Irish Setter nutrition: gluten sensitivity and bloat

Two conditions shape how an Irish Setter should be fed: bloat, which the breed shares with other large, deep-chested dogs, and an inherited sensitivity to gluten that is well documented in Irish Setters specifically. Adults weigh about 70 lb (32 kg) for males and 60 lb (27 kg) for females, according to the American Kennel Club. They are active sporting dogs, and most do well on an ordinary complete diet once these two risks are managed.

Calories and body condition

The Merck Veterinary Manual gives the standard starting estimate for daily energy. Resting energy requirement (RER), in kcal per day, is 70 multiplied by body weight in kilograms raised to the power 0.75. Multiply by 1.6 for a neutered adult, 1.8 for an intact adult or 1.4 for a dog that gains weight easily. Any individual may need up to 30% more or less.

Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 kcal. A setter that runs off lead every day or works in the field may need more than the intact column, and a quiet older dog less. The coat hides a lot, so check by hand. Ribs should be easy to feel under a thin covering, with a visible waist from above and a tuck behind the ribs from the side. Weigh the food on a kitchen scale; scoops of different kibbles hold different amounts.

Gluten-sensitive enteropathy

Gluten-sensitive enteropathy is an inherited intolerance of gluten in Irish Setters, and it has been studied experimentally. In affected setters raised on a normal wheat-containing diet, biopsies showed partial villus atrophy and inflammation in the small intestine. A gluten-free diet reversed the changes, and a later gluten challenge brought them back. Littermates raised on a cereal-free diet from birth showed only minimal changes when challenged, which suggests early diet can affect how the disease shows itself.

A 2020 review in Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica describes the condition as autosomal recessive and lists chronic, intermittent diarrhea and weight loss as the typical signs. It names gluten sources as wheat, barley, rye and oats, and states that a gluten-free diet is needed both to diagnose the condition and to treat it.

Not every Irish Setter is affected. A setter that grows well on a wheat-containing food, with firm stools and good condition, does not need to avoid gluten. A young setter with recurring diarrhea, poor weight gain or a poor coat needs a vet workup, which may include a strict gluten-free trial.

• Read the whole label. Wheat, wheat gluten, wheat middlings, barley, rye and oats all count.
• Check treats and chews. Many biscuits and dental chews are wheat-based. Single-ingredient meat treats avoid the problem.
• Choose a clear carbohydrate. Rice and potato are gluten-free, as is corn.
• Be strict during a trial. Table scraps can undo a gluten-free trial, and so can a single biscuit.

Bloat prevention

The Merck Veterinary Manual lists Irish Setters among the breeds at risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), in which the stomach fills with gas and twists. It is an emergency, and Merck puts the death rate at about 20% even with treatment. Merck's listed risk factors include deep, narrow chest shape, a close relative with GDV, older age, once-daily feeding, fast eating and a diet of dry kibble only.

One diet finding is directly useful when choosing a food. In a case-control study using dry food labels, foods with an oil or fat among the first four ingredients carried a 2.4-fold higher risk of GDV, while the number of cereal, soy or animal-protein ingredients near the top made no significant difference.

• Feed two or three meals a day rather than one.
• Slow down a fast eater with a slow-feeder bowl or puzzle feeder.
• Keep vigorous exercise away from mealtimes, both before and after.
• Feed from floor level. Merck advises against raised feed bowls.
• Check the first four ingredients for an added oil or fat.
• Ask about preventive gastropexy, which fixes the stomach to the body wall so it cannot twist. Merck notes many veterinary surgeons recommend it for at-risk breeds, and it can be done during spay or neuter surgery.

Epilepsy and diet

Diet does not replace antiseizure medication for idiopathic epilepsy. There is, though, controlled evidence for one dietary addition. In a randomized, double-blind crossover trial in 28 dogs already on medication, adding medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil at 9% of energy intake lowered seizure frequency compared with a control oil. The effect varied: two dogs became seizure-free and three had their seizures at least halved, while eleven showed no change or got worse.

For an Irish Setter diagnosed with epilepsy, MCT supplementation is a reasonable question for the vet, who can set the amount and allow for its calories, since MCT oil is energy-dense. Keep meal times regular, avoid sudden food changes, and record seizures so any effect can be judged.

Hips, eyes and screening

The AKC's recommended screening for breeding Irish Setters covers hips, thyroid function and a DNA test for rod-cone dysplasia 1 (rcd1), a form of progressive retinal atrophy. Rcd1 is caused by a mutation in the PDE6B gene. In a 1990s sample of 436 clinically normal Irish Setters, 7.8% carried one copy, although the authors note the sample included related dogs and may not reflect the whole breed. No diet or antioxidant is known to prevent or slow inherited retinal atrophy, so parent testing is what protects puppies.

For hips, the dietary steps are simple. Feed puppies a complete food for growth in measured meals without added calcium, and keep adults lean. Glucosamine, chondroitin and fish oil are popular joint products, but evidence for giving them to young dogs without joint disease is limited. A dog with stiffness after rest or lameness after exercise needs an examination first.

Coat

The AKC recommends brushing the Irish Setter's coat at least twice a week, with a comb for tangles in the feathering. A complete and balanced food provides the protein, fatty acids and zinc the coat needs. A dull, thin or dry coat is a reason to look for a cause, including the gluten-sensitive enteropathy and thyroid disease discussed above, before adding supplements.

Sources

1. Irish Setter dog breed information. American Kennel Club.
2. Nutritional requirements of small animals. Merck Veterinary Manual.
3. Dietary modulation of gluten sensitivity in a naturally occurring enteropathy of Irish setter dogs. Gut, 1992.
4. Gluten-sensitive enteropathy of the Irish Setter and similarities with human celiac disease. Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica, 2020.
5. Gastric dilation and volvulus in small animals. Merck Veterinary Manual.
6. The effect of ingredients in dry dog foods on the risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2006.
7. A multicenter randomized controlled trial of medium-chain triglyceride dietary supplementation on epilepsy in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2020.
8. Frequency of the codon 807 mutation in the cGMP phosphodiesterase beta-subunit gene in Irish setters and other dog breeds with hereditary retinal degeneration. Journal of Heredity, 1999.