Pets age at different rates, just as humans do. Dogs are no exception. As a dog ages, it will need to be fed a special diet designed for the nutritional needs of aging pets. The best way to ensure that your senior pup gets the right amount of nutrients is to consult a veterinary officer.
Dogs need more protein and fat to maintain a healthy weight as they age. This blog post will discuss what you should look for in good quality senior dog food. The key is to find the right food and follow these simple steps:
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Find out What Your Pet’s Weight Should Be
A healthy dog should weigh between 40-50 pounds.
If your dog is significantly underweight, you may have to adjust his diet and exercise routine. If he is significantly overweight, you may need to adjust his exercise routine.
Getting a pet’s weight can be helpful when choosing the right food for them. You will want to use an age-appropriate formula made specifically for senior dogs and take into account your dog’s size.
You should also note whether your dog has any health issues or conditions that may be affected by the food.
If your dog has any health issues, you should consult with a veterinarian before changing their diet or exercise habits.
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Buy the Correct Amount of Food
Be sure to buy the correct amount of food. While it may be tempting to buy a large bag, this can lead to overfeeding and obesity problems for your dog. You will need much less than you think when feeding senior dogs because they are usually not as active or eat as much in one sitting. Senior dogs also have a slower metabolism, so they are not burning as many calories daily.
With plenty of options for dog food delivery, it’s easy to overestimate what your dog needs. Always consult with your vet to recommend the right amount.
If you buy the correct amount of food and your senior dog is still hungry or losing weight too quickly, try adding low-sodium broth to their meal plan for a little while. Here’s how it works: if you usually feed your dog three meals a day with one cup of food per meal, add one or two cups of broth to the mixture. This works well with dry and wet dog food; make sure you do not mix in too much liquid since it could upset your pet’s stomach.
If your senior dog is still hungry after a week, try reducing its portions by half a cup every other day. Gradually decrease the size of your dog’s meal plan until you reach its ideal weight. Repeat this process as needed and consult with a veterinarian if necessary.
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Calculate How Many Calories Your Pet Should Consume Per Day
If you have a fairly sedentary dog or one diagnosed with certain health conditions, consider reducing their calorie intake. If your pet is overweight, reduce the number of calories they are consuming by 15 percent to 30 percent below what’s normal for them, and talk to your vet about whether it should be even lower than that.
If your pet is underweight, increase their calorie intake by 15 percent to 30 percent above what’s normal for them. If you have a dog diagnosed with certain health conditions or is inherently more active than the average canine, consider increasing their daily caloric intake even further. Additionally, talk to your vet about whether it should be as high as 40 percent above what’s normal for them.
As a dog ages, their nutritional needs change slightly to accommodate that they are no longer growing and developing at such a rapid pace. As your dog gets older, you will need to do more calculations to meet all of your canine companion’s dietary requirements.
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