Zoo database

Gray wolf

Canis lupus

Natural diet Gray wolf

Gray wolves are carnivorous scavengers that usually hunt in packs. Their diet consists of anything that they are able to catch, ranging from large mammals to small rodents. Some of these animals include: deer, moose, beavers and rabbits.

Vertebrates
Vertebrates

Feeding advice Gray wolf

Feed quantity per day

6-10%

Sample percentage calculation

If an animal weighs 45 kg and eats 8% of its body weight, it will get
 
45 x 0.08 = 3.6 kg feed in total per day

Feed composition

99% Meat and whole prey
1% Supplements

Proportions (fresh product)

0.99 x 3.6 kg = 3,564 g meat and whole prey
0.01 x 3.6 kg = 36 g supplements

Diet Suggestions

Recommended

Variety of prey
Whole prey
Supplements

Not recommended

Common diseases

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

  • Stomach torsion
  • Cystinuria
  • Proliferative gingivitis

Additional advice

  • Divide the “Feed quantity per day” over at least two feeding moments 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).