The Belgian Malinois, a breed celebrated for its intelligence, agility, and unwavering loyalty, demands a meticulous approach to care, with nutrition serving as a cornerstone of their overall health and well-being. Whether they're active members of a family, excel in working dog roles, or compete in canine sports, understanding their dietary needs is essential.
Understanding the Nutritional Needs of a Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a highly energetic breed. Therefore, their diet should be rich in high-quality protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates to fuel their active lifestyle.
The Importance of Protein
Protein is the cornerstone of a Belgian Malinois's diet, essential for muscle development and repair. Prioritize high-quality animal proteins like chicken, beef, and fish. Protein not only aids in muscle repair but also supports the growth of a healthy immune system.
The Role of Fats
Fats serve as a concentrated energy source and aid in maintaining a healthy coat and skin. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are particularly beneficial for their anti-inflammatory properties and skin health.
Carbohydrates for Sustained Energy
Carbohydrates provide the necessary fuel for daily activities and should be sourced from whole grains and vegetables. They are essential for sustained energy levels throughout the day.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
Vitamins and Minerals: The Building Blocks of Health
Vitamins and minerals play a pivotal role in maintaining a robust immune system and promoting overall health. Calcium and phosphorus are vital for bone development, ensuring your Belgian Malinois maintains a strong skeletal structure. Vitamins such as A, D, E, and B-complex support various physiological functions, including vision, bone health, and energy metabolism. Ensuring a balanced intake of these nutrients is key to preventing deficiencies and fostering long-term health.
Tailoring Diet to Different Life Stages
Puppies and adult Belgian Malinois have different dietary requirements. Puppies require a diet specifically formulated for their growth and development, with frequent small meals throughout the day.
Puppyhood (0-18 Months)
During these initial months, the focus should be on building strong bones and muscles. Calcium and phosphorus ratios are critical to ensure proper skeletal development.
- 0-3 Months: Feed your puppy four times a day with a high-quality puppy food formulated for large breeds. Ensure the food contains DHA for brain development and a protein content of at least 25-30%.
- 3-6 Months: Gradually reduce feeding to three times a day. Continue with a large-breed puppy formula, maintaining a balance of proteins and healthy fats. As your puppy's digestive system matures, they can handle fewer meals with larger portions.
- 6-12 Months: Feed twice daily, transitioning to a high-quality adult dog food. Ensure the protein content remains substantial to support muscle development.
- 12-18 Months: Continue feeding twice daily, monitoring weight and adjusting portions to maintain an optimal body condition. During this period, you may notice your dog filling out and losing some of their puppy leanness. The adolescent stage is all about supporting sustained energy and muscle development. Ensuring a balanced intake of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates is crucial.
Adulthood (1.5-7 Years)
- 1.5-3 Years: Maintain a feeding schedule of twice daily with a balanced adult formula. Monitor weight and adjust portions based on activity level.
- 3-7 Years: Continue with an adult diet, incorporating Omega-3 fatty acids to support joint health and mobility. Maintaining a healthy weight and supporting joint health are key during the adult years. Incorporating antioxidants and joint supplements can help prevent age-related health issues.
Senior Years (7+ Years)
- 7+ Years: Transition to a senior dog food formula that is lower in calories but rich in fiber and essential nutrients. Continue feeding twice daily, emphasizing joint support supplements if necessary. The focus during the senior years shifts to promoting longevity and quality of life. Fiber becomes important to aid digestion and prevent constipation.
As dogs age, they may experience a decrease in appetite or changes in taste preference. Offering a variety of flavors and textures can help maintain their interest in food.
Addressing Common Health Concerns Through Diet
Belgian Malinois dogs are prone to certain health issues, and diet plays a crucial role in managing these conditions.
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Joint and Hip Dysplasia
Belgian Malinois are an athletic breed, often engaged in high-energy activities, making them prone to joint and hip dysplasia. This condition occurs when the hip joint doesn't fit properly into the socket, causing pain, inflammation, and mobility issues.
Venison is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce joint pain and inflammation.
Digestive Problems
Belgian Malinois can experience digestive problems such as bloating, diarrhea, and poor nutrient absorption.
Exercise-Induced Hypoglycemia
Belgian Malinois are highly energetic and active, which sometimes puts them at risk for exercise-induced hypoglycemia-a sudden drop in blood sugar levels during or after intense physical activity.
Venison provides a steady source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients that help regulate blood sugar levels. The lean protein supports sustained energy release, reducing the risk of sudden energy crashes.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP
Vision Problems
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and cataracts are both commonly observed in the breed, particularly with advancing age. While some vision loss is genetic, treatments are available in some cases which can help slow progression. Include omega-3 fats for cellular protection and inflammation control.
