Zoo database

African wild dog

Lycaon pictus

Natural diet African wild dog

African wild dogs have carnivorous diet and they hunt for various types of prey. Larger mammals such as gazelles, wildebeests and warthogs are consumed, but also smaller mammals may be consumed.

Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice African wild dog

Feed quantity per day

10-15%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 22 kg and eats 12% of its body weight, it will get
 
22 x 0,12 = 2,64 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

99% Meat and whole prey
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0,99 x 2,64 kg = 2.614 g meat and whole prey
0,01 x 2,64 kg = 26 g supplements

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of prey
Whole prey
Supplements

Not recommended

Road killed animals

Common diseases

An unbalanced diet may result in one of these more commonly occurring diseases/conditions:

  • Dental disease
  • Diabetes
  • Neoplasia

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least one feeding moment per day.
  • The supplements should be given according to the appropriate dosage that is mentioned on the labelling.
  • To promote the oral health, it is important to offer the soft food first and then the hard food such as bones and skin.
  • Stimulate foraging behaviour by hanging, stacking or hiding the feed. For instance by feeding large bones, frozen food or placement in food puzzles (read more about feed enrichment and foraging behaviour).