a beautiful double coat, the Borzoi enjoys time spent outside in even the coldest of temperatures. However, when warm weather arrives, the Borzoi will shed profusely.
A dog renowned for its gentleness, the Borzoi loves to spend time with children. However, the breed’s size alone means supervision is essential to prevent injury from occurring.
A natural born athlete, the Borzoi excels at many sports including agility, Rally, obedience, lure coursing and more.
Sadly, this breed can be predisposed to a number of troubling health problems including progressive retinal atrophy, hip and elbow dysplasia, heart conditions, and more. The best dog foods for the Borzoi contain 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat as well as such ingredients as taurine, glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to support eye, cardiac, and joint health.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Borzois
An athletic dog, the Borzoi does best on a diet that is well balanced and comprised of the highest quality ingredients. Trying to determine how much food to give to a Borzoi each meal is often a process of trial and error. The best dog foods for Borzois offer suggested serving sizes based on weight and age. These amounts are a great starting point and can be adjusted incrementally until the correct portion is found.
If sufficiently exercised and not overfed, excessive weight gain is not a problem for the Borzoi. However, free feeding is still not recommended. All intake should be measured and monitored to help achieve a healthy body weight.
The Borzoi, as with most large and giant breeds, can be predisposed to a life threatening condition known as bloat. Experts do not yet understand what may contribute to the development of this problem; however, it is generally believed that eating too rapidly or too much may be two factors. To prevent this, it is suggested that the Borzoi be fed a diet designed specifically for large breed dogs as the kibble pieces are large enough to encourage the dog to thoughtfully chew and swallow its food.
Dietary Requirements for Borzoi Dog Foods
The Borzoi’s natural grace and athletic body mean this breed requires a well balanced diet based on a lean meat to attain optimal canine health and wellness. The best dog foods for Borzois base their recipe on a whole meat or meat meal. By-products and plant-based proteins, though commonly utilized in commercially prepared diets, are not of sufficient nutritional quality to support the Borzoi’s daily needs, and thus, should be avoided.
Ingredients such as chemicals, fillers, additives, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives are also items commonly found in commercial dog foods. These ingredients offer no nutritional benefits to the Borzoi. It is recommended that diets containing any of these items be left on the shelf.
From carbohydrates the Borzoi gains the needed support for good digestion and a healthy immune system. These nutrients can come from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or any combination of the three. The ideal carbohydrates for the Borzoi are rich in antioxidants and dietary fiber.
Healthy fats help the Borzoi to enjoy excellent coat and skin health and also provide the fuel they need to remain active. The ideal sources for these fats are animal-based foods such as chicken fat and oily fish. Some plant-based oils such as safflower, canola, and coconut also offer ample amounts of these important essential fatty acids.
It is a great idea to select a diet for the Borzoi that includes supplements to complement and reinforce the nutrition contained in the food. The most beneficial supplements for the Borzoi are prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Foods for Borzois
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Borzoi:
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Lean, meat-based proteins heading up the ingredients list
The Borzoi is a carnivore and does best on a diet based on a lean meat. Whole meats and meat meals are the ideal option. By-products and the plant-based proteins soy, corn, and wheat are difficult for many dogs to digest and not as nutritionally beneficial, and thus, should be avoided.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
Chemicals, flavorings, fillers, and mystery ingredients are not nutritionally sound additions to any diet. Many of these items can lead to allergy flareups in the Borzoi.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
Supplements can be of great benefit to the Borzoi. The ideal additions to a food for the Borzoi are glucosamine, chondroitin, prebiotics, and probiotics.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
The AAFCO seal of approval certifies that a food has been inspected, assessed, and found to be worthy of the declaration that is a complete and properly balanced food.