Characteristics and Challenges of Dog Keeping in the Federal University of Technology Owerri Community, Owerri, Imo State

Abstract

In Nigeria, dog keeping is gradually transiting from the traditional to modern organized forms in which the dogs are cherished as pets or utility animals. A survey of dog keepers within the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) was carried out to determine the food sources, system of feeding and common commercial food brands patronized by the dog keepers. About 5 - 10% FUTO households kept dogs at a mean number 2.7 dogs per household. Breed distribution was 22% local breed, 32% exotic and 46% cross of local and exotic breeds. The major challenges faced by keepers were poor access to veterinary care (33%), cost and availability of quality dog food 25 % each. The major food ingredients used in feeding the dogs were rice, common beans, garri, noodles, and corn, while bones and meat were used as supplements, with only 28% feeding commercial pet food brands. However four commercial dog food brands accounted for 90% of dog food served to the dogs. Most of the values are within the normal range published by regulatory authorities. The essential ingredients used in formulating the commercial dog foods were cereal grains supplemented with chicken, meat, and their by-products.The major constraints to feeding dogs with commercial dog foods included limited finance (50%), inadequate time (17%), loss of appetite (14%), and food material rejection (11%), etc. There is therefore the need to formulate dog foods from locally available resources.