Feeding Your Dog in the Fall and Winter

The fall and winter season—or, more specifically, the low ambient temperatures and shorter daylight hours associated with this time of year—are the main factors that influence changes in metabolic rate in warm-blooded animals.Compensatory mechanisms are triggered, including increased blood flow to the skin, an increase in food-induced metabolic rate, and an acceleration of nutrient metabolism.Scientific research has shown that, over the course of evolution, warm-blooded organisms have developed a number of mechanisms that help them adapt to seasonal changes.During the winter, when food is scarce, most animals lose body fat and reduce the efficiency of metabolic processes in their muscle tissue.In turn, from summer through fall, the animals enter a phase of anabolic fat accumulation, characterized by an increase in body weight above normal levels.It seems that this biological cycle allows wild animals to survive periods that are unfavorable to them.

Increased energy demand

Species inhabiting areas with extreme fluctuations in food availability and harsh environmental conditions may resort to seasonal obesity as a survival strategy.On the other hand, conditioning animals to this metabolic cycle leads to excessive fat accumulation in those that live in comfortable conditions year-round.Behavioral studies show an increase in food intake among both cats and dogs during the winter.The primary cause is a shortened light cycle, which results in reduced melatonin production; this, in turn, triggers a compensatory mechanism involving serotonin and leptin, leading to increased appetite.If we add to this a decrease in physical activity, the result is an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese.When we think about winter, we pay special attention to the cold temperatures that can be uncomfortable for a dog during a walk.Meanwhile, these animals are equipped to survive in low temperatures for a relatively long period of time, both anatomically—due to the unique characteristics of their fur—and physiologically—due to the excess energy stored in the form of body fat.The metabolic rate increases, and the excess energy produced is used to compensate for energy losses associated with thermoregulation.This applies to both low and high temperatures.A dog in very hot conditions (e.g., during a scorching summer) expends about as much energy to maintain a constant body temperature as it would during a short walk in a snowstorm.

Key components of the diet

A pet's diet during the winter should be—just as in other seasons—tailored to its body's needs.In winter, the amount of absorbable nutrients increases, and their role is to meet the higher demand for energy, vitamins, and certain bioactive compounds.The key to keeping your dog healthy during the winter is to provide him with the right amount of food to meet his increased energy and nutritional needs.The amount of energy derived from fat may increase.However, the excess should not exceed 10% compared to the dogs' summer diet.Valuable nutrients that should be included in pets’ daily diet during the winter (due to their fur, which also serves as a protective barrier against heat loss during this time) are polyunsaturated fatty acids from the n-6 family, primarily found in vegetable oils such as borage, evening primrose, and flaxseed (although even canola oil can be considered a valuable source of these acids).

Vitamin support and antioxidants

Just remember that as you increase your intake of omega-6 fatty acids, you should also supplement your diet with antioxidants (such as vitamin E and fresh vegetables)..During the winter, a dog’s diet should include a variety of nutrient-rich foods that provide energy—as the metabolic rate increases to maintain a constant body temperature, so does the dog’s energy requirement.These components are primarily fats, the quality of which directly determines their function.The simplest, but not recommended, method is to increase the amount of saturated fatty acids (animal fats).It is better to use fattier cuts of meat, or meat with the skin on (e.g., chicken breast, but with the skin on).From a nutritional standpoint, unsaturated fatty acids are important, whether in the form of vegetable fats (vegetable oils) or fish fats (fish oil, fatty fish with skin).Their role—in addition to providing energy—is to maintain proper skin function and its associated structures (fur, claws), enhancing the absorption of other valuable dietary components in the gastrointestinal tract, maintaining inflammation markers at stable levels, and supporting regeneration, as well as muscle and bone growth.The energy content can also be increased by using carbohydrate-rich ingredients.The pet owner can also influence other bodily functions by choosing the right sources of these nutrients.For example, by using oatmeal or barley flakes instead of rice, we provide not only easily digestible carbohydrates but also dietary fiber and vitamins.When increasing the energy content of your diet, it is also important to ensure that you increase your intake of vitamins, which play a direct role in the body’s energy metabolism.These include water-soluble vitamins: vit.B1, B2, and B6.They play a key role in catalyzing the metabolic breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, thereby controlling the amount of energy stored as body fat.It is important to always provide a nutritionally complete diet, paying particular attention to the quality of the protein used—the less processed it is, the more amino acids will be utilized for building purposes.A diet rich in high-quality protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids, followed during the winter, will promote hair regrowth in the spring.

Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Dogs

In winter, it’s also important to consider the bioavailability of nutrients—the higher it is, the more of them will be absorbed and utilized for metabolic purposes.It is also worth noting that heat treatment has the greatest impact on nutrient loss.When using commercial ready-made diets, you should choose those that contain a high proportion of meat-based ingredients and vegetable oil additives.Winter is also a good time to effectively help an overweight or obese dog lose weight.Because the body’s metabolism increases (as a result of the need to maintain a constant body temperature), the amount of energy obtained from the diet can remain constant.In this situation, the pet’s body will be forced to draw on its own reserves, including those stored in adipose tissue.To get even better results, be sure to consistently avoid giving your dog extra treats and don’t reduce the amount of physical activity, such as walks or playing in the snow.Following these recommendations over an extended period will trigger adaptive mechanisms, and the body will focus on breaking down body fat.

Keeping Your Dog Hydrated on Cold Days

During the winter, it is important—especially for dogs living in warm, low-humidity environments—to ensure they have constant access to drinking water —both to maintain a stable water-electrolyte balance and to support the increased catabolic processes that occur during this time.Protein and fat metabolism can only proceed effectively under appropriate conditions of cellular hydration.In summary, let’s treat our dogs the same way in winter as we do during any other season, and make sure they get a regular amount of exercise.Let’s not give him more food—even though this is theoretically a physiological response—since the animal spends most of the day in comfortable conditions, so the increase in metabolic rate shouldn’t be too significant.