Optimal Dog Nutrition at Tuscan Ridge Animal Hospital
Dogs need to be fed different meals depending on their life stage, from puppy to adult and senior. Puppies' nutritional needs are specific to aid in their rapid bone and muscle development. Adult dogs usually require lower-calorie foods so that they don't become overweight. Seniors have special needs, such as fatty acids and things to help support joints and prevent arthritis.
What are some signs that a dog's nutritional needs aren't being met?
Signs that your dog's nutritional needs might not be met include them being significantly underweight or even overweight, having problems with digestion, upset stomach such as vomiting, diarrhea, gas, eating grass, or problems with their coat being dry or itchy. Those would be some of the most common signs that we see.
Are there any dietary recommendations you would like to highlight?
We recommend that you avoid a grain-free diet. Recent studies have shown that grain-free diets for dogs can be associated with a certain type of heart disease. We recommend feeding a diet that includes some grain to keep them as healthy as possible.
What is your stance on raw diets for pets?
Raw diets are not safe to feed to your pet. Both the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) and AHA have taken position statements against feeding your pets raw diets. Raw diets can carry bacteria and pathogens that can make not only your pets sick but also other pets in the house that come into contact with them, as well as the humans living in the house.
How do you determine the appropriate amount of food for a dog?
The way that we base how much your specific pet needs is mainly on their body condition score. That tells us if they are overweight, underweight, or an ideal weight. We want your dog to be in the ideal weight range. If they're overweight, that can lead to additional health problems, and underweight dogs need to be getting more calories.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (919) 556-1944, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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