Setters are elegant dogs, primarily bred for bird hunting in England. According to the English Setter Association of America, they were named due to their “setting” position or crouching during hunting.
Being so active, these dogs require proper nutrition to ensure they can run, play, and move freely for their long lives.
Let’s dive into the health concerns of these dogs, and how their diet can impact their longevity. Setters can suffer from:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Allergies
- Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is an uncomfortable condition where the joint no longer fits into the socket properly, which can cause the joint to grind against itself. This is painful for dogs and can contribute to limping or lameness. Ensuring that your Setter’s joints are supported well from puppyhood to adulthood is crucial to supporting healthy joints and cushioning.
Consider incorporating foods that contain glucosamine and chondroitin, which are two nutrients that are known for supporting healthy joint function. Another food option is green-lipped mussels. These also have wonderful joint-supporting properties and make wonderful treats for your pup.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid operates much slower than normal, due to low thyroid hormone levels. This can result in lethargy, weight gain, cold intolerance, and some skin issues. Many important nutrients support optimal thyroid function, like iodine and selenium. These can be found in venison in reasonable amounts, but higher amounts can be found in seafood and sea salt.
Selenium and iodine both help with thyroid function, specifically the production of healthy levels of thyroid hormone, and the conversion of inactive thyroid hormone (T4) to active thyroid hormone (T3). To help support your Setter’s thyroid function, ensure they are getting enough of these key nutrients.
Allergies
Setters can be prone to allergies, and suffer from itchy skin as a result. To help both their allergies and their skin, consider feeding a novel protein recipe that contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries. A novel protein like venison is much less likely to cause allergy symptoms because your Setter’s immune system will not recognize it like it would with conventional meats. You can read more about novel proteins here.
Antioxidant-rich foods like berries and EVOO will help keep skin healthy, and calm itchiness by reducing inflammation. Huntaway contains many antioxidant-rich ingredients like blueberries, shiitake mushrooms, and pumpkin.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
Lastly, Setters can suffer from hypertrophic osteodystrophy, which is a bone disorder for large breeds whose puppies grow very quickly. While the cause for this disease is uncertain, making sure you feed a Setter puppy enough food, 3 times per day, and with food that has an optimal calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is a great place to start. Calcium and phosphorus are two nutrients that are critical in bone development, and ensuring the food you choose for your Setter puppy contains the correct ratio (1.2:1 to 1.4:1) is key for healthy bone development. Consider a raw diet for your pup for its digestibility, higher nutrient bioavailability (better absorbed), and higher moisture content which supports hydration.
Whether you want to switch your Setter to raw entirely or add it as a topper to their bowl, any amount of fresh food you can incorporate will help them live a long and vibrant life. Scroll down to give Huntaway a try for your Setter, or email us at hello@huntaway.pet with any questions.
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