Through time, a dog’s nutritional needs change. The kind of food that you are feeding him now may provide the nutrients his body needs in a year from now, or so. It is best to always be on the lookout for your dog’s needs.
There are a lot of things that you can learn by just observing your dog. But what observations will prompt you to change your dog’s diet? Here are a few things that will help you know when to.
Life stage
As mentioned, nutritional needs change through time depending on a dog’s age. Their needs will evolve. One good example of this is protein. It is recommended for growing dogs to have lots of protein in their diet.
Adult dogs would need less protein, and older or senior ones would need very little of it. When you give too much protein in an older dog’s diet, it can harm their kidneys and liver. The good news is, whatever stage your dog is in, there is food available for him.
Puppy food would contain a good amount of protein while food for senior dogs would include a few supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. This supplements in their food would ease any stiffness that they may have in their joints.
Food sensitivities
If your dog experiences any itchiness or diarrhea or any kind of stomach upset, your dog may have a food sensitivity. There are instances when dogs will develop an allergic reaction to an ingredient in their food, even when they have eaten this for years.
Make sure that you visit your vet. The vet will be able to determine when your dog is having an allergic reaction. If so, the doctor will order a change of diet for your canine. The doctor may give you recommendations for the type of food that you can introduce to your pooch.
How to change your dog’s diet
When you want to introduce new meals to your dog’s diet, it is best to do it gradually as to not cause any stomach upset. Introducing it to him systematically will also help your dog slowly get used to the new food.
There are some types of food that may cause sensitivity. Some of these are beef, eggs, and chicken. It is best to avoid any meals that contain these ingredients.
It is recommended that no dog treat or human food should be provided when changing his diet. This is to give him time to adjust properly to his new diet.
Changing your dog’s diet is not easy, but if it’s a healthy change, then it is worth it. Don’t force your dog to eat them all at once. Introduce the new diet though small amounts, one day at a time.
It would take a while for your dog to adjust to his diet. Be patient. Just expect that the journey to changing your dog’s diet will not be an easy one.
But whatever it takes to keep your dog healthy is always worth the journey.