Bloat
As a large, deep-chested breed, Belgian Malinois are at increased risk of GDV (bloat) - a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with gas and twists.
Practical Feeding Guidelines
How Much to Feed
How much to feed your dog depends on many factors, including your pup’s age, activity level, and size. The back of the bag may be a good place to start, because it usually has a chart based on current age and weight.
The side of the bag will tell you how much to feed based either on the weight of the dog, or the Goal Weight of the dog. You can start with that, but puppies generally eat a bit more--afterall, they are growing fast! Reduce the number of cups of dry food by the amount you are feeding in raw and/or fresh ingredients.
The best way to gauge whether to increase or decrease the amount you feed is by LOOKING at the dog--not the bag! My meats, vegetables and fruits mix is approximately 1/4th to 1/3rd of the food served. For example, if the instructions state to feed the dog 2 cups dry per day, I will reduce this by one-half cup and add in 1/2 cup of fresh/canned/frozen mixture. If feeding 1/3rd raw, and the instructions call for 3 cups per day, reduce dry to 2 cups and feed 1 cup of raw--dividing the portions by the number of feedings per day.
If your dog is beginning to lose that trim waist, and is turning into a "sausage" shape, reduce the dry food, until they are back "in trim". Sometime between 18 months and 24 months your dog, or bitch, will have reached his or her height and "goal weight". After that, it is just a matter of maintenance--which is greatly affected by the amount of exercise and/or Work the dog does in a day! Keep your dog well-fed, but Never Over-fed!
Feeding Frequency
In general, Belgian Malinois should be fed twice daily-once in the morning and once in the evening.
I feed my dogs twice per day. As the days shorten, the feeding times tend to move a bit closer together. I always wait at least 30 minutes after exercise before feeding.
I am NOT punctual! I try to keep my pack a bit "off-balance" on the timing of meals. the day after tomorrow. Why? Dogs get a bit "robotized" to an exact time and tend to get "worked up" in anticipation of meal time, and this sometimes leads to an over-production of bile. And too much bile leads to vomiting bile. Which is not fun to clean up! My dogs know absolutely that the food is coming--they just don't know precisely When it is coming. Thus, they remain calm.
The Importance of Hydration
An active breed like the Belgian Malinois needs plenty of fresh water throughout the day to stay hydrated. Adequate hydration is vital, particularly for active Belgian Malinois. Ensure clean, fresh water is always available. Dehydration can lead to serious health issues, so monitoring your dog's water intake is crucial.
Foods to Avoid
Certain foods can be harmful or toxic to your Belgian Malinois. Always avoid feeding your dog chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and fatty or highly processed human foods.
Treats
Keep in mind that treats are an important part of training a Belgian Malinois, but giving too many treats can unbalance their diet and put them at risk for being overweight. In general, treats need to make up no more than 10% of your pup’s total daily calories.
I don't buy anyone's idea of commercial dog treats. They are ridiculously expensive and often contain ingredients that are either useless or actually harmful to your dog! (Like "gasp" High Fructose Corn Syrup!). Instead, I hand her or him a raw piece of carrot, or an apple slice on occasion.
Supplements
Supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and fish oil can be beneficial for joint health and overall well-being.
Consider targeted supplements like ProDog’s Flexx, joint supplement for dogs, formulated with glucosamine, green-lipped mussel, and turmeric to promote mobility and ease inflammation.
Raw food
Raw dog food is whole food served in their most natural state with no heat processing. It’s the most biologically aligned option for dogs. It delivers nutrients in their most digestible and usable forms, with no need for synthetic additives, preservatives or mystery fillers.
A raw, species-appropriate diet, also referred to as BARF diet for dogs (biologically appropriate raw food diet), includes muscle meat, organ meat, bone, raw fats, and a small amount of vegetables or berries.
Switching your Belgian Malinois from processed food to a raw, biologically aligned diet is one of the most impactful health decisions you can make.
Choosing the Right Dog Food
Feed the best quality food you can find--within your budget.
From the information contained therein, I decided that: a. the food I chose would have to be one that had Never been recalled; b. the food would have all of its ingredients Sourced in North America; c. I didn't want any soy, corn, or white potatoes in my dogs' food; d. I didn't want any "by-products, artificial preservatives or colours" in my dogs' food.
