Specific breed brochure - Breed Nutrition

Kibble size
When dogs are forced to chew, the food particles that enter the stomach
are smaller, which makes the work of digestive enzymes easier,
thus improving digestibility. In tests, the faeces produced by a diet of
Rottweiler 26 were graded ‘very good’.
A large kibble also helps prevent gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). The
risk falls when the food is presented in pieces larger than 30 mm
(Theyse et al, 1998). While Rottweilers are much less likely to suffer
from GDV than other giant breeds, the risk cannot be ignored, so it is
recommended that the daily ration be split into two servings.
Kibble texture
The texture is the result of a compromise:
- The teeth have to sink deep enough into the kibble to produce a kind
of mechanical brushing
- The kibble must be resistant enough not to
shatter too soon and negate the beneficial
effect on the teeth.
Only a perfect mastery of the cooking and
extrusion process (temperature and pressure
during cooking, length of drying etc)
guarantees kibbles with the right elasticity
to produce both these effects.
Effect of crushing the kibble and addition
of calcium chelators on the tartar index
Tartar index (Warrick and Gorrel)
2
1,5
1
0,5
0
To optimise the role of the food in oral hygiene, the Rottweiler 26 kibble contains
sodium polyphosphates*, which are known to curb the deposition of calcium in dental
plaque and so slow the formation of tartar (White et al, 2002).
23
1,86
-41%
Crunching -73%
Crunching +
calcium
chelators
1,11
0,5
A B C
A : Non-crunchy food
(control)
B : Crunchy test food
C : Crunchy test food +
addition of calcium
chelators
© J.-M. Labat