FCI in transition
We are living in a changeable world. Politically the last 25 years have been characterised
by very big changes: New countries have emerged, others have dissolved and new state
formations have appeared.
This has of course affected the FCI and our whole organisation. We have become many
more members and before long we will probably pass a total of 100 full member countries,
associated countries and contract partners. And not many years ago we were “only”
70 countries.
As most people will know, our statutes are based on the principle “one country –
one vote” and this principle will surely be challenged in the coming years, as the
rapid increase in the number of members with a lot of quite small kennel clubs is
diluting the influence of the large and middle-sized countries; those countries
that pay for almost the entire running of the FCI (the 5 largest contributors pay
more than 1/3 of the total income of the FCI).
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Jørgen Hindse
Dogs are extraordinary, feed them accordingly
The importance of science and nutrition
William Bredal
Dogs have evolved from carnivores and should be fed accordingly, a review of canine
anatomy and physiology will remind us. Despite this knowledge many dog food producers
today use protein ingredients other than meats to provide for the dog’s protein
needs. Use of high-quality animal proteins (chicken, lamb, fish) compared to use
of vegetable protein sources (maize, gluten, wheat gluten and soya) in dog food
will be reviewed. A brief history of the development of commercial dog food will
be given, from the first dry biscuits until today with products tailored for life
stage, breed size and activity level.
In recent years break-through science has resulted in many clinically documented
health benefits in high-quality dog food. These benefits have contributed substantially
to the well-being and longevity of dogs. The most important health issues for dogs:
dental problems and obesity both find excellent support through nutritional choices.
Products tailored to meet the needs of fast growing large breed puppies have been
on the market less than 15 years but their impact has been profound. Most recently
an omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, has been shown to enhance the cognitive function of
puppies.
The mass marketing of lower grade dog food sold through grocery gets the attention
of the consumer. However, through education and clinical documentation, high-quality
dog food producers provide viable alternatives for the interested dog owner. Unrelenting
efforts in canine research and science and the use of high-quality ingredients,
will continue to benefit dogs world-wide.
William Bredal
William Bredal BSc DVM
- « Wow... You're a very goog hunter ! »
- « No, actually I'm juste a very bad vet. »
- Graduated from The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science in the previous centrury
(1989)
- Worked continuously in Small Animal Practice until 2002 ; both private practice
& vet school
- Associate Professor in Small Animal Internal Medicine
- President of the Norwegian Small Animal Veterinary Association; 7 years
- Author of >20 international peer-reviewed papers and >100 popular magazine articles
and two books, which nobody has read. Won prize for best article in Norwegian Journal
of Veterinary Medicine
- One of the worlds 2 only experts on the canine nasal mite ; Pneumonssoides caninum
- Joined Eukanuba & lams in 2002 as Veterinary Technical Manager for the Nordic countries