Homemade Diet
I started out with an all-natural homemade diet. I followed the recommendations in the book, Dr. Becker's Real Food for Healthy Dogs & Cats. Simple Homemade Food, 4th Edition, 2017, at least, at first. It is an interesting, informative read, BUT . . . I didn't find it all that "Simple"! I went out and bought a vitamin, mineral and supplement grinder and all of the recommended ingredients to make my own vitamin supplements. It wasn't cheap! Then, I stocked my refrigerator and freezers with as many of the recommended food ingredients as I could find.
There's the first difficulty: I could not find turkey necks, hearts or livers. Also missing: Beef Hearts, and chicken necks. 90% Lean Ground Beef was hard to find, and ridiculously expensive, in my humble opinion. Chicken hearts, livers and gizzards were easier--until the Covid-19 Pandemic hit, then it was nigh-on-to-impossible to acquire these ingredients.
When all is said and done, and assuming I could find every ingredient to satisfy the suggested rotational diet in the book, my food bill--just for a pack of three dogs--would be in the neighborhood of $500 PER DOG Per Month! ($1500).
Dry Food
The advantages to dry food are, of course, is that 1. It can be stored dry and in bulk--I would (likely) never again face running out of food. 2. The better brands include the vitamins, minerals and supplements I was spending hours measuring out and grinding down. 3. While not "perfect" in terms of a balanced diet of proteins, fats, and carbs, I didn't see any rule preventing me from adding in more proteins and fats, from those fresh or frozen foods that I could find in the supermarket or at the butcher's shop. 4. Even the most expensive dry food was far less expensive than the all-homemade plan.
I now spend roughly $165 (for two 33 pound bags) of dry food (Inukshuk)--for all three of my dogs, and another $135 per month for the ingredients I add in to bring up the protein and fat content of the food--for all three dogs. So, $300 per month ($100 per dog) versus $1500. Quite a difference.
I like Inukshuk's Marine 25 for the fact that it is concentrated. I feed less, there is less waste, I see no stomach upset, and I really can notice an increase in energy!
To the dry food, I add Beef Livers or Chicken Livers or Chicken Gizzards, and if fish is not already in the food, I add sardines or another cold water fish (cooked). I also add an egg or two (shells included), one orange vegetable (pumpkin, or carrots, or squash or sweet potatoes), one green vegetable (broccoli, or spinach, or celery, or zucchini), and 2 fruits from my list of cranberries, blueberries, apple, raspberries, strawberries, melon and/or pineapple--in small amounts.
To compensate for the low moisture content of dry food and to make the food a bit more palatable and digestible, I add boiling hot water to the dry mix and let it sit and puff up while it cools. Better to expand in the bowl--than in the stomach--is my theory.
Addressing Digestive Issues
Loose bowels? I cook up a pot of rice (plain white, no salt) and another pot of chicken quarters in my pressure cooker. I remove ALL of the cooked bones (NEVER Give Your Dog Cooked Bones!) and replace some, but not all, of the dry (moistened) dog food with a 50/50 mixture of rice and chicken. A few days of this diet--reducing the chicken/rice mixture each day, usually results in firm bowels, and weight gain. If the problem is re-occurring, try to discover why your dog is getting diarrhea in the first place. It could be that they are eating something untoward whilst you are not looking. Puppies, especially, put everything in their mouths! If all else fails, and this is a re-occurring problem, you may want to see your vet and/or change dog foods.
If the reverse happens and the dog is constipated--try upping the vegetable/fruit content of their food (a little bit) for a few days to see if that helps.
Food Allergies and Sensitivities
Belgian Malinois, like many breeds, may develop food allergies or sensitivities. Common allergens include grains, chicken, and beef. If you notice signs of allergies such as skin irritation or digestive issues, consult your veterinarian to devise an elimination diet plan.
Additional Tips for a Healthy Malinois
- Monitor Weight: Obesity can be a concern for Belgian Malinois, as excess weight can exacerbate joint issues and overall health. Monitor their weight and adjust portion sizes as needed.
- Dental Care: Dental health is often overlooked, but it's an integral part of overall well-being. Regular brushing and providing dental chews can help reduce plaque buildup and prevent periodontal disease.
- Mental Stimulation: The Belgian Malinois is an intelligent breed that thrives on mental stimulation. Incorporating training sessions and interactive feeding methods, such as puzzle feeders, can provide both physical and mental exercise.
- Regular Vet Check-ups: Like all breeds, Belgian Malinois benefit from regular veterinary check-ups to monitor their overall health. Regular vaccinations, deworming, and flea and tick prevention should be part of their health routine. Early detection of any potential issues can help manage or treat these conditions effectively. Regular vet visits, proper nutrition, and appropriate exercise can help keep your Malinois in optimal health.